Ultrasonic surgical instruments with translational capability

An ultrasonic surgical instrument having an ultrasonic resonant frequency when operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator, the surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) an ultrasonic transducer assembly adapted for converting electrical energy into longitudinal vibrational motion at an ultrasonic frequency, the transducer assembly having an axial passageway extending proximally from a distal end of the transducer through at least a portion of a length of the transducer assembly;
• (b) an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal portion and a distal end;
• and
• (c) an end effector at the distal end of the waveguide;
• wherein the proximal portion of the waveguide is adapted to be operatively and selectively coupled within the axial passageway of the ultrasonic transducer such that the waveguide will transmit ultrasonic energy from the transducer to the end effector, and further wherein the waveguide is selectively coupleable within the transducer to provide at least two different effective lengths without altering the resonant frequency of the instrument;
• further comprising a coupling assembly for selectively coupling the waveguide to the transducer assembly, wherein the coupling assembly comprises a collet located distal to the horn, and a locking member, wherein the collet, and locking member are axially aligned and are configured to receive the proximal portion of the waveguide therethrough such that the locking member slides along the exterior of the waveguide and is secureable over the collet for selectively coupling the waveguide to the transducer assembly.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument having an ultrasonic resonant frequency when operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator, the surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) an ultrasonic transducer assembly adapted for converting electrical energy into longitudinal vibrational motion at an ultrasonic frequency, the transducer assembly having an axial passageway extending proximally from a distal end of the transducer through at least a portion of a length of the transducer assembly;
• (b) an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal portion and a distal end;
• and
• (c) an end effector at the distal end of the waveguide;
• wherein the proximal portion of the waveguide is adapted to be operatively and selectively coupled within the axial passageway of the ultrasonic transducer such that the waveguide will transmit ultrasonic energy from the transducer to the end effector, and further wherein the waveguide is selectively coupleable within the transducer to provide at least two different effective lengths without altering the resonant frequency of the instrument;
• wherein at least a portion of the axial passageway of the transducer assembly is threaded, a proximal end portion of the waveguide is threaded and is selectively threadably coupleable within the threaded axial passageway of the transducer assembly;
• and
• further wherein the threaded proximal end portion of the waveguide has a larger diameter than a portion of the waveguide immediately distal to the threaded proximal end portion.