Ultrasonic transducer assembly and ultrasonic surgical instrument incorporating the same
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorMatthew S. Cowley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasonic transducer assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a piezoelectric stack, an ultrasonic horn secured to and extending distally from the piezoelectric stack and including a body and a nose extending distally from the body, an overmold seal formed about the body of the ultrasonic horn, and a casing disposed about the piezoelectric stack, the body of the ultrasonic horn, and the overmold seal. The casing defines a distal opening through which the nose of the ultrasonic horn extends. The overmold seal establishes a hermetic seal with the casing to define a hermetically sealed interior enclosing the piezoelectric stack and the body of the ultrasonic horn therein.
Claims18
An ultrasonic transducer assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
- a piezoelectric stack;
- an ultrasonic horn secured to and extending distally from the piezoelectric stack, the ultrasonic horn including a body and a nose extending distally from the body;
- an overmold seal about the body of the ultrasonic horn;
- and
- a casing disposed about the piezoelectric stack, the body of the ultrasonic horn, and the overmold seal, the casing defining a distal opening through which the nose of the ultrasonic horn extends, the overmold seal establishing a hermetic seal with the casing to define a hermetically sealed interior enclosing the piezoelectric stack and the body of the ultrasonic horn therein, wherein the casing is configured to be arranged in a housing of a surgical instrument, wherein the body of the ultrasonic horn defines at least one radially-facing recess, and wherein the overmold seal is arranged about and within the at least one radially-facing recess and includes at least one pass-through electrical connector extending therethrough.
An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle assembly, including:
- a housing;
- and
- an ultrasonic transducer assembly supported by the housing, including:
- a piezoelectric stack;
- an ultrasonic horn secured to and extending distally from the piezoelectric stack, the ultrasonic horn including a body and a nose extending distally from the body;
- an overmold seal about the body of the ultrasonic horn;
- and
- a casing disposed about the piezoelectric stack, the body of the ultrasonic horn, and the overmold seal, the casing defining a distal opening through which the nose of the ultrasonic horn extends, the overmold seal establishing a hermetic seal with the casing to define a hermetically sealed interior enclosing the piezoelectric stack and the body of the ultrasonic horn therein, wherein the casing is arranged in the housing of the handle assembly, wherein the body of the ultrasonic horn defines at least one radially-facing recess, and wherein the overmold seal is arranged about and within the at least one radially-facing recess and includes at least one pass-through electrical connector extending therethrough;
- and
- an elongated assembly extending distally from the handle assembly, the elongated assembly including a waveguide configured to engage the nose of the ultrasonic horn, the waveguide defining a blade at a distal end thereof,
- wherein ultrasonic energy produced by the piezoelectric stack is transmitted along the ultrasonic horn and the waveguide to the blade for treating tissue adjacent the blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.