Shielding features for ultrasonic blade of a surgical instrument
An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a shield member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency. The clamp arm is movable toward the ultrasonic blade to compress tissue against the ultrasonic blade. The shield member is selectively movable from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the clamp arm toward the ultrasonic blade. The shield member is configured cover at least a first portion of the ultrasonic blade in the first position. The shield member is configured to uncover the first portion of the ultrasonic blade in the second position.
1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly including an acoustic waveguide; and
(b) an end effector distally extending from the shaft assembly, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade distally extending from the acoustic waveguide and configured to treat tissue with an ultrasonic energy, wherein the ultrasonic blade has a first conductivity,
(ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an open configuration for receiving a tissue toward a closed configuration for compressing a tissue against the ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to oscillate relative to the clamp arm, and
(iii) an insulator positioned on the clamp arm and having a second conductivity different than the first conductivity of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the insulator has a distal-most tip and a proximal-most edge, wherein the insulator on the clamp arm covers an entirety of the clamp arm from the distal-most tip to the proximal-most edge,
wherein the end effector is configured to conduct an electrical current to the tissue for sealing the tissue.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the insulator is positioned on the ultrasonic blade.
3 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the insulator is positioned on the clamp arm.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the clamp arm includes a clamp pad, and wherein the insulator is positioned on the clamp pad.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the end effector further includes a shield positioned proximate to the ultrasonic blade.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the insulator is positioned on the shield.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the shield is selectively movable from a first position toward a second position in response to movement of the clamp arm toward the ultrasonic blade.
8 . The surgical instrument of claim 7 , wherein the shield is configured to cover at least a first portion of the ultrasonic blade in the first position, and wherein the shield is configured to uncover the first portion of the ultrasonic blade in the second position.
9 . The surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the shield is configured to cover at least a first portion of the end effector and define a gap therebetween.
10 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the insulator includes a coating.
11 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second conductivity of the insulator is lower than the first conductivity of the ultrasonic blade.
12 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first conductivity includes a first thermal conductivity, and wherein the second conductivity includes a second thermal conductivity.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the second thermal conductivity of the insulator is lower than the first thermal conductivity of the ultrasonic blade.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the insulator includes a nanocomposite material.
15 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the insulator defines a pair of ribs in contact with the clamp arm.
16 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the pair of ribs extend longitudinally along an inner surface of the insulator.
17 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a body configured to receive an ultrasonic transducer;
(b) a shaft assembly distally extending from the body and including an acoustic waveguide; and
(c) an end effector distally extending from the shaft assembly, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade distally extending from the acoustic waveguide and configured to treat tissue with an ultrasonic energy, wherein the ultrasonic blade has a first conductivity,
(ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an open configuration for receiving a tissue toward a closed configuration for compressing a tissue against the ultrasonic blade, and
(iii) an insulator positioned on the clamp arm and having a second conductivity lower than the first conductivity of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the insulator has a distal-most tip and a proximal-most edge, wherein the insulator on the clamp arm covers an entirety of the clamp arm from the distal-most tip to the proximal-most edge,
wherein the end effector is configured to conduct an electrical current to the tissue for sealing the tissue.
18 . The surgical instrument of claim 17 , wherein the insulator includes a coating.
19 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the clamp arm includes a clamp pad, and wherein the insulator is positioned on the clamp pad.
20 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a shaft assembly including an acoustic waveguide; and
(b) an end effector distally extending from the shaft assembly, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade distally extending from the acoustic waveguide and configured to treat tissue with an ultrasonic energy, wherein the ultrasonic blade has a first thermal conductivity, wherein the ultrasonic blade is configured to mechanically modify tissue while vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency,
(ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an open configuration for receiving a tissue toward a closed configuration for compressing a tissue against the ultrasonic blade, and
(iii) a thermal insulator positioned on the clamp arm and having a second thermal conductivity different than the first thermal conductivity of the ultrasonic blade, wherein the thermal insulator has a distal-most tip and a proximal-most edge, wherein the thermal insulator on the clamp arm covers an entirety of the clamp arm from the distal-most tip to the proximal-most edge.