Ultrasound Medical Instrument Having A Medical Ultrasonic Blade
A first ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having first, second and third blade portions. The second blade portion is more bendable than either of the first and third blade portions. A second ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion. The distal blade portion bends more easily than does the proximal blade portion. The distal blade portion includes a distal end portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue. A third ultrasonic medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade. The medical ultrasonic blade includes a proximal blade portion having a centerline and includes a distal blade portion in contact with the proximal blade portion at a substantially planar interface. The interface is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the centerline at the interface.
The present invention is related generally to ultrasound medical instruments, and more particularly to an ultrasound medical instrument having a medical ultrasonic blade.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONKnown ultrasound medical instruments include ultrasonic surgical blades. Ultrasonic surgical instruments are also known which include ultrasonic surgical shears having an ultrasonic surgical blade (in the form of a titanium rod), a clamping arm operable to open and close toward the blade, a tissue pad attached to the clamping arm, and a device for exerting a clamping force on the clamping arm which creates a clamping pressure on a blood vessel which is positioned between the tissue pad and the blade. The result of the ultrasonically-vibrating ultrasonic surgical blade and the clamping pressure on the blood vessel is a coaptation of the blood vessel (a bringing together of the walls of the blood vessel), a transection (a cutting) of the coaptated blood vessel, and a coagulation (a sealing) of the coaptated cut ends of the blood vessel. Articulating surgical staplers, scissors, and graspers are also known.
Still, scientists and engineers continue to seek improved ultrasound medical instruments having a medical ultrasonic blade.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA first embodiment of the invention is for an ultrasound medical instrument including a medical ultrasonic blade. The medical ultrasonic blade has a length and includes first, second and third blade portions. The second blade portion is located lengthwise between the first and third blade portions, the first blade portion is located proximal the second blade portion, and the third blade portion is located distal the second blade portion. The first and third blade portions each have a larger transverse area and the second blade portion has a smaller transverse area. The second blade portion is more bendable than either of the first and third blade portions.
A second embodiment of the invention is for an ultrasound medical instrument including a medical ultrasonic blade. The medical ultrasonic blade has a length and includes a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion. The proximal blade portion has a larger transverse area and the distal blade portion has a smaller transverse area. The distal blade portion bends more easily than does the proximal blade portion. The distal blade portion includes a distal end portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue.
A third embodiment of the invention is for an ultrasound medical instrument including a medical ultrasonic blade. The medical ultrasonic blade includes a proximal blade portion having a centerline and includes a distal blade portion in contact with the proximal blade portion at a substantially planar interface. The interface is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the centerline at the interface.
Several benefits and advantages are obtained from one or more of the embodiments of the invention. In one example of the first embodiment, the first and second blade portions are rigid, and the second blade portion is controllably bent during a medical procedure to more easily access a target site in a patient. In one example of the second embodiment, the proximal blade portion is rigid, and the distal blade portion is controllably bent during a medical procedure for the distal end portion of the distal blade portion to more easily access a target site in a patient to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue. In one example of the third embodiment, relative rotation, about the interface, of the proximal and distal blade portions articulates the distal blade portion with respect to the proximal blade portion.
The present invention has, without limitation, application with straight or curved ultrasonic surgical blades, with or without clamping arms, and further in hand-activated instruments as well as in robotic-assisted instruments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Before explaining the present invention in detail, it should be noted that the invention is not limited in its application or use to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and description. The illustrative embodiments of the invention may be implemented or incorporated in other embodiments, variations and modifications, and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the terms and expressions employed herein have been chosen for the purpose of describing the illustrative embodiments of the present invention for the convenience of the reader and are not for the purpose of limiting the invention.
It is understood that any one or more of the following-described embodiments, examples, etc. can be combined with any one or more of the other following-described embodiments, examples, etc.
Referring now to the Figures, in which like numerals indicate like elements,
In one enablement of the embodiment of
In one application of the embodiment of
In the same or a different variation, as illustrated in the alternate embodiment of the ultrasound medical instrument 110 of
In one enablement of the application which includes the sheath 24 of the embodiment of
In one employment of the embodiment of
In one construction, as illustrated in the alternate embodiment of the medical ultrasonic blade 212 of
Referring again to the Figures,
In one example of the first expression of the embodiment of
The enablements, applications, etc. of the embodiment of
Referring again to the Figures,
In one arrangement of the embodiment of
In one enablement of the embodiment of
It is within the ordinary level of skill of the artisan to employ mechanisms (such as those employed in conventional flexible endoscopes, articulating surgical staplers, articulating surgical scissors and/or articulating surgical graspers, and the like) to bend or rotate the appropriate blade portion or portions of the above-described embodiments of ultrasound medical instruments to articulate the medical ultrasonic blade, when manual bending or rotation during a medical procedure is not desired.
Several benefits and advantages are obtained from one or more of the embodiments of the invention. In one example of the first embodiment, the first and second blade portions are rigid, and the second blade portion is controllably bent during a medical procedure to more easily access a target site in a patient. In one example of the second embodiment, the proximal blade portion is rigid, and the distal blade portion is controllably bent during a medical procedure for the distal end portion of the distal blade portion to more easily access a target site in a patient to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue. In one example of the third embodiment, relative rotation, about the interface, of the proximal and distal blade portions articulates the distal blade portion with respect to the proximal blade portion.
While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of several embodiments, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or limit the spirit and scope of the appended claims to such detail. Numerous other variations, changes, and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the ultrasound medical instruments have application in robotic assisted surgery taking into account the obvious modifications of such systems, components and methods to be compatible with such a robotic system. It will be understood that the foregoing description is provided by way of example, and that other modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended Claims.
Claims
1. An ultrasound medical instrument comprising a medical ultrasonic blade having a length and including first, second and third blade portions, wherein the second blade portion is disposed lengthwise between the first and third blade portions, wherein the first blade portion is disposed proximal the second blade portion, wherein the third blade portion is disposed distal the second blade portion, wherein the first and third blade portions each have a larger transverse area and the second blade portion has a smaller transverse area, and wherein the second blade portion is more bendable than either of the first and third blade portions.
2. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade is a monolithic blade.
3. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 2, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes first and second longitudinal vibration antinodes, wherein the first blade portion transitions to the second blade portion proximate the first longitudinal vibration antinode, and wherein the second blade portion transitions to the third blade portion proximate the second longitudinal vibration antinode.
4. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 1, also including a user-actuated articulated sheath which surrounds the medical ultrasonic blade.
5. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 4, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes three longitudinal vibration nodes located, one each, on the first, second and third blade portions.
6. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 5, wherein the sheath contacts the first, second and third blade portions at a corresponding one of the three longitudinal vibration nodes.
7. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 6, wherein the sheath includes a rigid first sheath portion contacting the first blade portion at the first longitudinal vibration node, a flexible second sheath portion contacting the second blade portion at the second longitudinal vibration node, and a rigid third sheath portion contacting the third blade portion at the third longitudinal vibration node.
8. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 4, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes at least two longitudinal vibration nodes located on the second blade portion.
9. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 8, wherein the sheath contacts the second blade portion at the at-least-two longitudinal vibration nodes.
10. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 9, wherein the sheath includes two rigid sheath portions and one flexible sheath portion, wherein the flexible sheath portion is disposed between the two rigid sheath positions, and wherein the flexible sheath portion contacts the second blade portion at least one of the at-least-two longitudinal vibration nodes.
11. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 9, wherein the two rigid sheath portions each contact the second blade portion at a corresponding one of the at-least-two longitudinal vibration nodes.
12. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 4, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes a fourth blade portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue, wherein the fourth blade portion is disposed distal of the third blade portion.
13. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 12, also including a user-actuated clamp arm pivotally attached to the sheath proximate the fourth blade portion, wherein the clamp arm and the medical ultrasonic blade at least in part define an ultrasonic surgical shears.
14. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes first and second neck portions joining, respectively, the first and second blade portions and the second and third blade portions, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade is substantially cylindrical from the first blade portion to the third blade portion, wherein the first, second and third blade portions each have a substantially constant diameter, and wherein the diameter of the second blade portion is smaller than the diameter of either of the first and third blade portions.
15. The ultrasound medical instrument of claim 14, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade includes first and second longitudinal vibration antinodes, and wherein the first neck portion is disposed proximate the first longitudinal vibration antinode and the second neck portion is disposed proximate the second longitudinal vibration antinode.
16. The ultrasonic medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second blade portion is joined to the first blade portion by a dowel press fit and is joined to the third blade portion by a dowel press fit.
17. The ultrasonic medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second blade portion is joined to the first blade portion by a ball-and-socket type attachment.
18. The ultrasonic medical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first and third blade portions are essentially rigid.
19. An ultrasonic medical instrument comprising a medical ultrasonic blade having a length and including a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion, wherein the proximal blade portion has a larger transverse area and the distal blade portion has a smaller transverse area, wherein the distal blade portion is more bendable than the proximal blade portion, and wherein the distal blade portion includes a distal end portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue.
20. An ultrasonic medical instrument comprising a medical ultrasonic blade including a proximal blade portion having a centerline and including a distal blade portion in contact with the proximal blade portion at a substantially planar interface, wherein the interface is oriented at a non-zero angle with respect to a perpendicular to the centerline at the interface.
21. The ultrasonic medical instrument of claim 20, wherein the proximal and distal blade portions each have a shape of a substantially solid circular cylinder.
22. The ultrasonic medical instrument of claim 20, wherein the proximal and distal blade portions each have a shape of a substantially solid circular cylinder having at least one area of removed material, wherein the medical ultrasonic blade has an unarticulated position and an articulated position, and wherein the at-least-one areas of the proximal and distal blade portions are substantially rotationally opposed about the centerline in the unarticulated position and are substantially rotationally aligned about the centerline in the articulated position.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 20, 2006
Publication Date: May 21, 2009
Patent Grant number: 7621930
Inventors: Kevin Houser (Springboro, OH), Shinichi Miyata (Yokohama, JP), Atsunori Kozuki (Yokohama, JP)
Application Number: 11/336,274
International Classification: A61B 17/32 (20060101);