Granted Patent B2

US 12,712,326 · App. 17/545,653 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Inventors: Jeffrey L. Aldridge (Lebanon, OH); Craig N. Faller (Batavia, OH); Kevin D. Felder (Cincinnati, OH); Jacob S. Gee (Cincinnati, OH); William D. Kelly (Los Altos, CA); Robert J. Laird (Morrow, OH); Amy L. Marcotte (Mason, OH); Jeffrey D. Messerly (Cincinnati, OH); Emily H. Monroe (George's Mills, NH); Scott A. Nield (Morrow, OH); Daniel W. Price (Loveland, OH); Patrick J. Scoggins (Loveland, OH); John B. Schulte (West Chester, OH); Geoffrey S. Strobl (Williamsburg, OH); James W. Voegele (Cincinnati, OH); John A. Weed, III (Monroe, OH); William B. Weisenburgh, II (Maineville, OH); Patrick A. Weizman (Liberty Township, OH); John W. Willis (Batavia, OH)

Assignee: Cilag GbmH International

H01R29/00A61B17/320092A61B18/1206A61B18/1445F15D1/0015A61B2017/005A61B17/29A61B2017/2927A61B2017/2929A61B2017/2936A61B2017/2939A61B2017/320074A61B2017/320078A61B2017/320084A61B2017/320088A61B2017/320093A61B2017/320094A61B2017/320095A61B2018/00023A61B2018/00083A61B2018/00101A61B2018/00107A61B2018/00178A61B2018/00916A61B2018/00922A61B2018/00958A61B2018/00994A61B2090/035A61B2090/0436A61B2090/0472A61B2090/0813A61B2217/005Y10T137/2087

Abstract

Claims (31)

1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

a tube;

a waveguide extending through the tube;

an end effector, comprising:

an ultrasonic blade extending from the waveguide, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises a vibration node; and

a clamp arm pivotable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a closed position;

a link comprising a first end and a second end;

a first pin coupling a first end of the link to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the first pin extends through the vibration node of the ultrasonic blade;

a second pin coupling the clamp arm to the tube, wherein the clamp arm pivots relative to the ultrasonic blade about a first axis defined by the second pin; and

a third pin coupling the second end of the link to the clamp arm, wherein the clamp arm pivots relative to the link about a second axis defined by the third pin, and wherein relative motion between the tube and the ultrasonic blade moves the clamp arm between the open position and the closed position.

2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide defines a waveguide axis, and wherein the ultrasonic blade curves away from the waveguide axis.

3 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein proximal motion of the tube moves the clamp arm toward the closed position.

4 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first pin directly couples the first end of the link to the vibration node of the ultrasonic blade.

5 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein distal motion of the tube moves the clamp arm toward the closed position.

6 . A surgical instrument, comprising:

a tube;

a waveguide extending through the tube;

an end effector, comprising:

an ultrasonic blade extending from the waveguide; and

a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a closed position;

a link coupled to the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade, wherein the link comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the link is pivotable relative to the ultrasonic blade about a first pivot axis, and wherein the link is pivotable relative to the clamp arm about a second pivot axis;

a first pin coupling the first end of the link to the ultrasonic blade at the first pivot axis, and wherein the first pin extends through a vibration node of the ultrasonic blade; and

a second pin coupling the second end of the link to the clamp arm at the second pivot axis.

7 . The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein:

the first pin pivotably couples the first end of the link to a first lateral side of the ultrasonic blade;

the second pin pivotably couples the second end of the link to a first lateral side of the clamp arm;

the surgical instrument further comprises:

a third pin pivotably coupling the first end of the link to a second lateral side of the ultrasonic blade; and

a fourth pin pivotably coupling the second end of the link to a second lateral side of the clamp arm.

8 . The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the clamp arm is pivotably coupled to the tube at a third pivot axis, wherein relative motion between the tube and the ultrasonic blade moves the clamp arm between the open position and the closed position.

9 . The surgical instrument of claim 8 , wherein distal motion of the tube moves the clamp arm toward the closed position.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (400)