Ultrasonic transducer to blade acoustic coupling, connections, and configurations
Disclosed is a surgical instrument that includes a rotatable shaft having an articulation section and an ultrasonic waveguide disposed within the shaft. The ultrasonic waveguide is configured to articulate at the articulation section. The ultrasonic waveguide is disposed within the shaft. A rotatable clamp arm is located distal of the articulation section of the rotatable shaft. The rotatable clamp arm is configured to rotate independently of the rotatable shaft distal of the articulation section.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a shaft comprising an articulation section;
an ultrasonic waveguide disposed within the shaft and configured to articulate at the articulation section;
an end effector located at a distal end of the shaft, the end effector having an ultrasonic blade that is in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic waveguide and a clamp arm configured to pivot towards and away from the ultrasonic blade; and
a rotation assembly that is operatively coupled to the clamp arm, the rotation assembly having a sliding mechanism that is configured to selectively rotate the clamp arm about the ultrasonic blade and relative to the shaft.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises an ultrasonic blade tip that is uniformly round.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises an ultrasonic blade tip that is partially round and defines a cutting tip on a bottom portion thereof.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the rotation assembly comprises a roll tube coupled to the clamp arm, and wherein the sliding mechanism includes a slot defined within the roll tube and a pin slidably housed within the slot.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the pin is configured to translate through the slot upon a force applied to an input operatively coupled to the pin to thereby cause rotation of the roll tube relative to the shaft.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the rotation assembly includes a roll rod that is operatively coupled to the pin and configured to proximally and distally translate the pin to cause the roll tube and the clamp arm to rotate about the ultrasonic blade independently of the shaft.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , further comprising:
first and second articulation rods; and
a clamp arm cap configured to rotatably receive the roll tube;
wherein the first and second articulation rods are attached to a proximal end of the clamp arm cap at first and second connections.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a closure rod that is operatively coupled to the clamp arm, the closure rod being configured to axially translate relative to the shaft to cause the clamp arm to pivot towards and away from the ultrasonic blade.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 8 , further comprising a closure tube located within the roll tube, the closure tube having a closure link at a distal end of thereof, wherein the closure link defines slots to receive pins formed on the clamp arm.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , further comprising a coupler attached to the closure rod at a connection, wherein the coupler defines a semiannular groove that is configured to rotatably receive a flange that is positioned at a proximal end of the closure tube.
11. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm is configured to pivot towards and away from the ultrasonic blade when the articulation section is in an articulated configuration.
12. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm is configured to rotate about the ultrasonic blade when the articulation section is in an articulated configuration.