Surgical instrument with selectively actuated gap-setting features for end effector
A surgical instrument, has an end effector that includes an ultrasonic blade, and a clamp arm that moves relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position. The clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position. A clamp arm actuator connects to the clamp arm and moves from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to direct the clamp arm from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position. A spacer connects with the clamp arm to inhibit movement of the clamp arm from the intermediate position toward the closed position for maintaining the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade, and
(ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position, wherein the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm are configured to receive tissue in the opened position, wherein the clamp arm is configured to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade in the closed position, and wherein the clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position;
(b) a shaft assembly projecting proximally from the end effector and including an acoustic waveguide operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to connect to an ultrasonic transducer;
(c) a body projecting proximally from the shaft assembly;
(d) a clamp arm actuator operatively connected to the clamp arm and configured to selectively move relative to the body through a longitudinal plane from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to thereby direct the clamp arm respectively from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position, and wherein the clamp arm actuator has a distal actuator portion further configured to move in a first lateral direction away from the longitudinal plane; and
(e) a blocker operatively connected to the body and configured to inhibit movement of the clamp arm actuator from the open configuration toward the closed configuration for maintaining at least the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the blocker is connected to the body.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the blocker extends from the body along the longitudinal plane.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the blocker defines a gap on the longitudinal plane, and wherein the gap is configured to receive the distal actuator portion in the closed configuration.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm actuator is connected to the shaft assembly at a coupling portion, and wherein the distal actuator portion is configured to selectively laterally pivot at the coupling portion.
6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the blocker is configured to inhibit movement of the clamp arm actuator from the open configuration toward the closed configuration with the clamp arm actuator selectively positioned along the longitudinal plane for maintaining at least the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the blocker is connected to the body.
8. The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the blocker extends from the body along the longitudinal plane and is configured to engage the distal actuator portion of the clamp arm actuator.
9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the blocker is configured to inhibit movement of the clamp arm actuator from the open configuration toward the closed configuration with the clamp arm actuator selectively moved from away from the longitudinal plane for maintaining at least the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.
10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the blocker is connected to the body.
11. The surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the blocker extends from the body along the longitudinal plane.
12. The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the blocker defines a gap on the longitudinal plane, and wherein the gap is configured to receive the distal actuator portion in the closed configuration.
13. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm actuator is further configured to move toward the closed configuration without encountering the blocker with the distal actuator portion laterally directed in the first lateral direction away from the longitudinal plane.
14. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm actuator is further configured to move toward the closed configuration without encountering the blocker with the distal actuator portion in the longitudinal plane.
15. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the distal actuator portion is further configured to move in a second lateral direction away from the longitudinal plane, wherein the second lateral direction is opposite from the first lateral direction.
16. A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade, and
(ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position, wherein the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm are configured to receive tissue in the opened position, wherein the clamp arm is configured to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade in the closed position, and wherein the clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position;
(b) a shaft assembly projecting proximally from the end effector and including an acoustic waveguide operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to connect to an ultrasonic transducer;
(c) a body projecting proximally from the shaft assembly;
(d) a clamp arm actuator operatively connected to the clamp arm and configured to selectively move relative to the body through a longitudinal plane from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to thereby direct the clamp arm respectively from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position, wherein the clamp arm actuator has a distal actuator portion further configured to move in a first lateral direction away from the longitudinal plane, and wherein the distal actuator portion is further configured to move in a second lateral direction away from the longitudinal plane, wherein the second lateral direction is opposite from the first lateral direction; and
(e) a blocker connected to the body and configured to inhibit movement of the clamp arm actuator from the open configuration toward the closed configuration for maintaining at least the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade,
wherein the clamp arm actuator is connected to the shaft assembly at a coupling portion, and wherein the distal actuator portion is configured to selectively laterally pivot at the coupling portion.
17. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the clamp arm actuator is further configured to move toward the closed configuration without encountering the blocker with the distal actuator portion laterally directed in the first lateral direction away from the longitudinal plane.
18. The surgical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the clamp arm actuator is further configured to move toward the closed configuration without encountering the blocker with the distal actuator portion in the longitudinal plane.