US 12,433,631 B2
Ultrasonic surgical instrument with movable rigidizing member
William B. Weisenburgh, II, Maineville, OH (US); Barry C. Worrell, Maineville, OH (US); Jeffrey D. Messerly, Cincinnati, OH (US); Kristen L D'Uva, Cincinnati, OH (US); Craig N. Faller, Batavia, OH (US); John B. Schulte, West Chester, OH (US); Kristen G. Denzinger, Cincinnati, OH (US); Joseph E. Hollo, Liberty Township, OH (US); Jason R. Sullivan, Morrow, OH (US); Brian D. Black, Loveland, OH (US); Frederick L. Estera, Cincinnati, OH (US); Stephen M. Leuck, Milford, OH (US); Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Cincinnati, OH (US); Gregory A. Trees, Loveland, OH (US); and Gregory W. Johnson, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Feb. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/171,043.
Application 18/171,043 is a continuation of application No. 16/890,209, filed on Jun. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,684,385.
Application 16/890,209 is a continuation of application No. 14/688,497, filed on Apr. 16, 2015, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2023/0225754 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/295 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/320092 (2013.01) [A61B 17/295 (2013.01); A61B 17/320068 (2013.01); A61B 2017/003 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00305 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00309 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00314 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00327 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00336 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00424 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0046 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2927 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2946 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320069 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320071 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320089 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320093 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320094 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320095 (2017.08)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector including an ultrasonic blade;
(b) a shaft proximally extending from the end effector and having a distal shaft portion and a proximal shaft portion, wherein the proximal shaft portion defines a longitudinal axis;
(c) an acoustic waveguide having a flexible portion;
(d) an articulation section coupled with the shaft between the distal and proximal shaft portions, wherein at least a portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the acoustic waveguide; and
(e) a rigidizing member configured to selectively move from a first position toward a second position, wherein the rigidizing member in the first position extends from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion in a rigid state to selectively lock rigidity to the articulation section, wherein the rigidizing member in the second position extends from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion in an articulatable state to selectively unlock rigidity of the articulation section such that the end effector is configured to deflect relative to the longitudinal axis,
wherein the rigidizing member includes a plurality of bars wherein the plurality of bars are pivotally connected.