US 11,690,643 B2
Ultrasonic surgical blades
David A. Witt, Maineville, OH (US); Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Kevin L. Houser, Springboro, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Jul. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/869,954.
Application 17/869,954 is a continuation of application No. 16/293,848, filed on Mar. 6, 2019, granted, now 11,439,426.
Application 16/293,848 is a continuation of application No. 16/006,373, filed on Jun. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,265,094, issued on Apr. 23, 2019.
Application 16/006,373 is a continuation of application No. 15/477,861, filed on Apr. 3, 2017, granted, now 10,045,794, issued on Aug. 14, 2018.
Application 15/477,861 is a continuation of application No. 12/274,884, filed on Nov. 20, 2008, granted, now 10,010,339, issued on Jul. 3, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/004,961, filed on Nov. 30, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2022/0387068 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. A61L 31/08 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01); A61L 31/10 (2006.01); A61L 31/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61N 7/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/320092 (2013.01) [A61L 31/08 (2013.01); A61L 31/088 (2013.01); A61L 31/10 (2013.01); A61L 31/14 (2013.01); A61N 7/00 (2013.01); A61B 17/320068 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0088 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00849 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00853 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320078 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320093 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320094 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320095 (2017.08); A61L 2400/10 (2013.01); A61L 2420/08 (2013.01); A61N 7/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a clamp arm comprising a tissue pad, wherein the clamp arm is movable between an unclamped position and a clamped position; and
an ultrasonic blade defining a blade axis, the ultrasonic blade comprising:
a proximal end configured to receive ultrasonic vibrations;
a distal end movable along the blade axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end; and
a body comprising a coating positioned opposite the tissue pad upon positioning of the clamp arm in the clamped position, wherein the coating comprises a material configured to reduce the coefficient of friction between the tissue pad and the body.