US20090143795A1 Active / In Force US ⏱️ 1.1 years remaining

Ultrasonic surgical instrument blades

Assignee: Cilag GmbH International

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Filing: 2007-11-30

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Granted: —

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Expires: 2027-11-30

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Abstract

Abstract An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an ultrasonically actuated blade or end effector having a treatment portion. The blade can define a central axis and at least one axis which is transverse to the central axis, wherein the transverse axis can lie within a plane which is perpendicular, or normal, to the longitudinal axis and can define a cross-section of the treatment portion. Such a cross-section can include a central portion and a step extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion can comprise a width, and wherein the step can comprise a cutting edge. In at least one embodiment, the cutting edge can be defined by first and second surfaces which define an angle therebetween. In various embodiments, the position of the cutting edge and/or the angle between the cutting edge surfaces can be selected in order to balance the blade with respect to the transverse axis.

Inventors

👤 Galen C. Robertson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 06:31

CPC Classifications

A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3205; A61B17/320068; A61B17/320092; A61B2017/00973; A61B2017/320069; A61B2017/320071; A61B2017/320072; A61B2017/320074; A61B2017/320082; A61B2017/320084; A61B2017/320088; A61B2017/320089; A61B2017/320094; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/956

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24

Claim 1

Independent Claim 243 words

1 . A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising: a body portion comprising a first side, a second side, and a width defined between said first and second sides; a step portion extending from said body portion, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said second surface extends between a first plane including said cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, wherein said blade is configured such that the relationship of: x 2 2 * tan - 1  α + ( w - x ) 2  ( x * tan - 1  α - s ) - ( w 2 ) 2  tan - 1  α is substantially equal to zero; wherein w is said width of said body portion; wherein s is the distance between said first plane and said second plane; wherein α is said angle defined between said first and second surfaces of said step portion; and wherein x is the distance between said second side of said body portion and said cutting edge.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 243 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

2 . The surgical blade of claim 1 , wherein said body portion includes a centerline, wherein said step portion includes a center of gravity positioned along said centerline, and wherein said cutting edge is not positioned along said centerline.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

3 . The surgical blade of claim 2 , wherein said second surface is substantially parallel to said centerline.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 41 words

4 . The surgical blade of claim 1 , wherein said body portion includes a centerline, wherein said step portion includes a center of gravity positioned along said centerline, and wherein said step portion is asymmetric with respect to said centerline.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

5 . The surgical blade of claim 1 , wherein said relationship is equal to zero.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 168 words

6 . A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising: a body portion comprising a first side, a second side, and a width (w) defined between said first and second sides; a step portion extending from said body portion, wherein said step portion comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said second surface extends between a first plane including said cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said first plane and said second plane are separated by a distance s, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle (α) defined therebetween, and wherein a second distance (x) is defined between said second side of said body portion and said cutting edge.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 168 words

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

7 . The surgical blade of claim 6 , wherein said blade is configured such that, for any given values of s and w, the relationship of: A*x 2 *tan −1 α+B*x*tan −1 α+C*tan −1 α+D*x+E is substantially equal to zero, and wherein A, B, C, D, and E are constants.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 48 words

8 . The surgical blade of claim 6 , wherein said blade is configured such that, for any given values of s and α, the relationship of: A*x 2 +B*x+C*x*w+D*w+E*w 2 +F is substantially equal to zero, and wherein A, B, C, D, E, and F are constants.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

9 . The surgical blade of claim 6 , wherein said blade is configured such that, for any given values of w and α, the relationship of: A*x 2 +B*x+C*x*s+D*s+E is substantially equal to zero, and wherein A, B, C, D, and E are constants.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 127 words

10 . A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising: a distal end; a proximal end; and a cross-section situated intermediate said distal end and said proximal end, wherein said cross-section is defined by a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein said cross-section is further defined by a centerline which lies in the plane, and wherein said cross-section comprises: a center portion; and a cutting portion extending from said center portion, wherein said cutting portion comprises a center of gravity which is positioned along said centerline, and wherein said cutting portion further comprises a cutting edge which is not positioned along said centerline.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 127 words

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 60 words

11 . The surgical blade of claim 10 , wherein said cutting portion comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein said cutting edge is situated intermediate said first and second surfaces, wherein said first surface is not parallel to said second surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 169 words

12 . The surgical blade of claim 11 , wherein said center portion includes a first side, a second side, and a width defined between said first and second sides, wherein said second surface of said cutting portion extends between a first plane including said cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to said first plane, wherein said blade is configured such that the relationship of: x 2 2 * tan - 1  α + ( w - x ) 2  ( x * tan - 1  α - s ) - ( w 2 ) 2  tan - 1  α is substantially equal to zero; wherein w is said width of said center portion; wherein s is the distance between said first plane and said second plane; wherein α is said angle defined between said first and second surfaces of said cutting portion; and wherein x is the distance between said second side of said center portion and said cutting edge.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

13 . The surgical blade of claim 12 , wherein said relationship is equal to zero.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 237 words

14 . A method of balancing an ultrasonic instrument having an ultrasonically actuated blade, wherein the blade comprises a body portion and a step portion extending from the body portion, wherein the body portion comprises a first side, a second side, and a width defined between the first and second sides, wherein the step portion includes a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate the first and second surfaces, wherein the second surface extends between a first plane including the cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to the first plane, wherein the first and second surfaces are not parallel and are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween, the method comprising the steps of: configuring at least a portion of the blade such that the relationship of: x 2 2 * tan - 1  α + ( w - x ) 2  ( x * tan - 1  α - s ) - ( w 2 ) 2  tan - 1  α is substantially equal to zero; wherein w is said width of the body portion; wherein s is the distance between the first plane and the second plane; wherein α is said angle defined between the first and second surfaces of the step portion; and wherein x is the distance between the second side of the body portion and the cutting edge.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 237 words

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 38 words

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said configuring step comprises the steps of: selecting values for w, s, and α such that the blade is configured to transect tissue; and solving said relationship for x.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said configuring step comprises the steps of: selecting values for w, x, and a such that the blade is configured to transect tissue; and solving said relationship for s.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said relationship is equal to zero.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 186 words

18 . A surgical blade for a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument having a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency, the surgical blade comprising: a distal end; a proximal end; and a cross-section situated intermediate said distal end and said proximal end, wherein said cross-section is defined by a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the plane is at least partially defined by a transverse axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the cross-section comprises: a body portion having a first mass (M B1 ) positioned on a first side of said transverse axis and a second mass (M B2 ) positioned on a second side of said transverse axis; and a step portion having a first mass (M S1 ) positioned on said first side and a second mass (M S2 ) positioned on said second side, wherein M B1 +M S1 is substantially equal to M B2 +M S2 , wherein said step portion further includes a cutting edge, and wherein said cutting edge is not positioned along said transverse axis.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 186 words

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

19 . The surgical blade of claim 18 , wherein M B1 +M S1 is equal to M B2 +M S2 .

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