Ultrasonic surgical instrument

Claim 2

A surgical instrument comprising: a handpiece; a transducer mounted in the handpiece, the transducer being operative to convert electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion; a first elongate shaft having a first end operatively connected to the transducer and a second end extending distally from the handpiece; a first cutting member fixedly mounted to the second end of the first shaft such that longitudinal vibratory motion generated by the transducer causes longitudinal vibratory motion of the first cutting member; a second cutting member pivotally mounted in proximity to the second end of the first shaft the second cutting member being pivotable between an open and closed position with respect to the first cutting member; and a second shaft having a first end pivotally connected to the second cutting member for affecting pivotable movement of the second cutting member between the open and closed positions.

Claim 3

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the transducer is operative to convert electrical energy into ultrasonic longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 4

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the transducer includes a stack of laminations for converting electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 5

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the transducer includes a piezoelectric for converting electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 6

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, further including a pivoting assembly for pivotally mounting the second cutting member to the second end of the first shaft, the pivoting assembly including a pivot pin, through holes formed in the first and second cutting members slidably receive the pivot pin.

Claim 7

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the second cutting member is pivotally mounted to a nodal point on the first elongate shaft.

Claim 8

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, further including an actuating mechanism operatively associated with the handpiece and operatively connected to a second end of the second shaft for affecting longitudinal motion of the second shaft causing the second cutting member to move between the open and closed position.

Claim 9

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second cutting members is provided with a serrated cutting edge.

Claim 10

A surgical instrument comprising: a handpiece; an elongate portion including a fixed outer tubular member depending from the handpiece, and an inner shaft received in the fixed outer tubular member for reciprocating movement with respect to the fixed outer tubular member; a transducer mounted in the handpiece, the transducer being operative to convert electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion, the transducer being operatively connected to a first end of the inner shaft for causing the inner shaft to longitudinally vibrate; a first cutting member fixedly mounted to the second end of the inner shaft which extends distally from the outer tubular member such that longitudinal vibratory motion generated by the transducer causes longitudinal vibratory motion of the first cutting member; a second cutting member pivotally mounted to the second end of the inner shaft, the second cutting member being pivotable between an open and closed position with respect to the first cutting member; an actuating shaft having a first end pivotally connected to the second cutting member; and an actuating mechanism operatively associated with the handpiece and operatively connected to a second end of the actuating shaft for affecting longitudinal motion of the second shaft which causes the second cutting member to move between the open and closed positions.

Claim 11

A surgical instrument comprising: a handpiece; an elongate portion including a fixed outer tubular member depending from the handpiece, and an inner shaft received in the fixed outer tubular member for reciprocating movement with respect to the fixed outer tubular member; a transducer mounted in the handpiece, the transducer being operative to convert electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion, the transducer being operatively connected to a first end of the inner shaft for causing the inner shaft to longitudinally vibrate; a first cutting member fixedly mounted to the second end of the inner shaft which extends distally from the outer tubular member such that longitudinal vibratory motion generated by the transducer causes longitudinal vibratory motion of the first cutting member; a second cutting member pivotally mounted to the second end of the inner shaft, the second cutting member being pivotable between an open and closed position with respect to the first cutting member; an actuating shaft having a first end pivotally connected to the second cutting member; and an actuating mechanism operatively associated with the handpiece and operatively connected to a second end of the actuating shaft for affecting longitudinal motion of the second shaft which causes the second cutting member to move between the open and closed positions.

Claim 12

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 9, wherein the transducer is operative to convert electrical energy into ultrasonic longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 13

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 10, wherein the transducer includes a stack of laminations for converting electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 14

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 11, wherein the transducer includes a piezoelectric for converting electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 15

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 9, further including a pivoting assembly for pivotally mounting the second cutting member to the second end of the inner shaft, the pivoting assembly including a pivot pin configured to slidably receive through holes formed in the first and second cutting members.

Claim 16

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 13, wherein the second cutting member is pivotally mounted to a nodal point on the inner shaft.

Claim 17

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 9, wherein the actuating mechanism includes a pivoting handle member pivotally mounted to the handpiece and operatively connected to the second end of the actuating shaft such that pivotable movement of the handle member affects longitudinal motion of the actuating shaft.

Claim 18

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second cutting member is provided with a serrated cutting edge.

Claim 19

A surgical instrument comprising: a handpiece having a fixed handle and a pivoting handle; an elongate portion including a fixed outer tubular member depending from the handpiece, and an inner shaft slidably received in the fixed outer tubular member for reciprocating movement with respect to the fixed outer tubular member; an ultrasonic transducer mounted in the handpiece, the transducer being operative to convert electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion, the transducer being operatively connected to a first end of the inner shaft for causing the inner shaft to longitudinally vibrate; a first cutting member fixedly mounted to a second end of the inner shaft which extends distally from the outer tubular member such that longitudinal vibratory motion of the inner shaft causes longitudinal vibratory motion of the first cutting member; a second cutting member pivotally mounted to the second end of the inner shaft, the second cutting member being pivotable between an open and closed position with respect to the first cutting member; and an actuating shaft slidably received in the fixed outer tubular member having a first end pivotably connected to the second cutting member and a second end operatively connected to the pivoting handle such that movement of the pivoting handle affects longitudinal motion of the actuating shaft which causes the second cutting member to move between the open and closed positions.

Claim 20

A surgical instrument comprising: a handpiece having a fixed handle and a pivoting handle; an elongate portion including a fixed outer tubular member depending from the handpiece, and an inner shaft slidably received in the fixed outer tubular member for reciprocating movement with respect to the fixed outer tubular member; an ultrasonic transducer mounted in the handpiece, the transducer being operative to convert electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion, the transducer being operatively connected to a first end of the inner shaft for causing the inner shaft to longitudinally vibrate; a first cutting member fixedly mounted to a second end of the inner shaft which extends distally from the outer tubular member such that longitudinal vibratory motion of the inner shaft causes longitudinal vibratory motion of the first cutting member; a second cutting member pivotally mounted to the second end of the inner shaft, the second cutting member being pivotable between an open and closed position with respect to the first cutting member; and an actuating shaft slidably received in the fixed outer tubular member having a first end pivotably connected to the second cutting member and a second end operatively connected to the pivoting handle such that movement of the pivoting handle affects longitudinal motion of the actuating shaft which causes the second cutting member to move between the open and closed positions.

Claim 21

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 17, wherein the transducer includes a stack of laminations for converting electrical energy into ultrasonic longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 22

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 17, wherein the transducer includes a piezoelectric for converting electrical energy into ultrasonic longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 23

A surgical instrument comprising: a handpiece; a transducer mounted in the handpiece, the transducer being operative to convert electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion; a first elongate shaft having a proximal end operatively connected to the transducer and a distal end extending distally from the handpiece, the first elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis; an extension member having a proximal end connected to a nodal point at the distal end of the first elongate shaft, the extension member having a longitudinal axis that is offset from the longitudinal axis of the first elongate shaft; a first cutting member fixedly mounted to the distal end of the first elongated shaft such that longitudinal vibratory motion generated by the transducer causes longitudinal vibratory motion of the first cutting member; a second cutting member pivotally mounted in the distal end of the extension member, the second cutting member being pivotable between an open and closed position with respect to the first cutting member; and a second shaft having a distal end pivotally connected to the second cutting member for affecting pivotable movement of the second cutting member between the open and closed positions.

Claim 24

A surgical instrument comprising: a handpiece; a transducer mounted in the handpiece, the transducer being operative to convert electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion; a first elongate shaft having a proximal end operatively connected to the transducer and a distal end extending distally from the handpiece, the first elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis; an extension member having a proximal end connected to a nodal point at the distal end of the first elongate shaft, the extension member having a longitudinal axis that is offset from the longitudinal axis of the first elongate shaft; a first cutting member fixedly mounted to the distal end of the first elongated shaft such that longitudinal vibratory motion generated by the transducer causes longitudinal vibratory motion of the first cutting member; a second cutting member pivotally mounted in the distal end of the extension member, the second cutting member being pivotable between an open and closed position with respect to the first cutting member; and a second shaft having a distal end pivotally connected to the second cutting member for affecting pivotable movement of the second cutting member between the open and closed positions.

Claim 25

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 20, wherein the extension member is L-shaped.

Claim 26

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 20, wherein the transducer includes a stack of laminations for converting electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 27

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 20, wherein the transducer includes a piezoelectric for converting electrical energy into longitudinal vibratory motion.

Claim 28

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 20, further including a pivoting assembly for pivotally mounting the second cutting member to the distal end of the first shaft, the pivoting assembly including a pivot pin configured to slidably receive through holes formed in the first and second cutting members.

Claim 29

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 20, further including an actuating mechanism operatively associated with the handpiece and operatively connected to a proximal end of the second shaft for affecting longitudinal motion of the second shaft causing the second cutting member to move between the open and closed position.

Claim 30

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 25, wherein the actuating mechanism includes a pivoting handle member pivotally mounted to the handpiece and operatively connected to the second end of the actuating shaft such that pivotable movement of the handle member affects longitudinal motion of the actuating shaft.

Claim 31

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 20, wherein the first and second scissor members are curved.

Claim 32

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 27, wherein the second scissor member includes first and second blade members spaced substantially parallel and at a distance apart from one another for reception of the first scissor member therebetween.

Claim 33

A surgical instrument as recited in claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second cutting members is provided with a serrated cutting edge.