US 12,446,914 B2
Ultrasonic surgical instruments for detecting wear in jaw liner
Michael B. Lyons, Boulder, CO (US); David J. Van Tol, Boulder, CO (US); Kenneth E. Netzel, Loveland, CO (US); Matthew S. Cowley, Frederick, CO (US); Keith W. Malang, Longmont, CO (US); and Richard L. Croft, Mead, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Appl. No. 18/558,330
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 25, 2022, PCT No. PCT/IB2022/053815
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Oct. 31, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/234385, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 10, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/183,255, filed on May 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0180581 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/320092 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00119 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00853 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An end effector assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:
an ultrasonic blade configured to mechanically couple to an ultrasonic transducer configured to transmit ultrasonic vibration energy to the ultrasonic blade; and
a jaw member movable relative to the ultrasonic blade from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position for clamping tissue therebetween,
wherein the jaw member includes:
a structural body; and
a jaw liner engaged with the structural body, the jaw liner defining a tissue contacting surface positioned to oppose the ultrasonic blade in the approximated position and including a wear indicator configured to send an alert indicating that the jaw liner is worn beyond a pre-determined threshold.