US 11,883,058 B2
Jaw members, end effector assemblies, and ultrasonic surgical instruments including the same
Kenneth E. Netzel, Loveland, CO (US); and David J. Van Tol, Boulder, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Feb. 27, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/803,043.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/823,762, filed on Mar. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0305925 A1, Oct. 1, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 17/295 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/28 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/320092 (2013.01) [A61B 17/282 (2013.01); A61B 17/295 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0023 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00473 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00734 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2825 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2926 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2932 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2939 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320075 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320094 (2017.08)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An end effector assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:
an ultrasonic blade defining a tissue-contacting surface; and
a jaw member pivotable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a clamping position, the jaw member including:
a structural body including a pair of proximal flanges and an elongated distal portion extending distally from the pair of proximal flanges, the elongated distal portion including first and second spaced-apart side rails defining an elongated opening therebetween and interconnected at distal ends thereof via a distal cap; and
a jaw liner engaged within the elongated opening, the jaw liner defining first and second inwardly-angled tissue contacting surfaces and a jaw liner compliance feature, the first and second inwardly-angled tissue contacting surfaces defining a volume therebetween and configured to oppose the tissue-contacting surface of the ultrasonic blade in the clamping position of the jaw member, wherein the jaw liner compliance feature includes an elongated channel defined within the jaw liner in at least an outwardly-flexed condition of the jaw liner, the elongated channel extending longitudinally along the jaw liner and recessed relative to an entirety of the volume defined between the first and second inwardly-angled tissue contacting surfaces with the first and second inwardly-angled tissue contacting surfaces disposed on opposing sides of the elongated channel, the jaw liner compliance feature configured to facilitate outward deflection of the inwardly-angled tissue-contacting surfaces relative to one another from an at-rest condition of the jaw liner to the outwardly-flexed condition of the jaw liner to thereby tension tissue clamped between the jaw member and the ultrasonic blade.