Rotation features for ultrasonic surgical instrument

US9743946B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Craig N. Faller · Batavia, US
• Elizabeth DeBenedictis · Chicago, US
• William D. Kelly · Mason, US
• Michael R. Lamping · Cincinnati, US
• Timothy G. Dietz · Wayne, US
• Patrick A. Weizman · Monroe, US
• Jacob S. Gee · Cincinnati, US
• John B. Schulte · Sharonville, US
• Tylor C. Muhlenkamp · Cincinnati, US
• Douglas J. Turner · Cincinnati, US
• Eric B. Smith · Austin, US
• Sean P. Conlon · Loveland, US
• Richard W. Timm · Cincinnati, US
• Jeffrey D. Messerly · Cincinnati, US
• Brian D. Bertke · Stanton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 2013
• Grant date: Aug 29, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/0811
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp assembly. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide operable to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the blade. The clamp assembly includes a clamp arm pivotable toward and away from the blade about a pivot axis, to clamp tissue between the clamp arm and the blade. A rotation feature may provide rotation of the blade relative to the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Alternatively, the rotation feature may provide rotation of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the longitudinal axis. The rotation feature may be driven based on pivotal positioning of the clamp arm relative to the blade about the pivot axis. The rotation feature may selectively lock and unlock the angular position of either the blade or the clamp arm about the longitudinal axis at any of a number of predetermined angular positions.