US 8,469,981 B2 · Rotatable cutting implement arrangements for ultrasonic surgical instruments

Abstract

Over the years, a variety of different types of non-ultrasonically powered cutters and shaving devices for performing surgical procedures have been developed. Some of these devices employ a rotary cutting instrument and other devices employ a reciprocating cutting member. For example, shavers are widely used in arthroscopic surgery. These devices generally consist of a power supply, a handpiece, and a single-use end effector. The end effector commonly has an inner and outer tube. The inner tube rotates relative to the outer tube and will cut tissue with its sharpened edges. The inner tube can rotate continuously or oscillate. In addition, such device may employ a suction channel that travels through the interior of the inner tube. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,354 to McGurk-Burleson, et al., discloses a non-ultrasonically powered surgical cutting instrument that comprises a rotary cutter for cutting material with a shearing action. It employs an inner cutting member which is rotatable within an outer tube.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising:

a housing;
an ultrasonic transducer assembly rotatably supported within said housing for selective rotation about a central axis;
a motor within said housing and communicating with a source of motor drive signals, said motor coupled to said ultrasonic transducer assembly for selectively applying rotational motion to the ultrasonic transducer assembly to cause the ultrasonic transducer assembly to rotate about the central axis;
a slip ring assembly communicating with the ultrasonic transducer assembly to transmit ultrasonic electrical signals from a source of ultrasonic electrical signals, the slip ring assembly capable of transmitting the ultrasonic electrical signals while the ultrasonic transducer assembly is rotated about the central axis;
a horn coupled to said ultrasonic transducer assembly;
a first sheath coupled to said housing and having a distal tip portion with at least one cutting edge formed thereon;
and
a blade coupled to said horn and having a tissue-cutting distal end, said blade rotatably supported within said first sheath such that said tissue cutting distal end is biased into cutting engagement with at least said at least one cutting edge on said distal tip portion of said first sheath.

5 more elements

An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising:

a housing;
an ultrasonic transducer assembly rotatably supported within said housing and communicating with a source of ultrasonic electrical signals;
a motor within said housing and communicating with a source of motor drive signals, said motor coupled to said ultrasonic transducer assembly for applying gross rotational motion thereto;
a horn coupled to said ultrasonic transducer assembly;
a first sheath coupled to said housing and including a distal tip portion with at least one cutting edge formed thereon;
and
a blade coupled to said horn and including a tissue-cutting distal end, said blade rotatably supported within said first sheath such that said tissue cutting distal end is biased into cutting engagement with at least said at least one cutting edge on said distal tip portion of said first sheath, said distal end of said blade further comprising:
top portion terminating in a curved distal tip, said top portion including first and second lateral sides;
and
a plurality of tissue-cutting teeth formed on at least one said lateral side.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotatable cutting implement arrangements for ultrasonic surgical instruments

Life of this patent

Rotatable cutting implement arrangements for ultrasonic surgical instruments

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25