Deflectable support of RF energy electrode with respect to opposing ultrasonic blade

US11786291B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Cilag GmbH International · CH

Inventors

• John M. Sarley · Mason, US
• Chad P. Boudreaux · Cincinnati, US
• Tyler N. Brehm · Cincinnati, US
• Wei Guo · Zhuolan Township, TW
• Ellen Burkart · Cincinnati, US
• Jeffrey D. Messerly · Cincinnati, US
• Craig N. Faller · Batavia, US
• Robert Samuel Bishop · Chehalis, US
• Michael A. Keenan · Cincinnati, US
• William A. Olson · Lancaster, US
• Richard W. Flaker · Lancaster, US
• Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 29, 2020
• Grant date: Oct 17, 2023
• Expiry date: Apr 30, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/034
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An end-effector is disclosed. The end-effector includes a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer and electrically couple to a pole of an electrical generator. The clamp arm includes a clamp jaw, a clamp arm pad, and a cantilever electrode that is free to deflect. The cantilever electrode is configured to electrically couple to an opposite pole of the electrical generator. Also disclosed are configurations where the clamp arm includes a peripheral cantilever electrode and a clamp arm pad extending beyond the electrode, a floating cantilever electrode and a resilient clamp arm pad, an interlocked cantilever electrode plate and a clamp arm pad configured to receive the plate, a laterally deflectable cantilever electrode and a clamp arm pad extending beyond the electrode, and a flexible cantilever electrode and a clamp arm pad extending beyond the electrode.