ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH REMOVABLE CLAMP ARM

摘要

An ultrasonic surgical instrument (100) comprises a wave-guide (80) adapted to be acoustically coupled to an ultrasonic transducer (50), and to transmit ultrasonic energy to an end effector (81) located at the distal end of the wave-guide (80). A support tube (72) extends from a handle assembly (68), an d surrounds at least a portion of the wave-guide, terminating proximal to the end effector (81). A clamp arm (56) is detachably mounted to the distal end of the support tube (72). An actuation element (76) is operatively coupled to t he clamp arm (56). The ultrasonic surgical instrument (100) may also include a clamp arm release (93). The actuation element comprises a first range of motion, and a second range of motion, whereby moving the clamp arm release from a second position to a first position increases allowable motion of the actuation element from the second range of motion to the first range of motion, thereby facilitating release of the clamp arm from the support tube.