US6206844B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reusable ultrasonic surgical instrument with removable outer sheath
Assignee: Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
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Filing: 1999-06-25
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2019-06-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument including an improved outer sheath which is removable and which rotateably engages the ultrasonic waveguide to facilitate attachment of the ultrasonic instrument to a handpiece. In particular, in one embodiment of the present invention, an improved sheath includes a first and second sheath pin slots extending from the proximal end of the sheath to first and second sheath pinholes respectively. An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the present invention further includes a connector pin, the connector pin extending through the first sheath pinhole, a waveguide pinhole and the second sheath pinhole and an attachment hub surrounding the outer sheath, wherein the attachment hub is slideable over the outer sheath. A first pin slot may be positioned on an inner surface of the attachment hub wherein the connector pin engages the first pin slot when the attachment hub is in its proximal most position.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee E. Reichel
- 👤 Jean M. Beaupre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/0046; A61B2017/00477; A61B2017/320088; A61B2017/320089; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/031; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: an outer sheath wherein said outer sheath comprises; a first opening at a distal end of said outer sheath; a second opening at a proximal end of said outer sheath; first and second sheath pinholes through said outer sheath proximal to said first opening; a first sheath pin slot extending from said proximal end of said sheath to said first sheath pinhole; a second sheath pin slot extending from said proximal end of said sheath to said second sheath pinhole; an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer sheath, said ultrasonic waveguide comprising; an end-effector extending from said opening of said outer sheath; a waveguide pinhole through said ultrasonic waveguide proximal to said end-effector; a connector pin, said connector pin extending through said first sheath pinhole, said waveguide pinhole and said second sheath pinhole; and an attachment hub surrounding said outer sheath, wherein said attachment hub is slidable over said outer sheath; a first pin slot on an inner surface of said attachment hub, wherein said connector pin engages said first pin slot when said attachment hub is in its proximal most position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: an outer sheath wherein said outer sheath comprises; a first opening at a distal end of said outer sheath; a second opening at a proximal end of said outer sheath; first and second sheath pinholes through said outer sheath proximal to said first opening; a first sheath pin slot extending from said proximal end of said sheath to said first sheath pinhole; a second sheath pin slot extending from said proximal end of said sheath to said second sheath pinhole; an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer sheath, said ultrasonic waveguide comprising; an end-effector extending from said opening of said outer sheath; a waveguide pinhole through said ultrasonic waveguide proximal to said end-effector; a connector pin, said connector pin extending through said first sheath pinhole, said waveguide pinhole and said second sheath pinhole; and an attachment hub surrounding said outer sheath, wherein said attachment hub is slidable over said outer sheath; a first pin slot on an inner surface of said attachment hub, wherein said connector pin engages said first pin slot when said attachment hub is in its proximal most position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising: an engagement hub protruding from the proximal end of said outer sheath; and sheath slots on said inner surface of said attachment hub wherein said engagement hub engages said sheath slot when said attachment hub is in its proximal most position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 2 , wherein said first and second sheath pin slots have a width which is smaller than the diameter of said connector pin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 3 , wherein said surgical instrument further comprises at least one acoustic isolation element surrounding said ultrasonic waveguide, whereby said acoustic isolation element separates said ultrasonic waveguide from said outer sheath when said ultrasonic surgical instrument is assembled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 4 wherein said attachment hub further comprises wrench flats on the outer surface of said attachment hub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: outer sheath which comprises; an opening at the distal end of said outer sheath; a sheath pinhole through said outer sheath proximal to said opening; a sheath pin slot extending from said sheath pinhole to a proximal end of said outer sheath; an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer sheath, said ultrasonic waveguide comprising; an end-effector extending from said opening of said outer sheath; a waveguide pinhole through said ultrasonic waveguide proximal to said end-effector; a connector pin insertable through said sheath pin hole into said waveguide pinhole; and an attachment hub surrounding said outer sheath, wherein said attachment hub is slidable over said outer sheath; at least one pin slot on an inner surface of said attachment hub, wherein said connector pin engages said pin slot when said attachment hub is in iits most proximal position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: outer sheath which comprises; an opening at the distal end of said outer sheath; a sheath pinhole through said outer sheath proximal to said opening; a sheath pin slot extending from said sheath pinhole to a proximal end of said outer sheath; an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer sheath, said ultrasonic waveguide comprising; an end-effector extending from said opening of said outer sheath; a waveguide pinhole through said ultrasonic waveguide proximal to said end-effector; a connector pin insertable through said sheath pin hole into said waveguide pinhole; and an attachment hub surrounding said outer sheath, wherein said attachment hub is slidable over said outer sheath; at least one pin slot on an inner surface of said attachment hub, wherein said connector pin engages said pin slot when said attachment hub is in iits most proximal position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 6 , wherein said outer sheath further comprises: hub engagements protruding from the proximal end of said outer sheath; and said attachment hub further includes hub sheath slots on said inner surface of said attachment hub wherein said hub engagements engage said hub sheath slots when said attachment hub is in its most proximal position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 7 , wherein said sheath pin slot has a width which is smaller than the diameter of said connector pin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 8 , wherein said surgical instrument further comprises at least one acoustic isolation element surrounding said ultrasonic waveguide, whereby said acoustic isolation element separates said ultrasonic waveguide from said outer sheath when said ultrasonic surgical instrument is assembled.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 9 wherein said attachment hub further comprises wrench flats on the outer surface of said attachment hub.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A sheath for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, wherein said sheath comprises: an outer sheath; a first opening at a distal end of said outer sheath; a second opening at a proximal end of said outer sheath; first and second sheath pinholes through said outer sheath proximal to said first opening; a first sheath pin slot extending from said proximal end of said sheath to said first sheath pinhole; a second sheath pin slot extending from said proximal end of said sheath to said second sheath pinhole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A sheath for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, wherein said sheath comprises: an outer sheath; a first opening at a distal end of said outer sheath; a second opening at a proximal end of said outer sheath; first and second sheath pinholes through said outer sheath proximal to said first opening; a first sheath pin slot extending from said proximal end of said sheath to said first sheath pinhole; a second sheath pin slot extending from said proximal end of said sheath to said second sheath pinhole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sheath for an ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 11 , further comprising: an attachment hub surrounding said outer sheath, wherein said attachment hub is slidable over said outer sheath; and a first pin slot on an inner surface of said attachment hub.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A sheath for an ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 12 , said sheath further comprising: a hub engagement protruding from the proximal end of said outer sheath; and sheath slots on said inner surface of said attachment hub wherein said attachment hub engages said sheath slot when said attachment hub is in its proximal most position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 13 , wherein said first and second pin slots have a width which is smaller than the diameter of said connector pin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 14 , wherein said surgical instrument further comprises at least one acoustic isolation element surrounding said ultrasonic waveguide, whereby said acoustic isolation element separates said ultrasonic waveguide from said outer sheath when said ultrasonic surgical instrument is assembled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 15 wherein said attachment hub further comprises wrench flats on the outer surface of said attachment hub.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
151 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: an outer sheath wherein said outer sheath comprises; a first opening at a distal end of said outer sheath; a second opening at a proximal end of said outer sheath; first and second sheath pinholes through said outer sheath proximal to said first opening; an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer sheath, said ultrasonic waveguide comprising; an end-effector extending from said opening of said outer sheath; a waveguide pinhole through said ultrasonic waveguide proximal to said end-effector; a connector pin, said connector pin extending through said first sheath pinhole, said waveguide pinhole and said second sheath pinhole; and an attachment hub surrounding said outer sheath, wherein said attachment hub is slidable over said outer sheath; a first pin slot on an inner surface of said attachment hub, wherein said connector pin engages said first pin slot when said attachment hub is in its proximal most position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
151 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: an outer sheath wherein said outer sheath comprises; a first opening at a distal end of said outer sheath; a second opening at a proximal end of said outer sheath; first and second sheath pinholes through said outer sheath proximal to said first opening; an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer sheath, said ultrasonic waveguide comprising; an end-effector extending from said opening of said outer sheath; a waveguide pinhole through said ultrasonic waveguide proximal to said end-effector; a connector pin, said connector pin extending through said first sheath pinhole, said waveguide pinhole and said second sheath pinhole; and an attachment hub surrounding said outer sheath, wherein said attachment hub is slidable over said outer sheath; a first pin slot on an inner surface of said attachment hub, wherein said connector pin engages said first pin slot when said attachment hub is in its proximal most position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 17 , further comprising: an engagement hub protruding from the proximal end of said outer sheath; and hub sheath slots on said inner surface of said attachment hub wherein said engagement hub engages said sheath slot when said attachment hub is in its proximal most position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 18 , wherein said first and second hub pin slots are L shaped, with a locking slot at their distal end.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 19 , wherein said surgical instrument further comprises at least one acoustic isolation element surrounding said ultrasonic waveguide, whereby said acoustic isolation element separates said ultrasonic waveguide from said outer sheath when said ultrasonic surgical instrument is assembled.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic surgical instrument according to claim 20 wherein said attachment hub further comprises wrench flats on the outer surface of said attachment hub.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |