Ultrasonic blade support
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsJoseph E. Young, William D. Dannaher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasonic clamp coagulator assembly that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The construction includes an outer sheath and an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within the outer sheath. The waveguide includes an ultrasonically actuated blade positioned at least partially distal the waveguide. A rigid support is positioned between the outer sheath and the waveguide.
Claims20
An ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising:
- an outer sheath that defines a longitudinal axis;
- an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end and positioned within the outer sheath;
- an ultrasonically actuated blade positioned at least partially distal the waveguide;
- and
- an annular rigid support positioned proximal to the blade and further disposed between the outer sheath and waveguide comprising at least two non-annular longitudinally-extending support members that extend proximally from the rigid support and contact the outer sheath.
A method for providing nodal support to an ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising an outer sheath that defines a longitudinal axis and a waveguide positioned within the outer sheath and having a distal blade and a most-distal vibration node, the steps comprising:
- a) providing a rigid nodal support comprising an annular collar and at least two non-annular longitudinally-extending support members that extend proximally from the rigid support and contact the outer sheath;
- and
- b) positioning the rigid annular collar between the waveguide and outer sheath.
An ultrasonic clamp coagulator apparatus comprising:
- a sheath defining a longitudinal axis;
- an ultrasonic waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end and positioned within the sheath;
- an ultrasonically actuated blade positioned at least partially distal the waveguide;
- and
- an annular rigid support positioned proximal to the blade and positioned between the sheath and waveguide and at least one non-annular support member extending longitudinally from the rigid support in the proximal direction for contacting with the sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.