Granted Patent B2

US 12,364,502 · App. 18/171,032 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Inventors: Foster B. Stulen (Johns Island, SC); David A. Monroe (Milford, OH); William B. Weisenburgh, II (Maineville, OH); Richard C. Smith (Milford, OH); Ashvani K. Madan (Mason, OH); Craig T. Davis (Cincinnati, OH); Barry C. Worrell (Maineville, OH); Benjamin D. Dickerson (San Francisco, CA); Chad P. Boudreaux (Cincinnati, OH); Geoffrey S. Strobl (Williamsburg, OH); Thomas C. Gallmeyer (Ann Arbor, MI); Amy L. Sitler (Cincinnati, OH); Tylor C. Muhlenkamp (Cincinnati, OH); Sean P. Conlon (Loveland, OH); John A. Hibner (Mason, OH)

Assignee: Cilag GmbH International

A61B17/320092A61B17/320068A61B2017/0003A61B2017/00309A61B2017/00314A61B2017/00318A61B2017/00327A61B2017/00336A61B2017/00473A61B2017/320069A61B2017/320071A61B2017/320089A61B2017/320093A61B2017/320094A61B2017/320095

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a body;

(b) an ultrasonic transducer operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations;

(c) a shaft extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis;

(d) an articulation section coupled with the shaft, wherein the articulation section comprises:

(i) an outer tube comprising a plurality of outer tube segments, wherein the outer tube segments are coupled together via a plurality of tabs and recesses, wherein the outer tube segments provide flexibility to the outer tube, and

(ii) an inner tube comprising a plurality of inner tube segments, wherein the inner tube segments are coupled together via a plurality of tabs and recesses, wherein the inner tube segments provide flexibility to the outer tube;

(e) a waveguide positioned within the inner tube; and

(f) an end effector coupled with the articulation section, wherein the end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer via the waveguide.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube is configured to rotate about the inner tube when the inner tube and outer tube are both in an articulated state.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube further comprises a plurality of outer gaps respectively between the plurality of outer tube segments, wherein the plurality of outer tube segments includes a plurality of outer projections, wherein the plurality of outer projections respectively traverses the plurality of outer gaps.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of outer projections is configured to prevent the plurality of outer tube segments from rotating relative to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner tube further comprises a plurality of inner gaps respectively between the plurality of inner tube segments, wherein the plurality of inner tube segments includes a plurality of inner projections, wherein the plurality of inner projections respectively traverses the plurality of inner gaps.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of inner projections is configured to prevent the plurality of inner tube segments from rotating relative to each other.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the articulation section is configured to articulate from a straight configuration toward an articulated configuration, wherein the end effector extends along the longitudinal axis with the articulation section in the straight configuration, and wherein the end effector is deflected from the longitudinal axis with the articulation section in the articulated configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube with the articulation section in each of the straight and articulated configurations.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the outer tube is configured to rotate relative to the inner tube with the articulation section in each of the straight and articulated configurations.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube with the articulation section in each of the straight and articulated configurations.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of outer tube segments defines an outer longitudinal length, wherein the plurality of inner tube segments defines an inner longitudinal length, and wherein the outer longitudinal length is different than the inner longitudinal length.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the inner longitudinal length is longer than the outer longitudinal length.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the inner tube is configured to translate relative to the outer tube with the articulation section in each of the straight and articulated configurations.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end effector further includes a clamp arm pivotally connected relative to the inner tube via a clamp coupling, wherein the clamp coupling is configured to permit clamp arm to rotate relative to the inner tube, and wherein the clamp coupling is further configured to prevent clamp arm from translating relative to the inner tube.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the clamp coupling includes a collar secured to the inner tube.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a first articulation band extending through the articulation section.

Continuity (3)

References Cited (79)