Ultrasonic surgical instrument with removable handle assembly

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a body and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is configured to couple with the body such that the shaft assembly extends distally relative to the body. The shaft assembly comprises a tubular member, an acoustic waveguide, and a guiding member. The acoustic waveguide is operable to selectively couple with an ultrasonic transducer assembly. The tubular member is configured to insertingly receive the acoustic waveguide. The acoustic waveguide comprises a guide feature. The guiding member is configured to engage the guide feature of the acoustic waveguide and thereby orient the acoustic waveguide in relation to the tubular member.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 (a) an end effector, comprising:
 (i) an ultrasonic blade, and 
 (ii) a clamp arm configured to actuate relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a closed position to grasp tissue; 
   (b) a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
 (i) a waveguide in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic blade, 
 (ii) a first tubular member housing the waveguide, wherein the first tubular member comprises a first inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the waveguide and the first inner diameter of the first tubular member define a first interior, and 
 (iii) a second tubular member, wherein the second tubular member comprises a second inner diameter defining a second interior with the outer diameter of the first tubular member; and 
   (c) a cleaning port assembly configured to transition between an activation mode and a cleaning mode, wherein the cleaning port assembly is configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior environment and both the first interior and second interior in the cleaning mode, wherein the cleaning port assembly is configured to inhibit fluid communication between the exterior environment and both the first interior and the second interior in the activation mode.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the second tubular member houses the first tubular member. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the first interior and the second interior, while the cleaning port assembly is in the activation mode, are fluidly isolated from each other. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument of  claim 23 , wherein the shaft assembly comprises a distal seal. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein the distal seal is associated with the waveguide. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the distal seal is configured to inhibit a fluid from escaping the first interior in a distal direction while the cleaning port assembly is in the activation mode. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument of  claim 26 , wherein the distal seal is configured to allow the fluid to escape the first interior in the distal direction while the cleaning port assembly is in the cleaning mode. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument of  claim 23 , wherein the shaft assembly comprises a proximal seal. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument of  claim 28 , wherein the proximal seal is associated with the second tubular member. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument of  claim 29 , wherein the proximal seal is configured to inhibit a fluid from escaping the second interior in a proximal direction while the cleaning port assembly is in the activation mode. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument of  30 , wherein the proximal seal is configured to allow the fluid to escape the second interior in the proximal direction while the cleaning port assembly is in the cleaning mode. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , further comprising a body. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument of  claim 32 , wherein a proximal end of the shaft assembly is configured to selectively couple with the body. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument of  claim 33 , wherein the body comprises a handle assembly. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the cleaning port assembly is resiliently biased toward the activation mode. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein the shaft assembly further comprises a latch configured to inhibit the cleaning port from transitioning into the activation mode after achieving the cleaning mode. 
     
     
         37 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 (a) a shaft assembly comprising
 (i) an ultrasonic waveguide terminating distally into an ultrasonic blade, 
 (ii) a first tubular member housing the ultrasonic waveguide, wherein the first tubular member comprises a first inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the ultrasonic waveguide and the first inner diameter of the first tubular member define a first interior, and 
 (iii) a second tubular member, wherein the second tubular member and the first tubular member are configured to actuate relative to each other for driving a clamp arm between an open position and a closed position, wherein the second tubular member comprises a second inner diameter defining a second interior with the outer diameter of the first tubular member; and 
   (b) a cleaning port assembly configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior environment and both the first interior and second interior.   
     
     
         38 . The surgical instrument of  claim 37 , wherein the shaft assembly further comprises a proximal knob housing the cleaning port assembly. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical instrument of  claim 38 , wherein the proximal knob comprises a sliding cover configured to selectively expose the cleaning port assembly. 
     
     
         40 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 (a) an end effector,   (b) a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
 (i1) a first tubular member, wherein the first tubular member comprises a first inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the first inner diameter defines a first interior, and 
 (iii) a second tubular member, wherein the second tubular member comprises a second inner diameter defining a second interior with the outer diameter of the first tubular member; and 
   (c) a cleaning port assembly configured to transition between an activation mode and a cleaning mode, wherein the cleaning port assembly is configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior environment and both the first interior and second interior in the cleaning mode, wherein the cleaning port assembly is configured to inhibit fluid communication between the exterior environment and both the first interior and the second interior in the activation mode.