US 11,717,706 B2
Ultrasonic surgical instruments
Eitan T. Wiener, Loveland, OH (US); Shan Wan, Plymouth, MN (US); Daniel W. Price, Loveland, OH (US); David K. Norvell, Monroe, OH (US); and James R. Giordano, Milford, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on May 19, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/878,180.
Application 15/703,577 is a division of application No. 14/136,836, filed on Dec. 20, 2013, granted, now 9,764,164, issued on Sep. 19, 2017.
Application 14/136,836 is a division of application No. 12/503,769, filed on Jul. 15, 2009, granted, now 8,663,220, issued on Mar. 4, 2014.
Application 16/878,180 is a continuation of application No. 15/703,577, filed on Sep. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,688,321.
Prior Publication US 2020/0338370 A1, Oct. 29, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 7/00 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1445 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00393 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320093 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320094 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320095 (2017.08); A61B 2018/00702 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00916 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
obtaining a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
a multi-part handpiece assembly;
an acoustic assembly configured to produce vibrations;
a waveguide extending distally from the multi-part handpiece assembly, wherein the waveguide terminates at a blade portion defining a maximum blade width;
a movable clamp arm, comprising:
a distal end; and
an electrode, comprising:
a body portion;
a first sidewall projecting the body portion; and
a second sidewall projecting from the body portion, wherein the body portion extends between the first sidewall and the second sidewall to the distal end of the movable clamp arm, wherein the body portion defines a second width between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and wherein the second width is greater than the maximum blade width;
a first conductor in electrical communication with the waveguide; and
a second conductor in electrical communication with the electrode, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are configured to be placed in electrical communication with a generator such that current can flow between the waveguide and the electrode through tissue in contact with the waveguide and the electrode; the method further comprising:
disassembling the surgical instrument;
sterilizing reusable parts of the surgical instrument;
replacing non-reusable parts of the surgical instrument; and
reassembling the surgical instrument.