# US 10,245,064 B2 · Ultrasonic surgical instrument with piezoelectric central lumen transducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,064 B2 - Document ID: US10245064B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/626,768 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2018-01-18 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-12 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: Sora Rhee; Jacob S. Gee; Steven P. Smolik; Stephen J. Balek; William D. Dannaher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245064B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/320068: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic (A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745)} - A61B 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw} - B06B 1/0611: {in a pile} - B06B 3/00: Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency - A61B 2017/00084: {Temperature} - A61B 2017/0011: {piezoelectric} - A61B 2017/00402: {Piezo electric actuators} - A61B 2017/00504: {Tissue welding} - A61B 2017/22027: {Features of transducers} - A61B 2017/320071: {with articulating means for working tip} - A61B 2017/320084: {Irrigation sleeves} - A61B 2017/320094: {additional movable means performing clamping operation} - B06B 1/0614: {for generating several frequencies} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) ## Abstract A surgical instrument includes a transducer assembly with a housing having a conduit section and a base portion. A fluid passageway is defined through the conduit and base portion, an ultrasonic transducer including a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a plurality of electrodes are arranged in a stack configuration, where an electrode is located between each pair of piezoelectric elements. A first borehole is defined through the ultrasonic transducer and an end mass having a second borehole defined therethrough. A surface of the end mass is positioned adjacent a first end of the ultrasonic transducer, the end mass is configured to engage with the housing, and the conduit section of the housing is configured to pass through the second borehole of the end mass. The end mass is configured to compress the ultrasonic transducer against a surface of the housing when the end mass is engaged with the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument for coagulating and dissecting tissue, the surgical instrument comprising: a transducer assembly comprising: a housing; an ultrasonic transducer comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements and a plurality of electrodes arranged in a stack configuration, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is located between at least one pair of the plurality of piezoelectric elements; an end mass positioned adjacent a first end of the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the end mass is configured to engage with the housing; and wherein the end mass is configured to compress the ultrasonic transducer against an interior surface of the housing when the end mass is engaged with the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an alignment feature configured to provide a gap between the plurality of piezoelectric elements and the interior surface of the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein: the ultrasonic transducer is configured to fit within a portion of the housing, the portion defines an opening therein; and the end mass is configured to engage with the housing via a threaded connection between the end mass and the portion of the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is a solid and disk shaped piezoelectric element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the stack configuration comprises: a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes located at a first end of the stack configuration, wherein the first electrode is in contact with a surface of a first piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements; and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes located at a second end of the stack configuration, wherein the second electrode is in contact with a surface of a second piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the transducer assembly is configured to resonate at 40 kHz. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein: the end mass is bonded to the housing to create a seal around the interior surface of the housing; and the ultrasonic transducer is sealed within the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an electrical contact that is configured to electrically couple to an exterior surface of the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a surgical instrument housing, wherein the transducer assembly is located within the surgical instrument housing and is configured to be rotatable within the surgical instrument housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The surgical instrument of claim 5, further comprising a spacer element configured to contact the end mass upon the end mass compressing the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the spacer element is located at the first end of the stack configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein a first piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements and a second piezoelectric element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements are electrically connected in parallel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising: a first spacer element in contact with a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the first spacer element is configured to contact a first end of the end mass when the end mass is engaged with the ultrasonic transducer; a second spacer element in contact with a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the second spacer element is configured to contact the interior surface of the housing when the end mass is engaged with the ultrasonic transducer; the first electrode of the plurality of electrodes located at a first end of the stack configuration; and the second electrode of the plurality of electrodes located at a second end of the stack configuration.