# US 10,945,779 B2 · Combination ultrasonic and electrosurgical instrument having electrically insulating features > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,779 B2 - Document ID: US10945779B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/967,747 - Filed: 2018-05-01 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-22 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: William B. Weisenburgh, II; Jason R. Lesko; Catherine A. Corbett; Stephen M. Leuck; Craig T. Davis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945779B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00) - A61B 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw} - A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor} - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments} - A61B 2017/00137: {Details of operation mode} - A61B 2017/00738: {part of the tool being offset with respect to a main axis, e.g. for better view for the surgeon} - A61B 2017/00929: {isolating electrical current} - A61B 2017/2929: {with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft} - A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members} - A61B 2017/320072: {Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts} - A61B 2017/320074: {blade} - A61B 2017/320075: {single edge blade, e.g. for cutting} - A61B 2017/320078: {Tissue manipulating surface} - A61B 2017/320088: {with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath} - A61B 2017/320094: {additional movable means performing clamping operation} - A61B 2017/320095: {with sealing or cauterizing means} - A61B 2018/00077: {high, i.e. electrically conducting} - A61B 2018/00083: {low, i.e. electrically insulating} - A61B 2018/00136: {with polymer} - A61B 2018/00178: {Electrical connectors} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00607: {Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument} - A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing} - A61B 2018/00988: {Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter} - A61B 2018/00994: {combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound} - A61B 2018/126: {bipolar} - A61B 2018/142: {at least partly surrounding the target, e.g. concave, curved or in the form of a cave} - A61B 2018/1452: {including means for cutting (A61B2018/146 takes precedence)} - A61B 2018/1457: {having opposing blades cutting tissue grasped by the jaws, i.e. combined scissors and pliers} - A61B 2090/0803: {Counting the number of times an instrument is used} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an ultrasonic transducer, a waveguide, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled with the waveguide, a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade, a first RF electrode provided by the clamp arm, and a second RF electrode provided by the ultrasonic blade. The first RF electrode is electrically coupled with a first RF electrical path of the instrument, and the second RF electrode is electrically coupled with a second RF electrical path of the instrument. The RF electrodes are operable to seal tissue with bipolar RF energy. An electrically insulative layer is provided on at least a portion of at least one of the ultrasonic blade, the waveguide, the shaft, or the clamp arm, and is configured to prevent shorting between the first and second RF electrical paths. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument comprising: (a) a shaft; (b) an ultrasonic transducer; (c) a waveguide acoustically coupled with the ultrasonic transducer and extending distally through the shaft; (d) an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled with the waveguide, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the waveguide and the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, (ii) a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade for clamping tissue therebetween, (iii) a first RF electrode provided by the clamp arm, wherein the first RF electrode is electrically coupled with a first RF electrical path of the surgical instrument, and (iv) a second RF electrode provided by the ultrasonic blade, wherein the second RF electrode is electrically coupled with a second RF electrical path of the surgical instrument, wherein the first and second RF electrodes are operable to seal tissue with bipolar RF energy; and (e) an electrically insulative layer configured to prevent shorting between the first RF electrical path and the second RF electrical path, wherein the electrically insulative layer is provided on at least a portion of the waveguide, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from a distal-most acoustic node of the waveguide, wherein the electrically insulative layer encapsulates at least a portion of the distal-most acoustic node. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first RF electrode comprises an active electrode and the first RF electrical path comprises an active path, wherein the second RF electrode comprises a return electrode and the second RF electrical path comprises a return path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulative layer is further provided on a portion of the ultrasonic blade. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the electrically insulative layer extends fully circumferentially about the portion of the ultrasonic blade. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the clamp arm is pivotably coupled to the shaft with a pivot pin, wherein the electrically insulative layer extends longitudinally along the ultrasonic blade between a proximal end arranged proximally of the pivot pin and a distal end arranged distally of the pivot pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising an annular overmold member that encircles the waveguide at the distal-most acoustic node thereof, wherein a distal portion of the annular overmold member overlaps a portion of the electrically insulative layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises an outer tube and an inner tube, wherein the waveguide extends through the inner tube, wherein one of the outer tube or the inner tube comprises a translating tube operable to translate relative to the other of the outer tube or the inner tube to actuate the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the first RF electrode is electrically coupled with the translating tube such that the first RF electrical path passes through the translating tube, wherein the second RF electrical path passes through the ultrasonic blade and the waveguide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The surgical instrument of claim 7, further comprising a second electrically insulative layer provided on the inner tube, wherein the second electrically insulative layer is configured to prevent electrical shorting between the translating tube and the waveguide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the second electrically insulative layer is provided on an inner surface of the inner tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a second electrically insulative layer provided on a portion of the clamp arm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the clamp arm includes a clamping side and a non-clamping side, wherein the clamping side is configured to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade, wherein the second electrically insulative layer is provided on the non-clamping side. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulative layer is also thermally insulative. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulative layer comprises a coating. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulative layer comprises Parylene. ### Claim 15 A surgical instrument comprising: (a) a shaft; (b) an ultrasonic transducer; (c) a waveguide acoustically coupled with the ultrasonic transducer and extending distally through the shaft; (d) an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled with the waveguide, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the waveguide and the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, (ii) a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade for clamping tissue therebetween, (iii) a first RF electrode provided by the clamp arm, wherein the first RF electrode is electrically coupled with a first RF electrical path of the surgical instrument, and (iv) a second RF electrode provided by the ultrasonic blade, wherein the second RF electrode is electrically coupled with a second RF electrical path of the surgical instrument, wherein the first and second RF electrodes are operable to seal tissue with bipolar RF energy; and (e) an electrically insulative layer configured to prevent shorting between the first RF electrical path and the second RF electrical path, wherein the electrically insulative layer is provided on at least a portion of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic blade extends distally from a distal-most acoustic node of the waveguide, wherein the electrically insulative layer encapsulates at least a portion of the distal-most acoustic node. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the clamp arm is pivotably coupled to the shaft with a pivot pin, wherein the electrically insulative layer extends longitudinally along the ultrasonic blade between a proximal end arranged proximally of the pivot pin and a distal end arranged distally of the pivot pin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The surgical instrument of claim 16, wherein the distal end of the electrically insulative layer is arranged proximally of a distal end of the ultrasonic blade. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the electrically insulative layer is also provided on a portion of the shaft. ### Claim 19 A surgical instrument comprising: (a) a shaft; (b) an ultrasonic transducer; (c) a waveguide acoustically coupled with the ultrasonic transducer and extending distally through the shaft; (d) an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises: (i) an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled with the waveguide, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the waveguide and the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, (ii) a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade for clamping tissue therebetween, (iii) a first RF electrode provided by the clamp arm, wherein the first RF electrode is electrically coupled with a first RF electrical path of the surgical instrument, and (iv) a second RF electrode provided by the ultrasonic blade, wherein the second RF electrode is electrically coupled with a second RF electrical path of the surgical instrument, wherein the first and second RF electrodes are operable to seal tissue with bipolar RF energy; and (e) an electrically insulative layer configured to prevent shorting between the first RF electrical path and the second RF electrical path, wherein the electrically insulative layer is provided on at least a portion of the clamp arm, wherein the clamp arm includes a clamping side and a non-clamping side, wherein the clamping side is configured to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade, wherein the electrically insulative layer is provided on the non-clamping side, wherein the non-clamping side of the clamp arm includes an outer surface facing away from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the electrically insulative layer is provided on the outer surface of the non-clamping side. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein the electrically insulative layer is configured to contact tissue faced by the outer surface of the non-clamping side.