ULTRASONIC AND ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES
Disclosed are ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices. The disclosed embodiments include a surgical instrument comprising an end effector and a heat shield. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The heat shield may be located at a predetermined distance from the ultrasonic blade and in thermal communication with the ultrasonic blade.
1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm; and
a heat shield located at a predetermined distance from the ultrasonic blade and in thermal communication with the ultrasonic blade.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the heat shield is rotatable about the ultrasonic blade.
3 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the heat shield is rotatable to a position below the ultrasonic blade wherein the ultrasonic blade is interposed between the heat shield and the clamp arm.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the heat shield is rotatable to a position above the ultrasonic blade wherein the heat shield is interposed between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , comprising a heat sink in thermal communication with the heat shield.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the heat shield comprises a plurality of apertures.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the heat shield is attached at a node of an ultrasonic waveguide coupled to the ultrasonic blade.
8 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the heat shield comprises a tapered portion.
9 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , comprising an electrosurgical generator coupled to the heat shield and the clamp arm such that energy applied to the heat shield is opposite in polarity to the energy applied to the clamp arm.
10 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the movable jaw member comprises a negative electrode such that the movable jaw member functions as a return electrode.
11 . The end effector of claim 10 , wherein the movable jaw member further comprises a clamp pad and at least one positive electrode located on a tissue facing portion of the clamp pad.
12 . The end effector of claim 11 , wherein the movable jaw member extends laterally beyond the clamp pad.
13 . The end effector of claim 11 , wherein the clamp pad comprises at least positive electrode ad at least one negative electrode.
14 . The end effector of claim 1 , wherein the heat shield comprises at least one positive electrode.
15 . The end effector of claim 14 , comprising at least one electrical insulator located between the at least one positive electrode and the heat shield.
16 . The end effector of claim 14 , wherein the heat shield comprises at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode.
17 . An end effector, comprising:
an ultrasonic blade;
a clamp arm comprising a movable jaw member operatively coupled to the ultrasonic surgical blade; and
a heat shield located at a predetermined distance from the ultrasonic blade and in thermal communication with the ultrasonic blade.
18 . The end effector of claim 17 , wherein the heat shield is rotatable about the ultrasonic blade.
19 . The end effector of claim 18 , wherein the heat shield is rotatable to a position below the ultrasonic blade wherein the ultrasonic blade is interposed between the heat shield and the clamp arm.
20 . The end effector of claim 18 , wherein the heat shield is rotatable to a position above the ultrasonic blade wherein the heat shield is interposed between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm.
21 . The end effector of claim 17 , comprising a heat sink in thermal communication with the heat shield.
22 . The end effector of claim 17 , wherein the heat shield comprises a plurality of apertures.
23 . The end effector of claim 17 , wherein the heat shield is attached at a node of an ultrasonic waveguide coupled to the ultrasonic blade.
24 . The end effector of claim 17 , wherein the heat shield comprises a tapered portion.
25 . An end effector, comprising:
an ultrasonic blade;
a clamp arm comprising a movable jaw member operatively coupled to the ultrasonic surgical blade; and
a dual purpose element rotatable about the ultrasonic blade, the dual purpose element located at a predetermined distance from the ultrasonic blade and in thermal communication with the ultrasonic blade.
26 . The end effector of claim 25 , wherein the rotatable element is rotatable about the ultrasonic blade to a position below the ultrasonic blade such that the ultrasonic blade is interposed between the rotatable element and the movable jaw member, wherein the rotatable element acts as a heat shield.
27 . The end effector of claim 25 , wherein the rotatable element is rotatable about the ultrasonic blade to a position above the ultrasonic blade such that the rotatable element is interposed between the ultrasonic blade and the movable jaw member, wherein in the rotatable element acts as a tissue clamping surface.