# US 11,432,838 B2 · Nozzle assemblies for liquid jet surgical instruments and surgical instruments for employing the nozzle assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,838 B2 - Document ID: US11432838B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/550,059 - Filed: 2019-08-23 - Published: 2020-02-27 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2002-10-25 - Assignees: HydroCision, Inc. - Applicants: HydroCision, Inc. - Inventors: Kevin P. Staid; James J. Frassica; Ernest A Dion; David P. Hesketh; Joseph A. Meranda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432838B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/3203: Fluid jet cutting instruments - A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)} - A61B 17/32002: {with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments} - A61B 17/32037: {for removing obstructions from inner organs or blood vessels, e.g. for atherectomy} - A61B 17/320708: {Curettes, e.g. hollow scraping instruments} - A61B 17/320783: {through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter} - A61B 2017/00424: {ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist} - A61B 2017/00535: {pneumatically or hydraulically operated (A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence)} - A61B 2090/08021: {of the patient or his organs} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Disclosed are nozzles and nozzle assemblies of liquid jet-forming surgical instruments, surgical instruments employing such nozzles and/or nozzle assemblies, and methods of fabricating the nozzle assemblies in forming surgical instruments. Also, disclosed are liquid jet-forming surgical instruments including both liquid jet-forming nozzles and optional evacuation lumens, which when provided can be configured to receive the liquid jet and evacuate the liquid forming the liquid jet. Certain embodiments of such surgical instruments include inventive nozzle alignment component(s) to facilitate alignment of the nozzles and evacuation lumen upon assembly. In certain embodiments, surgical instruments are provided that include a nozzle that is shaped to form a liquid jet, which has surfaces that are optically smooth. In certain embodiments, the nozzle has a configuration enabling the nozzle to form a liquid jet that has the ability to remain collimated over longer distances than is typically achievable with conventional liquid jet surgical instrument nozzles having the same ratio of nozzle length to minimum inner diameter of the jet opening. In certain embodiments, nozzle assemblies comprising an operative assembly of at least two subcomponents, which together provide a nozzle are provided. In certain embodiments, the at least two sub-components may comprise a nozzle-providing component, such as a nozzle ring, and a holder that is configured to retain and position the nozzle-providing component in the nozzle assembly. In certain embodiments, the nozzle-providing component can comprise a liquid flow passage having a diameter that continuously decreases along at least a portion of its length. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument comprising: a handle shaped to be gripped by a hand of an operator, the handle comprising an elongated housing; a pressure lumen supported by the elongated housing, the pressure lumen configured to supply a pressurized flow of liquid; a nozzle positioned completely inside a distal end of the pressure lumen, wherein the nozzle is co-axial with the distal end of the pressure lumen and, in operation, co-axial with the pressurized flow of liquid passing through the nozzle, the nozzle formed as a torus with a flat surface and a curved opposite surface, the curved opposite surface positioned upstream of the flat surface; an evacuation lumen supported by the elongated housing, the evacuation lumen comprising an evacuation lumen opening at a distal end of the evacuation lumen opposite the nozzle, the evacuation lumen opening configured to receive at least a portion of the pressurized flow of liquid; and an opening positioned between the pressure lumen and the evacuation lumen, the opening configured to facilitate cutting of tissue by the pressurized flow of liquid emitted from the nozzle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the pressure lumen forms a recessed well in which the nozzle is retained and positioned. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the nozzle is secured and retained by the recessed well to sufficiently withstand an internal liquid pressure of at least about 1,000 psig without failure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein an inner diameter of the recessed well is greater than an outer diameter of the nozzle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the nozzle is press-fit into the recessed well. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The surgical instrument of claim 2, further comprising a retainer positioned in the recessed well and configured to secure the nozzle in the recessed well. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the retainer comprises at least one of: a ring press-fit into the recessed well, a weld, or a crimp in a wall of tubing comprising the recessed well. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the nozzle is configured to emit the pressurized flow of liquid at a cone angle between 3 degrees and 6 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is configured to emit the pressurized flow of liquid at a cone angle not exceeding 10 degrees. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the pressure lumen is configured to convey the pressurized flow of liquid at a pressure of at least 1,000 psig. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the evacuation lumen is configured to facilitate evacuation of the pressurized flow of liquid received from the evacuation lumen opening to a proximal end of the elongated housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the opening is longitudinal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising at least one vent aperture extending through the elongated housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the pressure lumen forms a taper with a diameter that increases in a proximal direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, comprising a distal opening at the distal end of the pressure lumen, wherein a diameter of the distal opening is smaller than an outer diameter of the nozzle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the pressure lumen proximal to the nozzle is smaller than an outer diameter of the nozzle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the nozzle forms a tapered passage with a diameter that continuously decreases along at least a portion of the curved opposite surface of the nozzle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the nozzle forms a tapered passage with a diameter that continuously decreases along at least a portion of the nozzle positioned downstream of the curved opposite surface of the nozzle. ### Claim 19 A method of cutting tissue comprising: cutting a tissue by a pressurized flow of liquid emitted from a nozzle of a surgical instrument, the nozzle positioned completely inside a distal end of a pressure lumen of the surgical instrument, the pressure lumen configured to supply the pressurized flow of liquid, the nozzle is co-axial with the distal end of the pressure lumen and, in operation, co-axial with the pressurized flow of liquid passing through the nozzle, the nozzle formed as a torus with a flat surface and a curved opposite surface, the curved opposite surface positioned upstream of the flat surface; and causing evacuation of at least a portion of the pressurized flow of liquid by an evacuation lumen of the surgical instrument, the evacuation lumen comprising an evacuation lumen opening at a distal end of the evacuation lumen opposite the nozzle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein cutting the tissue comprises positioning the tissue in an opening located between the pressure lumen and the evacuation lumen.