# US 2013/0239402 A1 · Method of Assembling a Cordless Hand-Held Ultrasonic Cautery Cutting Device

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- Number: US 2013/0239402 A1
- Document ID: US20130239402A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/873,958
- Filed: 2013-04-30
- Published: 2013-09-19
- Earliest claimed: 2008-11-06
- Assignees: Covidien LP
- Applicants: Covidien AG
- Inventors: Kevin W. Smith; Thomas O. Bales, Jr.; Matthew A. Palmer; Derek Dee Deville
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130239402A1

## CPC

- B06B 3/00: Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
- A61B 17/1285: {for minimally invasive surgery}
- A61B 17/32: Surgical cutting instruments ({A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467;} implements for ligaturing and cutting {A61B17/122, A61B17/12; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133})
- 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 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw}
- A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments}
- A61B 2017/00075: {Motion}
- A61B 2017/00137: {Details of operation mode}
- A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated}
- A61B 2017/320089: {node location}
- 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}
- A61B 2017/320097: {with stapling means}
- A61B 2017/320098: {with transverse or torsional motion}
- A61B 2090/0803: {Counting the number of times an instrument is used}
- A61B 2090/0807: {Indication means}
- Y10T 29/49005: Acoustic transducer
- Y10T 29/49169: Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
- B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method for assembling an ultrasonic surgical device includes the steps of rotatably freely connecting an ultrasonic waveguide to an ultrasonic surgical handle body, the ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal coupling end, substantially simultaneously removably coupling an ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit to the ultrasonic surgical handle body and removably inserting an ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of a cordless, rotatably free ultrasonic transducer into the ultrasonic surgical handle body opposite the proximal coupling end of the ultrasonic waveguide, and rotating the ultrasonic waveguide with respect to the ultrasonic transducer to fixedly couple the ultrasonic waveguide to the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for assembling an ultrasonic surgical device, the method comprising:
rotatably freely connecting an ultrasonic waveguide to an ultrasonic surgical handle body, the ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal coupling end;
substantially simultaneously:
removably coupling an ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit to the ultrasonic surgical handle body; and
removably inserting an ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of a rotatably free, cordless ultrasonic transducer into the ultrasonic surgical handle body opposite the proximal coupling end of the ultrasonic waveguide, the ultrasonic transducer being operable to dynamically produce a resonant wave along the ultrasonic waveguide when coupled thereto; and
rotating the ultrasonic waveguide with respect to the ultrasonic transducer to fixedly couple the ultrasonic waveguide to the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises providing the ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit and the cordless, rotatably free ultrasonic transducer within a shell of an ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly to expose a proximal end of the ultrasonic transducer to the environment for rotation by a user.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises removably inserting at least a portion of a battery at an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment of the ultrasonic surgical handle body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises removably inserting a battery into a selectively accessible and aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment of the ultrasonic surgical handle body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, which further comprises retaining a battery at an aseptically sealed battery-holding compartment of one of the shell and the ultrasonic surgical handle body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, which further comprises removably inserting a battery in an aseptically sealed battery-holding compartment of one of the shell and the ultrasonic surgical handle body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein:
the ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit and the cordless, rotatably free ultrasonic transducer are part of the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly;
the ultrasonic surgical handle body has a grip portion; and
an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment is at one of the grip portion and the ultrasonic-movement-generator assembly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein:
the ultrasonic transducer has an exposed proximal end;
the ultrasonic waveguide has an ultrasonic end effector; and
which further comprises touchlessly rotating the ultrasonic end effector by rotating the exposed proximal end of the ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises uncoupling the ultrasonic waveguide from the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer by rotating the ultrasonic waveguide with respect to the ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit is operable to generate an output waveform capable of causing ultrasonic movement in the ultrasonic waveguide through the ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 11

A method for assembling an ultrasonic surgical assembly, the method comprising:
providing an ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly with:
an ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit; and
a cordless ultrasonic transducer having an ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end and a proximal end;
providing an ultrasonic waveguide;
providing a handle body with:
an ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly dock shaped to selectively removably secure the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly to the handle body;
an ultrasonic transducer dock shaped to accept the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer when the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly is secured to the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly dock; and
a waveguide attachment dock rotatably freely connecting the ultrasonic waveguide thereto and placing the ultrasonic waveguide in alignment with the ultrasonic transducer when the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly is secured to the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly dock;
substantially simultaneously:
inserting the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly into the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly dock; and
inserting the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer into the ultrasonic transducer dock while the proximal end of the ultrasonic transducer is exposed to the environment; and
removably fixedly coupling the ultrasonic waveguide to the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer by rotating one of the ultrasonic waveguide and the ultrasonic transducer with respect to the other, the ultrasonic transducer being operable to dynamically produce a resonant wave along the ultrasonic waveguide when coupled thereto.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, further comprising removably inserting a battery at an aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein:
the handle body has a grip portion; and
the battery-holding compartment is disposed at one of:
the grip portion of the handle body; and
the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, further comprising manipulating an end effector of the ultrasonic waveguide by rotating the proximal end of the ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, further comprising uncoupling the ultrasonic waveguide from the ultrasonic-movement-producing distal end of the ultrasonic transducer by rotating one of the ultrasonic waveguide and the ultrasonic transducer with respect to the other.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit is operable to generate an output waveform capable of causing ultrasonic movement in the ultrasonic waveguide through the ultrasonic transducer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic-signal-generator assembly further comprises a shell:
housing the ultrasonic-driving-wave-signal generating circuit therein; and
housing at least a portion of the ultrasonic transducer therein such that the proximal end of the ultrasonic transducer is left exposed to the environment for rotation by the user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, further comprising removably connecting a battery at a selectively accessible and aseptically sealable battery-holding compartment of the handle body.