Granted Patent B2

US 12,343,063 · App. 16/951,259 · Granted Jul 1, 2025

Inventors: Jacob S. Gee (Cincinnati, OH); Michael A. Keenan (Cincinnati, OH); Joshua D. Raker (Waynesville, OH); Jeffrey D. Messerly (Cincinnati, OH); Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); Geoffrey S. Strobl (Williamsburg, OH); Joseph S. Salguero (North Plainfield, NJ); Wei Guo (Mason, OH)

Assignee: Cilag GmbH International

A61B18/1442A61B2018/00077A61B2018/00083A61B2018/0013A61B2018/00136A61B2018/00148A61B2018/00601A61B2018/0063A61B2018/00994A61B2018/1455

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. An end-effector configured to grasp tissue, wherein the end-effector comprises:

an ultrasonic blade configured to be coupled to an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to transfer ultrasonic energy to the tissue;

a clamp arm, comprising a clamp arm pad, wherein the clamp arm pad comprises:

an electrically conductive material, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a predetermined pattern associated with a desired degradation of the electrically conductive material; and

an electrically non-conductive material;

wherein the clamp arm pad is configured as an electrode of a radiofrequency energy circuit, wherein the electrode is configured to transfer radiofrequency energy through the tissue to a return electrode of the radiofrequency energy circuit, and wherein the electrically non-conductive material is a structural buffer disposed between the electrically conductive material and the ultrasonic blade.

2. The end-effector of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm pad further includes an intermediate layer dispositioned between the non-conductive material and the electrically conductive material.

3. The end-effector of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate layer is an adhesive configured to bond the electrically non-conductive material to the electrically conductive material.

4. The end-effector of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises a perfluoroalkoxy alkane.

5. The end-effector of claim 2 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises a thickness greater than or equal to 0.001 inches and less than or equal to 0.005 inches.

6. The end-effector of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured as the return electrode of the radiofrequency energy circuit.

7. The end-effector of claim 1 , wherein the electrically non-conductive material and the electrically conductive material comprise polytetrafluoroethylene.

8. The end-effector of claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive material further comprises an electrically conductive fiber.

9. The end-effector of claim 8 , wherein the electrically conductive fiber comprises at least one of carbon, stainless steel, and silver, or combinations thereof.

10. The end-effector of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material is dispositioned about a portion of a top surface of the electrically non-conductive material.

11. The end-effector of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pattern is serpentine.

12. The end-effector of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pattern is configured about a perimeter of the clamp arm pad.

13. An end-effector configured to grasp tissue, wherein the end-effector comprises:

an ultrasonic blade;

a clamp arm, comprising a clamp arm pad, wherein the clamp arm pad comprises:

an electrically conductive material, wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a predetermined pattern associated with a desired degradation of the electrically conductive material; and

an electrically non-conductive material;

wherein the electrically non-conductive material is configured to maintain a predetermined distance between the electrically conductive material and the ultrasonic blade.

14. The end-effector of claim 13 , wherein the clamp arm pad further includes an adhesive layer dispositioned between a layer of the non-conductive material and a layer of the electrically conductive material, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to bond the electrically non-conductive material to the electrically conductive material.

15. The end-effector of claim 13 , wherein the clamp arm pad further includes an intermediate layer dispositioned between the non-conductive material and the electrically conductive material.

16. The end-effector of claim 15 , wherein the intermediate layer is an adhesive configured to bond the electrically non-conductive material to the electrically conductive material.

17. An end-effector configured to grasp tissue, wherein the end-effector comprises:

an ultrasonic blade;

a clamp arm comprising a clamp arm pad, the clamp arm pad comprising:

an electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer comprises a predetermined pattern associated with a desired degradation of the electrically conductive layer; and

an electrically non-conductive layer positioned adjacent the electrically conductive, wherein the clamp arm pad is configured as an electrode of a radiofrequency energy circuit, and wherein the electrically non-conductive layer is configured as a structural buffer between the electrically conductive layer and the ultrasonic blade.

18. The end-effector of claim 17 , wherein the clamp arm pad further includes an intermediate layer dispositioned between the electrically non-conductive layer and the electrically conductive layer.

19. The end-effector of claim 18 , wherein the intermediate layer is an adhesive configured to bond the electrically non-conductive layer to the electrically conductive layer.

20. The end-effector of claim 17 , wherein the clamp arm pad further includes an adhesive layer dispositioned between the electrically non-conductive layer and the electrically conductive layer, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to bond the electrically non-conductive layer to the electrically conductive layer.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)

Cited By (1)

US 12,599,379