Patent US4687291A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6561983B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Attachments of components of ultrasonic blades or waveguides
Assignee: Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
•
Filing: 2001-01-31
•
Granted: 2003-05-13
•
Expires: 2021-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A connection union and method for securing together first and second components of an ultrasonic waveguide or blade. The first and second components of the ultrasonic waveguide or blade are formed as complementary components which engage each other with a complementary fitting. Then a compressed fit over the connection union is formed by an electromagnetic metal forming operation which compressively deforms a female coupling member over the connection union. The female coupling member can comprise a separate sleeve which is compressed over the connection union by the electromagnetic metal forming operation. Alternatively, the female coupling member can comprise a terminal end of one of the first and second components which includes a longitudinally extending recess which forms an outer circumferentially extending sleeve which is compressed over the connection union by the electromagnetic metal forming operation. In several embodiments, the first and second components are butted together, and each butted end of the first and second components includes at least one circumferentially extending ridge, around which the female coupling member is deformed during the electromagnetic metal forming operation to form an undercut in the female coupling member. In disclosed embodiments, the first component comprises the shaft of an ultrasonic waveguide or blade and the second component comprises a distal tip end of the ultrasonic waveguide such as an end-effector.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Cronin
- 👤 Jean M. Beaupre
- 👤 Lee E. Reichel
- 👤 Jonathan E. Tuttle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:40
CPC Classifications
B; B06; B06B; B06B3/00; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00477; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320069; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/4987; Y10T29/49872; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/49; Y10T403/4933; Y10T403/4941; Y10T403/4966
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A connection union for an ultrasound therapy system comprising: a first component and a second component of the ultrasound therapy system are complementary components, which engage each other with a complementary fitting, a compression fitting over the connection union is formed by a deformed female coupling member which is deformed around the complementary fitting of the first and second components by an electromagnetic metal forming operation which compressively deforms the female coupling member over the complementary fitting of the first and second components of the connection union.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A connection union for an ultrasound therapy system comprising: a first component and a second component of the ultrasound therapy system are complementary components, which engage each other with a complementary fitting, a compression fitting over the connection union is formed by a deformed female coupling member which is deformed around the complementary fitting of the first and second components by an electromagnetic metal forming operation which compressively deforms the female coupling member over the complementary fitting of the first and second components of the connection union.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The connection union of claim 1 , wherein the female coupling member comprises a separate sleeve which is compressed over the connection union by the electromagnetic metal forming operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The connection union of claim 1 , wherein the female coupling member comprises a terminal end of one of the first and second components which includes a longitudinally extending recess which forms an outer circumferentially extending sleeve which is compressed over the connection union by the electromagnetic metal forming operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The connection union of claim 1 , wherein the ends of the first and second components are butted together, and each butted end of the first and second components includes at least one circumferentially extending ridge, around which the female coupling member is deformed during the electromagnetic metal forming operation to form an undercut in the female coupling member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The connection union of claim 4 , wherein one of the first and second components comprises a projecting male terminal end, and the other of the first and second components comprises a complementary female terminal end which forms the complementary fitting with the male terminal end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The connection union of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second components comprises a projecting male terminal end, and the other of the first and second components comprises a complementary female terminal end which forms the complementary fitting with the male terminal end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connection union of claim 6 , wherein the complementary fitting is formed by male and female components forming a conical shaped fitting.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connection union of claim 6 , wherein the complementary fitting is formed by male and female components forming a frusto-conical shaped fitting.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connection union of claim 6 , wherein the complementary fitting is formed by male and female components forming a cylindrical shaped fitting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The connection union of claim 1 , wherein the complementary fitting is formed by two identical and complementary sandwich half components which face each other along a plane extending along the longitudinal axis of the connection union.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The connection union of claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second components includes one half of at least one circumferentially extending ridge, around which the female coupling member is deformed during the electromagnetic metal forming operation to form an undercut in the female coupling member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The connection union of claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises an ultrasonic waveguide or blade and the second component comprises a distal tip end of the ultrasonic waveguide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A connection method for an ultrasound therapy system comprising: forming a first component and a second component of the ultrasound therapy system as complementary components which engage each other with a complementary fitting in a connection union, forming a compression fitting over the connection union by an electromagnetic metal forming operation which compressively deforms a female coupling member over the complementary first and second complementary components of the connection union.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
A connection method for an ultrasound therapy system comprising: forming a first component and a second component of the ultrasound therapy system as complementary components which engage each other with a complementary fitting in a connection union, forming a compression fitting over the connection union by an electromagnetic metal forming operation which compressively deforms a female coupling member over the complementary first and second complementary components of the connection union.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The connection method of claim 13 , including forming the female coupling member as a separate sleeve which is compressed over the connection union by the electromagnetic metal forming operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The connection method of claim 13 , including forming the female coupling member at a terminal end of one of the first and second components by forming a longitudinally extending recess therein, which forms an outer circumferentially extending sleeve which is compressed over the connection union by the electromagnetic metal forming operation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
The connection method of claim 13 , including butting the ends of the first and second components together, and forming each butted end of the first and second components with at least one circumferentially extending ridge, around which the female coupling member is deformed during the electromagnetic metal forming operation to form an undercut in the female coupling member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The connection method of claim 16 , including forming one of the first and second components with a projecting male terminal end, and forming the other of the first and second components with a complementary female terminal end which forms the complementary fitting with the male terminal end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The connection method of claim 13 , including forming one of the first and second components with a projecting male terminal end, and forming the other of the first and second components with a complementary female terminal end which forms the complementary fitting with the male terminal end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connection method of claim 18 , including forming the complementary fitting by male and female components which form a conical shaped fitting.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connection method of claim 18 , including forming the complementary fitting by male and female components which form a frusto-conical shaped fitting.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connection method of claim 18 , including forming the complementary fitting by male and female components which form a cylindrical shaped fitting.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The connection method of claim 13 , including forming the complementary fitting by two identical and complementary sandwich half components which face each other along a plane extending along the longitudinal axis of the connection union.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The connection method of claim 22 , including forming each of the first and second components with one half of at least one circumferentially extending ridge, around which the female coupling member is deformed during the electromagnetic metal forming operation to form an undercut in the female coupling member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4590655A
Cited
JPS61152959A
Cited
US5284148A
Cited
US5057119A
Cited
US5059210A
Cited
US5167725A
Cited
US5324299A
Cited
EP0891744A1
Cited
US5488955A
Cited
US5322055B1
Cited
US5322055A
Cited
US5449370A
Cited
US5443240A
Cited
US6004335A
Cited
US5630420A
Cited
US5746756A
Cited
US5993447A
Cited
US5848546A
Cited
US6051010A
Cited
US6063098A
Cited
US5797848A
Cited
US6206844B1
Cited
JPH1071439A
Cited
WO1999019017A1
Cited
US5993458A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-05-12 | 2006-11-11 | 2007-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-12 | 2010-11-11 | 2011-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-12 | 2014-11-11 | 2015-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |