Abstract: Ultrasonic surgical instruments having angularly and/or linearly off-set blades are described. The angularly and/or linearly off-set blades may facilitate increased surgical site access, visibility, and manipulability.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, a rotation input assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis and a first fluid passageway. The rotation input assembly is operable to rotate the shaft assembly about the longitudinal axis. The rotation input assembly defines a second fluid passageway. The second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade. The end effector is in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway such that the end effector is configured to receive fluid communicated through the first and second fluid passageways.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a user input feature, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a blade cooling system. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade that may be coupled with an ultrasonic transducer. The clamp arm is configured to pivot toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The cooling system is operable to deliver liquid coolant to the ultrasonic blade to thereby cool the ultrasonic blade. The user input feature is operable to both actuate the clamp arm and actuate the cooling system.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and a rigidizing member. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide includes a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section includes a first member and a second member. The second member is longitudinally translatable relative to the first member. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The rigidizing member is configured to selectively engage at least a portion of the articulation section to thereby selectively provide rigidity to the articulation section.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, an ultrasonic transducer, a waveguide, and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft. A rotation knob is rotatably coupled to the body and is configured to rotate the shaft, the waveguide, and the end effector together relative to the body. A torque transfer structure is positioned radially outwardly of and in direct contact with the waveguide at an acoustic node thereof. The torque transfer structure is rotationally fixed relative to the waveguide and is configured to rotationally couple the waveguide with the shaft and the rotation knob. The waveguide includes a first axial constraining feature defining a distally facing surface, and the torque transfer structure includes a second axial constraining feature defining a proximally facing surface configured to abut the distally facing surface to constrain the waveguide axially relative to the torque transfer structure and the body.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a user input feature, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a blade cooling system. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade that may be coupled with an ultrasonic transducer. The clamp arm is configured to pivot toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The cooling system is operable to deliver liquid coolant to the ultrasonic blade to thereby cool the ultrasonic blade. The user input feature is operable to both actuate the clamp arm and actuate the cooling system.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer support by the housing, and an integrated usage indicator. The housing is configured to removably connect to a shaft assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to be acoustically connected to a waveguide and operated a predetermined number of use cycles. The integrated usage indicator is operatively connected to the housing and includes a used state indicator. The used state indicator is configured to indicate to a clinician in a used state when the ultrasonic transducer has been operated at least the predetermined number of use cycles for limiting usage of the ultrasonic transducer to the predetermined number of use cycles.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm and a clamp pad. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is pivotally coupled with the shaft assembly. The clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the shaft assembly.

Abstract: An instrument includes an ultrasonic blade, a first fluid port, an irrigation member, a second fluid port, and a fluid communication assembly. The ultrasonic blade defines a distal opening. The ultrasonic blade is operable in a first mode to emulsify tissue that is distally positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is further operable in a second mode to transect and seal tissue that is transversely positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The first fluid port is in communication with the distal opening of the ultrasonic blade. The irrigation member is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the ultrasonic blade. The second fluid port is in communication with the irrigation member. The fluid communication assembly is configured to couple the first fluid port with a fluid source, couple the first fluid port with a suction source, and couple the second fluid port with the fluid source.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer support by the housing, and an integrated usage indicator. The housing is configured to removably connect to a shaft assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to be acoustically connected to a waveguide and operated a predetermined number of use cycles. The integrated usage indicator is operatively connected to the housing and includes a used state indicator. The used state indicator is configured to indicate to a clinician in a used state when the ultrasonic transducer has been operated at least the predetermined number of use cycles for limiting usage of the ultrasonic transducer to the predetermined number of use cycles.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide configured to acoustically couple with an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm and a clamp pad. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The clamp arm is pivotally coupled with the shaft assembly. The clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the shaft assembly.

Abstract: An instrument includes an ultrasonic blade, a first fluid port, an irrigation member, a second fluid port, and a fluid communication assembly. The ultrasonic blade defines a distal opening. The ultrasonic blade is operable in a first mode to emulsify tissue that is distally positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is further operable in a second mode to transect and seal tissue that is transversely positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The first fluid port is in communication with the distal opening of the ultrasonic blade. The irrigation member is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the ultrasonic blade. The second fluid port is in communication with the irrigation member. The fluid communication assembly is configured to couple the first fluid port with a fluid source, couple the first fluid port with a suction source, and couple the second fluid port with the fluid source.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, a rotation input assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis and a first fluid passageway. The rotation input assembly is operable to rotate the shaft assembly about the longitudinal axis. The rotation input assembly defines a second fluid passageway. The second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade. The end effector is in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway such that the end effector is configured to receive fluid communicated through the first and second fluid passageways.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, a rotation input assembly, and an end effector. The shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis and a first fluid passageway. The rotation input assembly is operable to rotate the shaft assembly about the longitudinal axis. The rotation input assembly defines a second fluid passageway. The second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway. The end effector is located at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade. The end effector is in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway such that the end effector is configured to receive fluid communicated through the first and second fluid passageways.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer support by the housing, and an integrated usage indicator. The housing is configured to removably connect to a shaft assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to be acoustically connected to a waveguide and operated a predetermined number of use cycles. The integrated usage indicator is operatively connected to the housing and includes a used state indicator. The used state indicator is configured to indicate to a clinician in a used state when the ultrasonic transducer has been operated at least the predetermined number of use cycles for limiting usage of the ultrasonic transducer to the predetermined number of use cycles.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft, an ultrasonic transducer, a waveguide, and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft. A rotation knob is rotatably coupled to the body and is configured to rotate the shaft, the waveguide, and the end effector together relative to the body. A torque transfer structure is positioned radially outwardly of and in direct contact with the waveguide at an acoustic node thereof. The torque transfer structure is rotationally fixed relative to the waveguide and is configured to rotationally couple the waveguide with the shaft and the rotation knob. The waveguide includes a first axial constraining feature defining a distally facing surface, and the torque transfer structure includes a second axial constraining feature defining a proximally facing surface configured to abut the distally facing surface to constrain the waveguide axially relative to the torque transfer structure and the body.

Abstract: An instrument includes an ultrasonic blade, a first fluid port, an irrigation member, a second fluid port, and a fluid communication assembly. The ultrasonic blade defines a distal opening. The ultrasonic blade is operable in a first mode to emulsify tissue that is distally positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is further operable in a second mode to transect and seal tissue that is transversely positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The first fluid port is in communication with the distal opening of the ultrasonic blade. The irrigation member is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the ultrasonic blade. The second fluid port is in communication with the irrigation member. The fluid communication assembly is configured to couple the first fluid port with a fluid source, couple the first fluid port with a suction source, and couple the second fluid port with the fluid source.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, a user input feature, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a blade cooling system. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade that may be coupled with an ultrasonic transducer. The clamp arm is configured to pivot toward and away from the ultrasonic blade. The cooling system is operable to deliver liquid coolant to the ultrasonic blade to thereby cool the ultrasonic blade. The user input feature is operable to both actuate the clamp arm and actuate the cooling system.