Hemostat-style ultrasonic surgical instrument with clamp force-limiting feature

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a first shaft member, a jaw member extending distally from the first shaft member, a second shaft member, an ultrasonic blade extending distally from the second shaft member and positioned to oppose the jaw member, and a force-limiting hinge assembly operably coupling the shaft members with one another such that movement of the shaft members between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position moves the jaw member and the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a clamping position for clamping tissue therebetween. The force-limiting hinge assembly includes a hinge arm fixedly engaged to one of the shaft members at a first end thereof and pivotably coupled to the other of the shaft members at a second end thereof. The hinge arm is configured to flex to regulate a clamping force applied to tissue clamped between the jaw member and the ultrasonic blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a first shaft member;   a first body extending distally from the first shaft member;   a second shaft member;   a second body extending distally from the second shaft member and positioned to oppose the first body; and   a force-limiting hinge assembly operably coupling the first and second shaft members with one another such that movement of at least one of the first or second shaft members relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position moves at least one of the first or second bodies relative to the other between an open position and a clamping position for clamping tissue therebetween, wherein the force-limiting hinge assembly includes a hinge arm fixedly engaged to one of the first or second shaft members at a first end thereof and pivotably coupled to the other of the first or second shaft members at a second end thereof, the hinge arm configured to flex to regulate a clamping force applied to tissue clamped between the first and second bodies.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the hinge arm is fixedly engaged with the second shaft member and wherein the second end of the hinge arm is pivotably coupled to the first shaft member. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the hinge arm is monolithically formed with the one of the first or second shaft members. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein a pivot pin pivotably couples the second end of the hinge arm with the other of the first or second shaft members. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge arm is resiliently flexible. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the first body includes a tissue pad and wherein the second body defines an ultrasonic blade. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 6 , further comprising a transducer and waveguide assembly supported by the second shaft member, the transducer and waveguide assembly including an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic waveguide coupled to and extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic blade is disposed at a distal end of the ultrasonic waveguide. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 7 , wherein the transducer and waveguide assembly is removable from the second shaft member. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second shaft members includes a handle disposed towards a proximal end thereof, the handles configured to facilitate movement of the first and second shaft members relative to one another between the spaced-apart position and the approximated position. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , further comprising an activation button disposed on one of the first or second shaft members, the activation button selectively activatable to supply energy to at least one of the first or second bodies. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinge arm regulates the clamping force applied to tissue clamped between the first and second bodies by flexing to inhibit the clamping force from exceeding a maximum clamping force. 
     
     
         12 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 first and second bodies positioned to oppose one another, at least one of the first or second bodies configured to be energized to treat tissue clamped between the first and second bodies; and   a force-limiting hinge assembly operably coupling the first and second bodies with one another, the force-limiting hinge assembly including a hinge arm fix relative to the second body at a first end thereof and pivotably coupled relative to the first body at a second end thereof, the hinge arm configured to flex to regulate a clamping force applied to tissue clamped between the first and second bodies upon pivoting of at least one of the first or second bodies relative to the other from an open position towards a clamping position.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , further comprising at least one shaft member, wherein the first and second bodies extend distally from the at least one shaft member. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the hinge arm is monolithically formed with one of the at least one shaft members. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 13 , wherein a pivot pin pivotably couples the second end of the hinge arm with one of the at least one shaft members. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein the hinge arm is resiliently flexible. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein the first body includes a tissue pad and wherein the second body defines an ultrasonic blade. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 17 , further comprising a transducer and waveguide assembly, the transducer and waveguide assembly including an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic waveguide coupled to and extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic blade is disposed at a distal end of the ultrasonic waveguide. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , further comprising an activation button selectively activatable to supply energy to at least one of the first or second bodies. 
     
     
         20 . The ultrasonic surgical instrument according to  claim 12 , wherein the hinge arm regulates the clamping force applied to tissue clamped between the first and second bodies by flexing to inhibit the clamping force from exceeding a maximum clamping force.