CAM DRIVEN COUPLING BETWEEN ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER AND WAVEGUIDE IN SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

摘要

A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a waveguide, a transducer, and a coupling assembly. In some versions the coupling assembly translates the transducer to couple the transducer to the waveguide. For instance, a gear having arcuate troughs may engage pins on the transducer and/or waveguide to mate the transducer to waveguide. A pawl may selectively engage and prevent rotation of the gear. Alternatively, lever arms may cam the transducer into the waveguide. The lever arms may selectively couple to a casing to prevent decoupling of the transducer and waveguide. In another configuration, a locking tab can be slid and locked into a slot to couple the transducer and waveguide. Further still, levers with self-locking pins may engage and couple the transducer to the waveguide. In another version, a rotatable body portion may engage a tab on the transducer to rotate and couple the transducer to the waveguide.

主权项

1. A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a body assembly having a casing, the casing at least partially defining a cavity therein; (b) a waveguide; (c) a transducer comprising:
i. a transducer body, andii. a distal coupling member,wherein the distal coupling member is configured to couple the transducer to a proximal end of the waveguide; and (d) a coupling assembly operable to couple the distal coupling member of the transducer to the proximal end of the waveguide; wherein the transducer is at least partially insertable into the cavity of the casing; and wherein the coupling assembly is operable to translate the transducer relative to the body assembly.