US6468286B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic curved blade
Assignee: Covidien LP
•
Filing: 2001-09-06
•
Granted: 2002-10-22
•
Expires: 2021-09-06
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic dissection and coagulation system for surgical use is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic instrument, a control module, and a remote actuator. The ultrasonic instrument has a housing and an elongated body portion extending from the housing. An ultrasonic transducer supported within the housing is operatively connected to a cutting jaw by a vibration coupler. The vibration coupler conducts high frequency vibration from the ultrasonic transducer to the cutting jaw. The cutting jaw has a blade surface which is curved downwardly and outwardly in the distal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion along its length such that an angle defined by a line drawn tangent to the blade surface and the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion varies between 5 degrees and 75 degrees. A clamp member having a tissue contact surface is positioned adjacent to the cutting jaw and is movable from an open position in which the tissue contact surface is spaced form the blade surface to a clamped position in which the tissue contact surface is in close juxtaposed alignment with the blade surface to clamp tissue therebetween. The clamp member and the curved cutting jaw combine to enhance contact between tissue and the blade surface of the cutting jaw during cutting. Further, the continuously varying angle of the blade surface with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion facilitates selective user control over the application of force on tissue during a cutting or dissecting procedure.
Inventors
- 👤 Dominick L. Mastri
- 👤 Corbett W. Stone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B17/320092; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/295; A61B17/2812; A61B17/282; A61B2017/2825; A61B2017/320072; A61B2017/320074; A61B2017/320075; A61B2017/320094; A61B2017/320095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An ultrasonic instrument comprising: a) a vibration coupler; b) a cutting jaw operatively connected to the vibration coupler; c) a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting jaw, the clamp member being moveable in relation to the cutting jaw between an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp member is spaced from the cutting jaw and a closed position in which the clamp member and the cutting jaw are in substantially juxtaposed alignment; and d) a rotatable member operatively associated with the vibration coupler, the clamp member and the cutting jaw, the rotatable member being rotatable to cause corresponding rotation of the clamp member and cutting jaw about a longitudinal axis of the instrument.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An ultrasonic instrument comprising: a) a vibration coupler; b) a cutting jaw operatively connected to the vibration coupler; c) a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting jaw, the clamp member being moveable in relation to the cutting jaw between an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp member is spaced from the cutting jaw and a closed position in which the clamp member and the cutting jaw are in substantially juxtaposed alignment; and d) a rotatable member operatively associated with the vibration coupler, the clamp member and the cutting jaw, the rotatable member being rotatable to cause corresponding rotation of the clamp member and cutting jaw about a longitudinal axis of the instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting jaw includes a curved cutting surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 2 , wherein the curved cutting surface is convex.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the clamp member includes a tissue contact surface removably fastened to the clamp member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 1 , further including a handle assembly, the vibration coupler extending distally from the handle assembly, the handle assembly including a moveable handle operatively connected to the clamp member and being moveable to move the clamp member between the open and closed positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the clamp member includes a pair of tissue engaging stops.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
An ultrasonic instrument comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) a vibration coupler supported by and extending distally from the handle assembly; c) a cutting jaw having a cutting surface operatively connected to the vibration coupler; d) a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting jaw, the clamp member and the cutting jaw defining a tissue receiving area, the clamp member being moveable between open and closed positions in relation to the cutting jaw and having a tissue engaging stop positioned to engage tissue and prevent positioning of tissue beyond the proximal end of the cutting surface of the cutting jaw.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
An ultrasonic instrument comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) a vibration coupler supported by and extending distally from the handle assembly; c) a cutting jaw having a cutting surface operatively connected to the vibration coupler; d) a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting jaw, the clamp member and the cutting jaw defining a tissue receiving area, the clamp member being moveable between open and closed positions in relation to the cutting jaw and having a tissue engaging stop positioned to engage tissue and prevent positioning of tissue beyond the proximal end of the cutting surface of the cutting jaw.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 7 , further including an actuator tube slidably positioned about the vibration coupler, a distal end of the actuator tube including a cam slot configured to receive cam members formed on the clamp member, the actuator tube being moveable between advanced and retracted positions about the vibration coupler in response to actuation of the handle assembly to effect movement of the clamp member between the open and closed positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 8 , wherein the handle assembly includes a stationary handle and a moveable handle, the moveable handle being operably connected to a proximal end of the actuator tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 9 , further including a coupling member, the coupling member interconnecting the actuator tube and the moveable handle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the coupling member includes a swivel member, the swivel member being positioned to permit rotation of the coupling member in relation to the moveable handle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the coupling member is operably connected to a rotatable knob positioned adjacent the handle assembly, the rotatable knob being rotatably secured to the handle assembly such that rotation of the rotatable knob in relation to the handle assembly effects corresponding rotation of the coupling member and the clamp member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 12 , wherein the vibration coupler is rotatably fixed to the rotatable knob such that rotation of the rotatable knob also effects corresponding rotation of the vibration coupler and the cutting jaw.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 8 , further including an outer tube positioned about the actuator tube, the clamp member being pivotally connected to the outer tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 7 , wherein the cutting surface of the cutting jaw is curved along the longitudinal axis of the instrument.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 15 , wherein the curved cutting surface is convex.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 7 , wherein the clamp member includes a tissue contact surface removably fastened to the clamp member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 13 , wherein the cutting surface of the cutting jaw is convex along the longitudinal axis of the instrument.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 7 , wherein a transverse cross-section of the clamp member defines a concavity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
An ultrasonic instrument according to claim 19 , wherein a transverse cross-section of the cutting jaw defines a triangular shape having an apex, wherein the apex of the triangular shape is the cutting surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2011169A
Cited
US2002594A
Cited
US2714890A
Cited
US2874470A
Cited
US3086288A
Cited
US3427480A
Cited
US3526219A
Cited
US3862630A
Cited
US3636943A
Cited
DE2032501A1
Cited
US3792701A
Cited
US3930173A
Cited
US3752161A
Cited
US3899829A
Cited
US4428748A
Cited
US5441512A
Cited
SU1155256A1
Cited
US4672965A
Cited
WO1986002257A1
Cited
JPS6361609A
Cited
US4682597A
Cited
US5334183A
Cited
US5047043A
Cited
US5057098A
Cited
JPH01232949A
Cited
JPH01232948A
Cited
US4907591A
Cited
US5180363A
Cited
EP0394583B1
Cited
US5059210A
Cited
US5263957A
Cited
US5026387A
Cited
US5188102A
Cited
US5167725A
Cited
US5190541A
Cited
US5222937A
Cited
US5217460A
Cited
US5201759A
Cited
US5267998A
Cited
US5342380A
Cited
US5389104A
Cited
US5322055A
Cited
US5322055B1
Cited
WO1994020025A1
Cited
US5352222A
Cited
US5562693A
Cited
US5800448A
Cited
US5776155A
Cited
US5810859A
Cited
US6024750A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-21 | 2006-04-22 | 2006-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-21 | 2010-04-22 | 2010-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-21 | 2014-04-22 | 2014-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |