Ultrasonic surgical instruments with rotatable blade and hollow sheath arrangements

Abstract

In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that comprises a handpiece housing that rotatably supports an ultrasonic transducer assembly therein that may be selectively rotated by a motor housed therein. Various forms of blades are disclosed for attachment to the ultrasonic transducer assembly such that the blade may be selectively rotatable within a hollow outer sheath. The hollow outer sheath has at least one opening therein through which the blade tip may be exposed to tissue. Vacuum may be applied to the cutting implement or through the outer sheath to draw tissue through the opening(s) in the sheath and into contact with a portion of the blade.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
 a housing;   an ultrasonic transducer assembly supported by the housing and communicating with a source of electrical signals;   a horn acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic transducer assembly;   a waveguide acoustically coupled to the horn;   a tissue treatment element extending from the waveguide;   a hollow sheath protruding from the housing, wherein the waveguide extends within the hollow sheath, wherein the hollow sheath defines a distal end, wherein the hollow sheath comprises an access window adjacent the distal end, wherein the access window is arranged to expose the tissue treatment element to interact with tissue drawn through the access window; and   a protector movably journaled on the outer sheath and being selectively movable between a closed position wherein the protector covers the access window and open positions wherein at least a portion of the access window is exposed.   
     
     
         28 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 27 , wherein the distal end is substantially blunt. 
     
     
         29 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 27 , wherein the tissue treatment element comprises at least one serrated cutting tooth. 
     
     
         30 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 27 , further comprising at least one retainer on the hollow sheath for releasably retaining the protector in at least one of the open positions. 
     
     
         31 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 27 , wherein the retainer comprises at least one of a detent or a groove. 
     
     
         32 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 27 , further comprising an actuation member for facilitating application of actuation motions to the protector. 
     
     
         33 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 27 , wherein the hollow sheath has at least two cutting inserts mounted therein adjacent to the access window. 
     
     
         34 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
 a housing;   a stack of piezoelectric elements configured to convert electrical energy into ultrasonic vibrations;   a horn acoustically coupled to the stack of piezoelectric elements to receive the ultrasonic vibrations generated by the stack of piezoelectric elements;   a blade acoustically coupled to the horn to receive the ultrasonic vibrations transmitted by the horn, wherein the blade comprises a distal tissue-cutting element;   a hollow sheath protruding from the housing, wherein the blade extends within the hollow sheath, wherein the hollow sheath defines a distal end, and wherein the hollow sheath comprises an opening adjacent the distal end, wherein the opening is arranged to expose the distal tissue-cutting element to interact with tissue drawn through the opening; and   a safety sheath selectively movable between a closed position wherein the safety sheath covers the opening and open positions wherein at least a portion of the opening is exposed.   
     
     
         35 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 34 , wherein the distal end is substantially blunt. 
     
     
         36 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 34 , wherein the distal tissue-cutting element comprises at least one serrated cutting tooth. 
     
     
         37 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 34 , further comprising at least one retainer on the hollow sheath for releasably retaining the safety sheath in at least one of the open positions. 
     
     
         38 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 34 , wherein the retainer comprises at least one of a detent or a groove. 
     
     
         39 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 34 , further comprising an actuation member for facilitating application of actuation motions to the safety sheath. 
     
     
         40 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 34 , wherein the hollow sheath has at least two cutting inserts mounted therein adjacent to the opening. 
     
     
         41 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
 a housing;   a stack of piezoelectric elements configured to convert electrical energy into ultrasonic vibrations;   a horn acoustically coupled to the stack of piezoelectric elements to receive the ultrasonic vibrations generated by the stack of piezoelectric elements;   a blade acoustically coupled to the horn to receive the ultrasonic vibrations transmitted by the horn, wherein the blade comprises a distal tissue-cutting element;   a hollow sheath protruding from the housing, wherein the blade extends within the hollow sheath, wherein the hollow sheath defines a distal end, and wherein the hollow sheath comprises an opening adjacent the distal end, wherein the opening is arranged to expose the distal tissue-cutting element to interact with tissue drawn through the opening; and   an outer sheath at least partially positioned around the hollow sheath, wherein the outer sheath is movable with respect to the hollow sheath to selectively expose the distal tissue-cutting element.   
     
     
         42 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 41 , wherein the distal end is substantially blunt. 
     
     
         43 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 41 , wherein the distal tissue-cutting element comprises at least one serrated cutting tooth. 
     
     
         44 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 41 , further comprising at least one retainer on the hollow sheath for releasably retaining the outer sheath in at least one of the open positions. 
     
     
         45 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 41 , wherein the retainer comprises at least one of a detent or a groove. 
     
     
         46 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 41 , further comprising an actuation member for facilitating application of actuation motions to the outer sheath. 
     
     
         47 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument of  claim 41 , wherein the hollow sheath has at least two cutting inserts mounted therein adjacent to the opening.