US 11,690,642 B2
Ultrasonic surgical instrument with a multi-planar articulating shaft assembly
Brian D. Black, Loveland, OH (US); Morgan R. Hunter, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Thomas B. Remm, Milford, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/556,661.
Prior Publication US 2021/0059709 A1, Mar. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/320092 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1445 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320069 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320071 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320074 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320089 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320093 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320094 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320095 (2017.08); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An acoustic waveguide for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) a proximal waveguide body portion defining a longitudinal axis;
(b) a distal waveguide body portion having an ultrasonic blade distally projecting therefrom; and
(c) an articulation body portion extending along a centerline between the proximal and distal waveguide body portions, the articulation body portion comprising:
(i) a first flexible member having a first outer surface, wherein the first flexible member defines a first radial dimension about the centerline extending from the centerline to the first outer surface,
(ii) a second flexible member having a second outer surface, wherein the first flexible member defines a second radial dimension about the centerline extending from the centerline to the second outer surface, and
(iii) a central portion positioned between the first flexible member and the second flexible member and having a central outer surface, wherein the central portion defines a central radial dimension about the centerline extending from the centerline to the central outer surface, wherein the central radial dimension is larger than each of the first and second radial dimensions,
wherein the articulation body portion is configured to flex at the first flexible member a first direction to thereby deflect the ultrasonic blade relative to the longitudinal axis and through a first plane,
wherein the articulation body portion is further configured to flex at the second flexible member a second direction to thereby deflect the ultrasonic blade relative to the longitudinal axis and through a second plane,
wherein the second direction is different than the first direction such that the second plane is different than the first plane for multiplanar deflection of the ultrasonic blade relative to the longitudinal axis,
wherein the articulation body portion is removably coupled to either the proximal waveguide body portion or the distal waveguide body portion.