Articulating ultrasonic surgical instruments and systems
AssigneeCovidien LP
InventorsMatthew S. Cowley, Thomas E. Drochner, David J. Van Tol, Michael B. Lyons, James R. Fagan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a housing, an elongate shaft having an articulating portion, an end effector extending distally from the elongate shaft, and a transducer assembly disposed at least partially within the elongate shaft. The end effector includes a jaw and an ultrasonic blade. The transducer assembly includes a proximal transducer and a distal transducer coupled by a connector. The ultrasonic blade receives ultrasonic energy produced by transducer assembly.
Claims20
An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elongate shaft extending distally from the housing, wherein the elongate shaft includes an articulating portion;
- an end effector extending distally from the elongate shaft, the end effector including a jaw and an ultrasonic blade;
- and
- a transducer assembly spaced from the housing, the transducer assembly including a proximal transducer and a distal transducer interconnected by a connector, wherein the connector extends through the articulating portion such that the proximal transducer is disposed proximally of the articulating portion and the distal transducer is disposed distally of the articulating portion,
- wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to receive ultrasonic energy from the transducer assembly.
An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elongate shaft extending distally from the housing, wherein the elongate shaft includes an articulating portion;
- an end effector extending distally from the elongate shaft, the end effector including an ultrasonic blade;
- and
- a transducer assembly, the transducer assembly including a proximal transducer and a distal transducer interconnected by a flexible connector, wherein the flexible connector extends through the articulating portion such that the proximal transducer is disposed proximally of the articulating portion and the distal transducer is disposed distally of the articulating portion,
- wherein the proximal transducer is disposed distally of at least a portion of the elongate shaft, and
- wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to receive ultrasonic energy from the transducer assembly.
An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elongate shaft extending distally from the housing, wherein the elongate shaft includes a flexible portion;
- an end effector extending distally from the elongate shaft, the end effector including an ultrasonic blade;
- a first transducer disposed between the housing and the flexible portion;
- and
- a second transducer disposed between the flexible portion and the end effector, wherein the second transducer is interconnected with the first transducer by a connector, wherein the connector extends through the flexible portion such that the first transducer is disposed proximally of the flexible portion and the second transducer is disposed distally of the flexible portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.