Ultrasonic surgical instrument with articulating end effector having a curved blade
An apparatus comprises a body assembly and a shaft extending distally therefrom. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis. The apparatus further comprises an acoustic waveguide and an articulation section coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses a flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section further comprises first member and a second member that is longitudinally translatable relative to the first member. The apparatus further comprises an end effector including an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. A distal portion the ultrasonic blade is disposed in a first direction away from the longitudinal axis at a bend angle. The end effector also includes a clamp arm that is coupled with the first member and the second member, and an articulation drive assembly operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis in the first direction.
1 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector including an ultrasonic blade configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency, wherein the ultrasonic blade includes a curved portion defining a bend angle; and
(b) a shaft assembly coupled to the end effector, the shaft assembly defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft assembly including:
(i) an acoustic waveguide extending through at least a portion of the shaft assembly, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to be in communication with the ultrasonic blade, the acoustic waveguide including a flexible portion configured to transmit energy to the ultrasonic blade, the flexible portion including:
A) a distal flange,
B) a proximal flange, and
C) a narrowed section between the distal flange and proximal flange, wherein the narrowed section is configured to allow the flexible portion to flex, and
ii) a plurality of opposing pairs of notches configured to assist in controlling vibration of the acoustic waveguide.
2 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of opposing pairs of notches includes a most proximal pair of notches and a most distal pair of notches, and wherein the most proximal pair of notches has a longer length than the most distal pairs of notches.
3 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic waveguide includes a tapered region between the distal flange and ultrasonic blade.
4 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the distal flange and proximal flange are located at positions corresponding to nodes associated with resonant ultrasonic vibrations communicated through the acoustic waveguide.
5 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the shaft assembly includes a plurality of articulation bands coupled to the acoustic waveguide, wherein the articulation bands are configured to control articulation of the acoustic waveguide.
6 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the distal flange and proximal flange include a plurality of flats configured to receive the articulation bands.
7 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of flats are oriented as opposing pairs of flats along the distal flange and proximal flange.
8 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate with a peak-to-peak displacement in a range of 10 microns to 500 microns.
9 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of opposing pairs of notches are on the acoustic waveguide.
10 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector including an ultrasonic blade configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency; and
(b) a shaft assembly coupled to the end effector, the shaft assembly defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft assembly including:
(i) an acoustic waveguide extending through at least a portion of the shaft assembly, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to be in communication with the ultrasonic blade,
(ii) a distal outer sheath having a proximal edge,
(iii) a proximal outer sheath having a distal edge,
(iv) an articulation section positioned between the distal outer sheath and proximal outer sheath, the articulation section including:
A) a distal flex member configured to receive a portion of the acoustic waveguide,
B) at least one flex base member configured to receive a portion of the acoustic waveguide,
C) a plurality of articulation bands configured to articulate the articulation section,
D) a collar configured to couple the distal outer sheath, proximal outer sheath, and flex rings,
E) a plurality of flex rings configured to allow the articulation section to articulate in only one direction relative to the longitudinal axis.
11 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the distal flex member includes a channel configured to receive the articulation bands.
12 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the flex base member includes hinges configured to assist in receiving the portion of the acoustic waveguide.
13 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of articulation bands are configured to translate longitudinally.
14 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the collar includes a spine portion and a plurality of opposing legs extending from the spin portion, wherein the plurality of opposing legs include a snap-fit feature.
15 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the acoustic waveguide includes an elastomeric ring configured to couple the distal outer sheath to the acoustic waveguide.
16 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector including an ultrasonic blade configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency; and
(b) a shaft assembly coupled to the end effector, the shaft assembly including:
(i) an acoustic waveguide configured to be in communication with the ultrasonic blade, the acoustic waveguide including a flexible portion configured to transmit energy to the ultrasonic blade, and
(ii) a plurality of opposing pairs of notches configured to assist in (ii) controlling vibration of the acoustic waveguide.
17 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of opposing pairs of notches are on the acoustic waveguide.
18 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the flexible portion includes a narrowed section is configured to allow the flexible portion to flex.
19 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the flexible portion includes a distal flange and a proximal flange.
20 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein the narrowed section is between the distal flange and proximal flange.