Ultrasonic surgical instrument with integral torque wrench and transverse engagement

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

(a) an instrument body, wherein the instrument body includes a switch channel;

(b) an ultrasonic transducer assembly rotatably mounted along a longitudinal axis within the instrument body; and

(c) a slip lock operatively connected to the instrument body and including:

(i) a lock member configured to be selectively moved between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the lock member includes a lock switch movably mounted in the switch channel,

(ii) an arrester having a catch portion and a deflectable portion, wherein the deflectable portion is configured to deflect relative to the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and

(iii) an engagement feature connected to the ultrasonic transducer assembly,

wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly is configured to be selectively rotated about the longitudinal axis relative to the instrument body with the lock member in the unlocked position,

wherein the arrester is operatively connected to the lock switch and is configured to selectively move between a disengaged position and an engaged position as the lock switch is respectively moved between the unlocked position and the locked position,

wherein the catch portion is configured to seize the ultrasonic transducer assembly with the lock member in the locked position to thereby selectively inhibit rotation about the longitudinal axis relative to the instrument body for rotatably coupling with the acoustic waveguide up to a predetermined torque, wherein the catch portion of the arrester is configured to engage the engagement feature in the engaged position to inhibit rotation of the ultrasonic transducer assembly,

wherein the lock switch is configured to selectively move along a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis between the unlocked and the locked position to selectively translate the arrester transversely between the disengaged position and the engaged position, and

wherein the deflectable portion is configured to deflect relative to the ultrasonic transducer assembly upon receiving a torque greater than the predetermined torque such that the catch portion releases the ultrasonic transducer assembly to slip relative to the catch portion for limiting coupling of the ultrasonic transducer assembly with the acoustic waveguide to the predetermined torque.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lock switch is configured to be manipulated by a user between the locked and unlocked positions.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lock switch is configured to selectively translate along a transverse direction between the unlocked and the locked position to selectively translate the arrester transversely between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lock switch is configured to selectively pivot along a transverse direction between the unlocked position and the locked position to selectively pivot the arrester transversely between the disengaged position and the engaged position.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the engagement feature includes an engagement collar connected to the ultrasonic transducer assembly and positioned concentrically about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the catch portion of the arrester is configured to be received against the engagement collar in the engaged position thereby inhibiting rotation of the engagement collar and the ultrasonic transducer assembly connected thereto up to the predetermined torque.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the engagement collar has at least one flat extending therealong, and the lock switch and arrester are configured to be selectively moved toward the longitudinal axis such that the catch portion of the arrester engages the at least one flat to thereby inhibit rotation of the ultrasonic transducer assembly connected thereto up to the predetermined torque.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the deflectable portion of the arrester is configured to releasably engage a portion of the instrument body in the engaged position and thereby releasably secure the catch portion of the arrester against the at least one flat for inhibiting rotation of the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and wherein the engagement collar with torque applied greater than the predetermined torque is configured to direct the catch portion from the engaged position toward the disengaged position and thereby deflect the deflectable portion of the arrester to release the portion of the instrument body such that the engagement collar and ultrasonic transducer assembly slip relative to the catch portion.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the engagement collar has a plurality of teeth positioned angularly about the engagement collar, and wherein the catch portion of the arrester is configured to be received between the plurality of teeth in the engaged position thereby inhibiting rotation of the engagement collar and the ultrasonic transducer assembly connected thereto up to the predetermined torque.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein the catch portion of the arrester extends from the deflectable portion of the arrester to the plurality of teeth of the engagement collar in the engaged position to thereby releasably secure the catch portion of the arrester between the plurality of teeth for inhibiting rotation of the ultrasonic transducer assembly, and wherein the engagement collar with torque applied greater than the predetermined torque is configured to thereby deflect the deflectable portion of the arrester to release the plurality of teeth such that the engagement collar and the ultrasonic transducer assembly slip relative to the catch portion.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable portion of the arrester is configured to deflect relative to the catch portion of the arrester.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the deflectable portion of the arrester includes a resilient detent arm, wherein the detent arm is configured to releasably engage a portion of the instrument body with the lock member in the locked position thereby seizing the ultrasonic transducer assembly with the catch portion of the arrester up to the predetermined torque, wherein the resilient detent arm is configured to deflect upon application of torque greater than the predetermined torque on the ultrasonic transducer assembly such that the detent arm releases the portion of the instrument body and the ultrasonic transducer assembly slips relative to the catch portion.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the catch portion and the deflectable portion are configured to collectively deflect together relative to the ultrasonic transducer assembly.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the deflectable portion of the arrester includes a resilient catch arm, wherein the catch portion of the arrester extends from the resilient catch arm toward the ultrasonic transducer assembly, wherein the catch portion of the arrester is configured to seize the ultrasonic transducer assembly with the lock member in the locked position up to the predetermined torque, wherein the resilient catch arm and the catch portion of the arrester are configured to collectively deflect upon application of torque greater than the predetermined torque on the ultrasonic transducer assembly such that the ultrasonic transducer assembly slips relative to the catch portion.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft assembly having an acoustic waveguide extending therethrough, wherein the end effector projects distally from the shaft assembly, and wherein the acoustic waveguide has a proximal end portion configured to rotatably couple with the ultrasonic transducer assembly.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the arrester is resiliently biased toward the disengaged position.

16. A surgical instrument, comprising:

(a) an instrument body, wherein the instrument body includes a switch channel;

(b) an ultrasonic transducer assembly rotatably mounted along a longitudinal axis within the instrument body; and

(c) a slip lock operatively connected to the instrument body and configured to selectively move between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly is configured to be selectively rotatable about the longitudinal axis in the disengaged position, wherein the slip lock includes:

(i) an engagement feature secured to the ultrasonic transducer assembly such that the engagement feature is configured to rotate with the ultrasonic transducer feature,

(ii) a catch surface configured to engage the engagement feature with the slip lock in the engaged position to thereby selectively inhibit rotation of the engagement feature and the ultrasonic transducer assembly about the longitudinal axis for rotatably coupling with the acoustic waveguide up to a predetermined torque,

(iii) a resiliently deflectable detent arm configured to releasably engage a portion of instrument body with the slip lock in the engaged position to releasably secure the catch surface in the engaged position, and

(iv) a lock switch movably mounted in the switch channel, wherein the lock switch is configured to selectively translate along a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis between an unlocked and a locked position to selectively translate the catch portion transversely between the disengaged position and the engaged position,

wherein the engagement feature is configured to urge the catch surface toward the disengaged position upon the ultrasonic transducer assembly receiving a torque greater than the predetermined torque such that the detent arm resiliently deflects to release the portion of the instrument body and the ultrasonic transducer assembly slips relative to the catch surface for limiting coupling of the ultrasonic transducer assembly with the acoustic waveguide to the predetermined torque.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the engagement feature includes an engagement collar connected to the ultrasonic transducer assembly and positioned concentrically about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the catch surface is configured to be received against the engagement collar in the engaged position thereby inhibiting rotation of the engagement collar and the ultrasonic transducer assembly connected thereto up to the predetermined torque.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein the engagement collar has at least one flat extending therealong, wherein the catch surface is configured to be selectively moved toward the longitudinal axis such that the catch surface engages the at least one flat to thereby inhibit rotation of the ultrasonic transducer assembly connected thereto up to the predetermined torque.

19. A surgical instrument, comprising:

(a) an instrument body, wherein the instrument body includes a switch channel;

(b) an ultrasonic transducer assembly rotatably mounted along a longitudinal axis within the instrument body; and

(c) a slip lock operatively connected to the instrument body and configured to selectively move between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly is configured to be selectively rotatable about the longitudinal axis in the disengaged position, wherein the slip lock includes:

(i) an engagement feature secured to the ultrasonic transducer assembly such that the engagement feature is configured to rotate with the ultrasonic transducer feature,

(ii) a catch arm configured to resiliently deflect,

(iii) a catch cam extending from the catch arm and configured to deflect with the catch arm, wherein the catch cam is configured to engage the engagement feature with the slip lock in the engaged position to thereby selectively inhibit rotation of the engagement feature and the ultrasonic transducer assembly about the longitudinal axis for rotatably coupling with the acoustic waveguide up to a predetermined torque, and

(iv) a lock switch movably mounted in the switch channel, wherein the lock switch is configured to selectively pivot along a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis between an unlocked position and a locked position to selectively pivot the catch cam transversely between the disengaged position and the engaged position,

wherein the engagement feature is configured to urge the catch cam therewith upon the ultrasonic transducer assembly receiving a torque greater than the predetermined torque such that the catch arm resiliently deflects with the catch cam until the catch cam releases the engagement feature and the ultrasonic transducer assembly slips relative to the catch cam for limiting coupling of the ultrasonic transducer assembly with the acoustic waveguide to the predetermined torque.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein the engagement feature includes an engagement collar connected to the ultrasonic transducer assembly and positioned concentrically about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the catch cam is configured to be received against the engagement collar in the engaged position thereby inhibiting rotation of the engagement collar and the ultrasonic transducer assembly connected thereto up to the predetermined torque.