US 11,786,291 B2
Deflectable support of RF energy electrode with respect to opposing ultrasonic blade
John M. Sarley, Mason, OH (US); Chad P. Boudreaux, Cincinnati, OH (US); Tyler N. Brehm, Cincinnati, OH (US); Wei Guo, Mason, OH (US); Ellen E. Burkart, Liberty Township, OH (US); Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cincinnati, OH (US); Craig N. Faller, Batavia, OH (US); Robert S. Bishop, Cincinnati, OH (US); Michael A. Keenan, Cincinnati, OH (US); William A. Olson, Lebanon, OH (US); Richard W. Flaker, Fairfield, OH (US); and Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on May 29, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/887,506.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/955,292, filed on Dec. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0196351 A1, Jul. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1442 (2013.01) [A61B 17/320092 (2013.01); A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 18/149 (2013.01); A61B 90/03 (2016.02); A61B 2018/0019 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00077 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00083 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00136 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00601 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00994 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1253 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1412 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1455 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1465 (2013.01); A61B 2090/034 (2016.02)] 38 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An end-effector, comprising:
a clamp arm comprising a clamp arm pad,wherein the clamp arm pad comprises one or more resistors embedded in the clamp arm pad to sense a height of the clamp arm pad; and
an ultrasonic blade configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer and to electrically couple to a pole of an electrical generator;
wherein the clamp arm comprises:
a clamp jaw having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end pivotally movable about a pivot point;
the clamp arm pad fixed to the clamp jaw; and
a cantilever electrode having a proximal end fixed to the proximal end of the clamp jaw and a distal end that is free to deflect, the cantilever electrode defining a surface configured to contact tissue and apply electrical energy to the tissue in contact therewith, wherein the cantilever electrode is configured to electrically couple to an opposite pole of the electrical generator.