Patent ID: 11950798
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade, and
(ii) a clamp arm pivotally secured relative to the ultrasonic blade and configured to move from an open position for receiving a tissue and a closed position for clamping the tissue against the ultrasonic blade, wherein the clamp arm further includes a distal clamp end and is pivotally secured relative to the ultrasonic blade at a pivotal securement;

(b) a shaft assembly extending proximally from the end effector, wherein the shaft assembly includes:
(i) a tube,
(ii) an acoustic waveguide received within the tube, wherein the acoustic waveguide is operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade such that the acoustic waveguide is in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic blade, and
(ii) a sheath positioned between the acoustic waveguide and the tube and configured to damp acoustic vibrations from the acoustic waveguide toward the tube; and

(c) at least one sensor positioned on at least one of the end effector or the sheath, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure a force applied at the end effector or the sheath as a measured force, respectively, and thereby provide real-time feedback of a non-clamping force applied against one of the ultrasonic blade or the clamp arm,
wherein the at least one sensor includes a clamp arm sensor positioned on the clamp arm closer to the distal clamp end than the proximal securement, wherein the clamp arm sensor is configured measure the force applied at the clamp arm as the measured force and thereby provide real-time feedback of the non-clamping force applied against one of the ultrasonic blade or the clamp arm.