Patent ID: 6063098
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: A61B,B06B,G10K

Abstract:
An ultrasonic surgical clamp apparatus comprising:a housing;an outer sheath extending from the housing, the outer sheath having at least one articulating portion and a non-articulating portion;an inner actuating member reciprocably positioned within said outer sheath for rotation therewith with respect to said housing;an ultrasonic waveguide positioned within said outer sheath and having an end-effector extending distally of the distal end of the outer sheath, the waveguide having at least one articulating portion and a non-articulating portion, the waveguide further adapted to receive a vibrational energy and to propagate the vibrational energy from the non-articulating portion to the articulating portion;a clamp arm pivotally mounted on the distal end of the outer sheath for pivotal movement with respect to the end-effector for clamping tissue between the clamp arm and the end-effector, the clamp arm being operatively connected to the actuating member so that reciprocable movement of the actuating member pivotally moves the clamp arm with respect to the end-effector;an operating lever pivotally mounted on said housing, and a clamp drive mechanism interconnecting the operating lever with the actuating member so that pivotal movement of the operating lever reciprocably moves the actuating member for pivotally moving the clamp arm;an articulating knob coupled to the housing;and an articulation mechanism cooperating the with the articulating knob to effect articulation of the articulating portion of the outer sheath between a first position where the articulating portion of the outer sheath is disposed at an angle to the non-articulating portion of the outer sheath and a second position where the articulating portion of the outer sheath is substantially coaxial with the non-articulating portion of the outer sheath.