Ultrasonic device for fingertip control

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises a handpiece and an ultrasonically actuated blade distal to the handpiece. The instrument includes an activation member that is operable to selectively activate the blade and a controller that is operable to select the energy level at which the blade will be activated. The activation member may comprise capacitive switches; resistive sensors; resonant cavity switching technology; infrared sensing technology; technology that uses a resonant, standing wave on a surface that is perturbed by the presence of a finger; and/or any other suitable type of technology. The controller may comprise the same. The controller may permit selection from three or more available ultrasonic energy levels. The activation member and/or controller may be manipulated from various longitudinal positions on the handpiece and/or various rotational positions about the handpiece, such that the handpiece may be gripped in a variety of ways.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
 (a) a handpiece having a length;   (b) an ultrasonically actuated blade positioned distal to the handpiece;   (c) a controller operable to select an ultrasonic energy level of the blade, wherein the controller is integral with the handpiece; and   (d) an activation member operable to activate the blade, wherein the activation member is integral with the handpiece, wherein the activation member is positioned and configured to be engaged by a user's hand to selectively activate the blade;   wherein either or both of the controller or the activation member is accessible from a plurality of positions along the length of the handpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the activation member comprises an elongate strip running longitudinally along a portion of the length of the handpiece, wherein, the controller is responsive to a longitudinal position at which a user presses the strip. 
     
     
         3 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate activation member further comprises an array of buttons beneath the elongate strip, wherein the buttons are sized and arranged such that at least one of the buttons is actuated when a user presses the strip. 
     
     
         4 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to select a first energy level of the blade when a user presses a distal portion of the strip, wherein the controller is configured to select a second energy level of the blade when a user presses a proximal portion of the strip, wherein the first energy level is greater than the second energy level. 
     
     
         5 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the activation member comprises a plurality of elongate ribs extending along a portion of the length of the handpiece. 
     
     
         6 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece comprises a shell, wherein the shell defines an opening exposing the activation member, wherein the activation member is rotatable within the shell. 
     
     
         7 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 6 , wherein the activation member presents an external surface, wherein the activation member is operable to activate the blade in response to a user touching the external surface of the activation member. 
     
     
         8 . The ultrasonic instrument of  claim 7 , wherein the activation member has a longitudinal length exposed through the opening of the shell, wherein the controller is operable to select an ultrasonic energy level of the blade based on a position along the length of the activation member at which a user touches the external surface of the activation member. 
     
     
         9 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the activation member comprises a capacitive switch. 
     
     
         10 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 9 , wherein the capacitive switch is recessed within the handpiece. 
     
     
         11 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the activation member comprises a strain gauge. 
     
     
         12 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the activation member is operable to simultaneously actuate the controller to select an ultrasonic energy level of the blade and activate the blade at the selected ultrasonic energy level. 
     
     
         13 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 12 , wherein the activation member comprises a first pair of buttons. 
     
     
         14 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 13 , wherein the activation member comprises a second pair of buttons, wherein at least one of the buttons in the first pair is operable to simultaneously actuate the controller to select an ultrasonic energy level of the blade and activate the blade at a first ultrasonic energy level; wherein at least one of the buttons in the second pair is operable to simultaneously actuate the controller to select an ultrasonic energy level of the blade and activate the blade at a second ultrasonic energy level. 
     
     
         15 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 12 , wherein the activation member comprises a longitudinally slidable member. 
     
     
         16 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 1 , the instrument further comprises a cable configured to provide power to the handpiece, wherein the handpiece comprises a tail portion and a gripping portion, wherein the tail portion is fixedly engaged with the cable, wherein the tail portion is rotatable relative to the gripping portion. 
     
     
         17 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
 (a) a handpiece having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the handpiece extends outwardly from the distal end to the proximal end, such that the proximal end is wider than the distal end;   (b) an ultrasonically actuated blade positioned distal to the handpiece;   (c) a first button, wherein the first button is integral with the handpiece, wherein the first button is operable to activate the blade at a first level of ultrasonic energy; and   (d) a second button, wherein the first button is integral with the handpiece, wherein the first button is operable to activate the blade at a first level of ultrasonic energy.   
     
     
         18 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 17 , wherein the handpiece comprises a first face and a second face, the first and second faces extending between the distal end and proximal end, wherein the first face is wider than the second face, wherein the first button is located on the first face, wherein the second button is located on the second face. 
     
     
         19 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 (a) a handpiece;   (b) an end effector positioned distal to the handpiece, wherein the handpiece and end effector are configured to permit a user to apply a force to tissue with the end effector by using the handpiece to force the end effector against the tissue;   (c) a power source in communication with the end effector, wherein the power source is operable to provide power to the end effector, wherein the power source is operable to convert one form of power into another form of power, wherein the power source is integral with the handpiece;   (d) a controller, wherein the controller is integral with the handpiece, wherein the controller is operable to control the level of power provided by the power source to the end effector; and   (e) an activation member, wherein the activation member is integral with the handpiece, wherein the first button is operable to activate the blade at a power level selected using the controller.   
     
     
         20 . The surgical instrument of  claim 19 , wherein the power source comprises an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrational power.