US 12,364,498 B2
Surgical instrument with selectively actuated gap-setting features for end effector
Ryan M. Asher, Cincinnati, OH (US); Brian D. Black, Loveland, OH (US); John E. Brady, Liberty Township, OH (US); Joseph Dennis, Cincinnati, OH (US); Geni M. Giannotti, Allendale, NJ (US); Bryce L. Heitman, Newton, IA (US); Timothy S. Holland, Madison, WI (US); Joseph E. Hollo, Liberty Township, OH (US); Andrew Kolpitcke, Centerville, OH (US); Amy M. Krumm, Cincinnati, OH (US); Jason R. Lesko, Cincinnati, OH (US); Matthew C. Miller, Cincinnati, OH (US); David A. Monroe, Milford, OH (US); Ion V. Nicolaescu, Carpentersville, IL (US); Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz, Mason, OH (US); Matthew S. Schneider, Blue Ash, OH (US); Richard C. Smith, Milford, OH (US); Shawn C. Snyder, Greendale, IN (US); Sarah A. Worthington, Cincinnati, OH (US); Monica L. Rivard, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Fajian Zhang, Mason, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Mar. 21, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/612,507.
Application 18/612,507 is a continuation of application No. 17/128,534, filed on Dec. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,963,691.
Application 17/128,534 is a continuation of application No. 15/798,720, filed on Oct. 31, 2017, granted, now 11,116,532, issued on Sep. 14, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/519,482, filed on Jun. 14, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/508,720, filed on May 19, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/422,698, filed on Nov. 16, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0341792 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/28 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/2804 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1442 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00106 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00367 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00424 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00876 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2825 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2845 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320074 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320082 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320084 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320088 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320093 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320094 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320095 (2017.08); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00666 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00672 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00755 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00916 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0094 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00958 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00994 (2013.01); A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 2090/034 (2016.02); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0811 (2016.02); A61B 2090/0813 (2016.02)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade, and
(ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position, wherein the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm are configured to receive tissue in the opened position, wherein the clamp arm is configured to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade in the closed position, and wherein the clamp arm is offset from the ultrasonic blade to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position;
(b) a shaft assembly projecting proximally from the end effector and including an acoustic waveguide operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the acoustic waveguide is configured to connect to an ultrasonic transducer;
(c) a body projecting proximally from the shaft assembly;
(d) a clamp arm actuator operatively connected to the clamp arm and configured to selectively move relative to the body through a longitudinal plane from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to thereby direct the clamp arm respectively from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position, and wherein the clamp arm actuator has a distal actuator portion further configured to move in a first lateral direction away from the longitudinal plane; and
(e) a blocker operatively connected to the body and configured to inhibit movement of the clamp arm actuator from the open configuration toward the closed configuration for maintaining at least the predetermined gap between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.