US 12,004,768 B2
Methods and features for coupling ultrasonic surgical instrument components together
Cory G. Kimball, Hamilton, OH (US); David A. Witt, Maineville, OH (US); William E. Clem, Bozeman, MT (US); Nathan D. Grubbs, West Chester, OH (US); and Daniel J. Prenger, Loveland, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/673,219.
Application 17/673,219 is a continuation of application No. 16/248,831, filed on Jan. 16, 2019, granted, now 11,272,950.
Application 16/248,831 is a continuation of application No. 14/087,352, filed on Nov. 22, 2013, granted, now 10,226,271, issued on Mar. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0240971 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 50/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/320068 (2013.01) [A61B 90/03 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00402 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320069 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320071 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320089 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320098 (2017.08); A61B 50/00 (2016.02); A61B 2090/031 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0801 (2016.02)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical kit, comprising:
(a) an ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
(i) a transducer assembly, wherein the transducer assembly is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations, wherein the transducer assembly comprises a first coupling feature,
(ii) an ultrasonic waveguide comprising a complementary coupling feature, wherein the ultrasonic waveguide is configured to selectively couple with the transducer assembly, wherein the ultrasonic waveguide terminates at a distal end, and
(iii) an ultrasonic blade located at the distal end of the ultrasonic waveguide;
(b) a torque wrench, wherein the torque wrench is operable to drive rotation of the ultrasonic waveguide to thereby couple the ultrasonic waveguide with the transducer assembly, wherein the torque wrench comprises:
(i) a torque limiting feature, wherein the torque limiting feature is operable to restrict an amount of torque by which the ultrasonic waveguide may be coupled with the transducer assembly, and
(ii) a cap engagement feature including a base and a latch; and
(c) a cap removably disposed on the ultrasonic blade, wherein the cap is configured to transmit torque to the ultrasonic waveguide via the ultrasonic blade while the cap is disposed on the ultrasonic blade, wherein the cap engagement feature is operable to engage the cap and thereby remove the cap from the ultrasonic blade,
wherein the cap engagement feature of the torque wrench defines a pocket dimensioned to at least partially house the cap,
wherein the base includes a rigid base member defining at least a portion of the pocket,
wherein the latch is configured to rotatably and longitudinally couple the cap to the base.