# US 11,439,426 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 11,439,426 B2 - Document ID: US11439426B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/293,848 - Filed: 2019-03-06 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-30 - Assignees: Cilag GmbH International - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: David A. Witt; Jeffrey D. Messerly; Kevin L. Houser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439426B2 ## 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 ultrasonic surgical blade, comprising: a body, comprising: a proximal end; a distal end movable relative to a curved axis extending from the proximal end in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end, wherein the body extends along the curved axis from the proximal end to the distal end; and a tissue treatment region comprising an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a body coefficient of friction; and a coating adhered to at least a portion of the tissue treatment region and configured to directly contact the tissue to be treated, wherein the coating comprises a coating coefficient of friction that is less than the body coefficient of friction, and wherein the coating comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the body is asymmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis extending distally from the proximal end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the distal end is misaligned with a longitudinal axis extending distally from the proximal end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the following group: tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) copolymers (FEP), liquid FEP, FEP/ceramic composites, liquid FEP ceramic epoxy composites, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), PTFE/ceramic composites, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, further comprising a surface treatment formed on at least a portion of the outer surface to enhance adhesion of the coating. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises a thickness of about 0.0001 inches to about 0.010 inches. ### Claim 7 An ultrasonic surgical blade, comprising: an asymmetrical body, comprising: a proximal end; a distal end movable relative to an axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end; and a tissue treatment region comprising an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a body coefficient of friction; and a coating adhered to at least a portion of the tissue treatment region and configured to directly contact the tissue to be treated, wherein the coating comprises a coating coefficient of friction that is less than the body coefficient of friction, and wherein the coating comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 7, wherein the asymmetrical body comprises a curved body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 8, wherein the curved body curves away from a longitudinal axis extending distally from the proximal end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 7, wherein the tissue treatment region is asymmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis extending distally from the proximal end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 7, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the following group: tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) copolymers (FEP), liquid FEP, FEP/ceramic composites, liquid FEP ceramic epoxy composites, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), PTFE/ceramic composites, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 7, further comprising a surface treatment formed on at least a portion of the outer surface to enhance adhesion of the coating. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 7, wherein the coating comprises a thickness of about 0.0001 inches to about 0.010 inches. ### Claim 14 An ultrasonic surgical blade, comprising: a curved body, comprising: a proximal end; a distal end movable relative to an axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end; and a tissue treatment region comprising an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a body coefficient of friction; and a coating adhered to at least a portion of the tissue treatment region and configured to directly contact the tissue to be treated, wherein the coating comprising a coating coefficient of friction that is less than the body coefficient of friction, and wherein the coating comprises a polymeric material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 14, wherein the curved body is asymmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis extending distally from the proximal end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 14, wherein the tissue treatment region is asymmetric with respect to a longitudinal axis extending distally from the proximal end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 14, wherein the distal end is misaligned with a longitudinal axis extending distally from the proximal end. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 14, wherein the polymeric material is selected from the following group: tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) copolymers (FEP), liquid FEP, FEP/ceramic composites, liquid FEP ceramic epoxy composites, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), PTFE/ceramic composites, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 14, further comprising a surface treatment formed on at least a portion of the outer surface to enhance adhesion of the coating. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 14, wherein the coating comprises a thickness of about 0.0001 inches to about 0.010 inches.