BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to ultrasonic surgical instruments and, more particularly, to an ultrasonic horn, ultrasonic transducer assembly, and ultrasonic surgical instrument including the same.

Background of Related Art

Ultrasonic surgical instruments utilize ultrasonic energy, i.e., ultrasonic vibrations, to treat tissue. More specifically, ultrasonic surgical instruments utilize mechanical vibration energy transmitted at ultrasonic frequencies to coagulate, cauterize, fuse, seal, cut, desiccate, and/or fulgurate tissue to effect hemostasis.

Ultrasonic surgical instruments typically employ a transducer coupled to a handle of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and configured to produce ultrasonic energy for transmission along a waveguide to an end effector of the ultrasonic surgical instrument that is designed to treat tissue with the ultrasonic energy. The transducer may be driven by an ultrasonic generator that is on-board, e.g., on or within the handle of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, or remotely disposed, e.g., as a set-top box connected to the ultrasonic surgical instrument via a surgical cable. The end effector of the ultrasonic surgical instrument may include a blade that receives the ultrasonic energy from the waveguide for application to tissue and a jaw member configured to clamp tissue between the blade and the jaw member to facilitate treatment thereof.

SUMMARY

As used herein, the term “distal” refers to the portion that is described which is further from a user, while the term “proximal” refers to the portion that is being described which is closer to a user. Further, any or all of the aspects described herein, to the extent consistent, may be used in conjunction with any or all of the other aspects described herein.

Provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is an ultrasonic horn for an ultrasonic transducer assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument. The ultrasonic horn includes a body and a nose. The body defines a maximum diameter of the ultrasonic horn. The body includes at least one depression defined thereabout and configured to receive at least one protrusion for mounting the body within a support structure. The nose extends distally from the body. The body defines a proximal connector configured to enable the body to be secured to a piezoelectric stack and the nose defines a distal connector configured to enable the nose to be engaged with a waveguide for transmission of ultrasonic energy produced by the piezoelectric stack to the waveguide.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the body and the nose are monolithically formed as a single component.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the body defines the maximum diameter that is substantially constant along at least 90% of the length of the body.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the nose tapers in a proximal-to-distal direction.

An ultrasonic transducer assembly of an ultrasonic surgical instrument provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a piezoelectric stack defining an outer diameter, an ultrasonic horn secured to and extending distally from the piezoelectric stack, and an enclosure surrounding the piezoelectric stack and a portion of the ultrasonic horn. The ultrasonic horn includes a body and a nose extending distally from the body. The body defines a maximum diameter of the ultrasonic horn. The body includes at least one depression annular arranged thereabout. The enclosure includes at least one protrusion extending inwardly therefrom configured for receipt within the at least one depression of the body to secure the ultrasonic horn within the enclosure.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the body defines a proximal connector configured to enable the body to be secured to the piezoelectric stack via a bolt. Alternatively, other securement mechanisms, e.g., a threaded rod, washer and nut system, may be utilized.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the nose extends distally from the enclosure.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the nose defines a distal connector configured to enable the nose to be engaged with a waveguide such that the ultrasonic horn is capable of transmitting ultrasonic energy produced by the piezoelectric stack to the waveguide.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the body and the nose are monolithically formed as a single component.

In still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the body defines the maximum diameter that is substantially constant along at least 90% of the length of the body.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the nose tapers in a proximal-to-distal direction.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument provided in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a handle assembly and an elongated assembly extending distally from the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing and an ultrasonic transducer assembly supported by the housing. The ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a piezoelectric stack defining an outer diameter, an ultrasonic horn secured to and extending distally from the piezoelectric stack, and an enclosure surrounding the piezoelectric stack and a portion of the ultrasonic horn. The ultrasonic horn includes a body and a nose extending distally from the body. The body defines a length and a maximum diameter of the ultrasonic horn. The body further includes at least one depression annularly arranged thereabout. The enclosure includes at least one protrusion extending inwardly therefrom configured for receipt within the at least one depression of the body to secure the ultrasonic horn within the enclosure. The elongated assembly including a waveguide configured to engage the nose of the ultrasonic horn and a blade defined at a distal end of the waveguide. Ultrasonic energy produced by the piezoelectric stack is transmitted along the horn and the waveguide to the blade for treating tissue adjacent the blade.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the body defines a proximal connector configured to enable the body to be secured to the piezoelectric stack via a bolt or other securement mechanism.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the nose extends distally from the enclosure and defines a distal connector configured to engage a corresponding connector of the waveguide.

In still another aspect of the present disclosure, the body and the nose are monolithically formed as a single component.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the body defines the maximum diameter that is substantially constant along at least 90% of the length of the body.

In still yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the nose tapers in a proximal-to-distal direction.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the handle assembly further includes an ultrasonic generator supported thereby and configured to drive the ultrasonic transducer assembly. In such aspects, the ultrasonic generator and the ultrasonic transducer assembly may be removably engagable with the housing as a single unit.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the handle assembly further includes a clamp trigger and the elongated assembly further includes a clamp jaw. The clamp trigger is operably coupled to the clamp jaw such that actuation of the clamp trigger actuates the clamp jaw to clamp tissue between the clamp jaw and the blade.

