Combination tissue pad for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument

A method of assembling an ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising the steps of:

• providing:
• an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the waveguide;
• a first tissue pad having a first tissue engaging surface and a second engaging surface having a first flange;
• a second tissue pad having a second tissue engaging surface and a second engaging surface having a second flange;
• and
• a clamp member pivotable with respect to said blade and having an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp member is spaced from the blade and a closed position in which the clamp member is adjacent to the blade for clamping tissue between the first and second tissue pads and the blade, the clamp member comprising a slot for slidably receiving the first and second flanges;
• and slidably engaging the first flange within the slot and slidably engaging the second flange within the slot.

A method of assembling an ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising the steps of:

• providing:
• an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the waveguide;
• a first tissue pad having a first tissue engaging surface and a second engaging surface having a first flange;
• a second tissue pad having a second tissue engaging surface and a second engaging surface having a second flange;
• and
• a clamp member pivotable with respect to said blade and having an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp member is spaced from the blade and a closed position in which the clamp member is adjacent to the blade for clamping tissue between the first and second tissue pads and the blade, the clamp member comprising a first and second slot for slidably receiving the first and second flanges, respectively;
• and
• engaging at least one of the first and second tissue pads within the slot.

A method of assembling an ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising the steps of:

• providing:
• an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the waveguide;
• a first tissue pad having a first tissue engaging surface;
• a second tissue pad having a second tissue engaging surface;
• and
• a clamp member defining a distal portion for receiving the first tissue pad and a proximal portion for receiving the second tissue pad and pivotable with respect to said blade and having an open position in which at least a portion of the clamp member is spaced from the blade and a closed position in which the clamp member is adjacent to the blade for clamping tissue between the first and second tissue pads and the blade;
• and
• attaching at least one of the first and second tissue pads to the clamp member.

A method of assembling an ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising the steps of:

• providing:
• an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an ultrasonically actuated blade attached to the distal end of the waveguide;
• a first tissue pad having a first tissue engaging surface;
• a second tissue pad having a second tissue engaging surface;
• and
• a clamp member defining a distal portion for receiving the first tissue pad and having the second tissue pad engaged at a proximal portion of the clamp member wherein the clamp member is pivotable with respect to said blade member;
• and
• attaching the first tissue pad to the distal portion of the clamp member.