# US 10,245,065 B2 · Ultrasonic surgical blades > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,065 B2 - Document ID: US10245065B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/986,424 - Filed: 2018-05-22 - Published: 2018-09-20 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-30 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: David A. Witt; Jeffrey D. Messerly; Kevin L. Houser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245065B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw} - A61L 31/08: Materials for coatings - A61L 31/088: {Other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L31/084 or A61L31/086} - A61L 31/10: Macromolecular materials - A61L 31/14: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials} - A61N 7/00: Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092}) - 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 2017/00849: {with respect to tissue, e.g. hollow organs} - A61B 2017/00853: {low friction, hydrophobic and corrosion-resistant fluorocarbon resin coating (ptf, ptfe, polytetrafluoroethylene)} - A61B 2017/0088: {ceramic} - A61B 2017/320078: {Tissue manipulating surface} - A61B 2017/320093: {additional movable means performing cutting operation} - A61B 2017/320094: {additional movable means performing clamping operation} - A61B 2017/320095: {with sealing or cauterizing means} - A61L 2400/10: Materials for lubricating medical devices - A61L 2420/08: Coatings comprising two or more layers - A61N 7/02: Localised ultrasound hyperthermia - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: an ultrasonic surgical blade for at least one of cutting and coagulating tissue, wherein the ultrasonic surgical blade comprises: a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface comprising a treatment region configured to directly contact the tissue to be treated, wherein the distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end; and a lubricious coating for contacting tissue, wherein the lubricious coating comprises a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body, wherein the lubricious coating is adhered to at least a portion of the treatment region of the outer surface of the body, wherein the lubricious coating comprises a polymeric material, and wherein the lubricious coating comprises a second layer adhered to at least a portion of a first layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a thickness of about 0.0001 to about 0.010 inches. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second layer has a non-uniform thickness about the outer surface of the body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second layer has a greater thickness on a lateral surface portion of the body relative to a top surface portion of the body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the treatment region of an outer surface of the second layer comprises a surface treatment formed thereon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) copolymers (FEP), liquid FEP, FEP/ceramic composites, liquid FEP ceramic epoxy composites, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and PTFE/ceramic composites. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lubricious coating comprises a dry film lubricant. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the dry film lubricant is selected from the group consisting of tungsten disulfide, molybdenum disulfide, graphite, and fluorinated polymers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic surgical blade further comprises a surface treatment formed on the at least a portion of the treatment region of the outer surface of the body to enhance adhesion of a material to the at least a portion of the treatment region of the outer surface of the body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first layer has a non-uniform thickness about the outer surface of the body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis extends between the proximal end and the distal end of the body, and wherein the longitudinal axis defines at least one curve. ### Claim 12 An ultrasonic surgical blade, comprising: a body, comprising: a proximal end; a distal end movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end; and an outer surface defining a first coefficient of friction relative to a piece of tissue, wherein the outer surface comprises a tissue treatment region; a first lubricious coating adhered to at least a portion of the tissue treatment region; and a second lubricious coating overlapping at least a portion of the first lubricious coating and configured to directly contact tissue, wherein the second lubricious coating defines a second coefficient of friction relative to the piece of tissue, and wherein the second coefficient of friction is less than the first coefficient of friction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 12, wherein the second lubricious coating comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 12, wherein the second lubricious coating comprises a thickness of about 0.0001 to about 0.010 inches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 12, further comprising a surface treatment configured to enhance adhesion of the second lubricious coating over the first lubricious coating. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 12, wherein the first lubricious coating comprises a non-uniform thickness. ### Claim 17 An ultrasonic surgical blade, comprising: a body, comprising: a proximal end; a distal end movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end; and an outer surface defining a first coefficient of friction relative to a piece of tissue, wherein the outer surface comprises a tissue treatment region; and a layered coating adhered to at least a portion of the tissue treatment region and configured to directly contact tissue, wherein the layered coating defines a second coefficient of friction relative to the piece of tissue, and wherein the second coefficient of friction is less than the first coefficient of friction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 17, wherein the layered coating comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 17, wherein the layered coating comprises a thickness of about 0.0001 to about 0.010 inches. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 17, wherein the layered coating comprises a first layer, and wherein the first layer comprises a non-uniform thickness. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 20, further comprising a surface treatment configured to enhance adhesion of a second layer of the layered coating over the first layer.