US 11,684,386 B2
Features to couple acoustic drivetrain components in ultrasonic surgical instrument
Mark E. Tebbe, Lebanon, OH (US); Ion V. Nicolaescu, Carpentersville, IL (US); Tony C. Siebel, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Chad P. Boudreaux, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/890,219.
Application 16/890,219 is a division of application No. 15/644,944, filed on Jul. 10, 2017, granted, now 10,709,470.
Prior Publication US 2020/0352591 A1, Nov. 12, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/320092 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00407 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00473 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2929 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320071 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320074 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320094 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320095 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320098 (2017.08); A61B 2090/031 (2016.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) an ultrasonic transducer rotatable relative to the body, wherein the ultrasonic transducer includes a threaded distal end;
(c) a waveguide extending distally from the body and having a threaded proximal end configured to threadedly couple with the threaded distal end of the ultrasonic transducer to define a threaded coupling therebetween, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to drive the waveguide with ultrasonic energy;
(d) an integrated torque wrench mechanism comprising:
(i) a translatable member,
(ii) a rack coupled with the translatable member, and
(iii) a gear rotationally coupled with the ultrasonic transducer and positioned to engage the rack,
wherein the translatable member and the rack are translatable from a proximal position to a distal position to rotate the gear and thereby rotate the ultrasonic transducer into threaded engagement with the waveguide,
wherein the integrated torque wrench mechanism is configured to limit transfer of torque to the ultrasonic transducer to thereby facilitate application of a predetermined maximum torque to the threaded coupling between the ultrasonic transducer and the waveguide; and
(e) a ratchet mechanism configured to rotationally decouple the gear from the ultrasonic transducer.