A catheter assembly including, in some embodiments, a sonic connector at a proximal end of a core wire, a damping mechanism around a proximal end portion of the core wire, and a heat sink connected to the damping mechanism. The sonic connector is configured to couple to an ultrasound-producing mechanism and transmit vibrational energy to the proximal end of the core wire, which core wire includes a distal end portion configured to modify intravascular lesions. The damping mechanism includes a gasket system around the proximal end portion of the core wire in a damping-mechanism bore of the catheter assembly. The damping mechanism is configured to damp the vibrational energy. A system including, in some embodiments, the catheter assembly and the ultrasound-producing mechanism is also disclosed.

A system for crushing and/or removing body stones, includes a source causing shock waves and/or ultrasonic waves, and a probe, wherein the source and the probe are reversibly connectable to one another via an interface for transmitting the shock waves and/or ultrasonic waves to the probe. The probe includes an identification element for identifying the probe, the identification element being arranged in or on the probe in a sound-protected manner. The identification element is preferably an RFID element.

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly rotatable relative to the body, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly and having an RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy. An electrical contact assembly is arranged proximally of the end effector and is configured to electrically couple the RF electrode with an RF energy source. The electrical contact assembly includes a first electrical contact secured to the body and a second electrical contact secured to the shaft assembly. The first contact is configured to electrically couple with the RF energy source. The second contact is electrically coupled with the RF electrode and the first contact, and is configured to rotate with the shaft assembly relative to the first contact. The first and second electrical contacts are configured to remain electrically coupled throughout rotation of the shaft assembly relative to the body.

A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an ultrasonic transducer, a waveguide, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled with the waveguide, a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade, a first RF electrode provided by the clamp arm, and a second RF electrode provided by the ultrasonic blade. The first RF electrode is electrically coupled with a first RF electrical path of the instrument, and the second RF electrode is electrically coupled with a second RF electrical path of the instrument. The RF electrodes are operable to seal tissue with bipolar RF energy. An electrically insulative layer is provided on at least a portion of at least one of the ultrasonic blade, the waveguide, the shaft, or the clamp arm, and is configured to prevent shorting between the first and second RF electrical paths.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a first modular assembly including at least one operator input feature an ultrasonic transducer supported by the first modular assembly, and a second modular assembly configured to be removably coupled with the first modular assembly. The second modular assembly includes at least a portion of an end effector extending distally from a distal end portion of the second modular assembly. The instrument includes a mechanical lockout assembly configured to switch between at least an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. In the locked configuration, the first modular assembly and the second modular assembly are partially coupled together such that the operator is physically prevented from activating the instrument using the operator input feature. In the unlocked configuration, the first modular assembly and the second modular assembly are completely coupled together and the operator is able to activate the instrument using the operator input feature.

According to an embodiment, a cordless ultrasonic surgery instrument comprises an end effector directly contacting a tissue for incision or suture of the tissue, a handpiece including at least one or more piezoelectric elements to transfer vibration energy to the end effector, a hand instrument including a controller controlling an operation of the end effector and controlling to increase power from a power source device, a shaft assembly coupled with the end effector, rotated by receiving the vibration energy from the handpiece, converting part of vibration energy according to the vibration into electrical energy, and collecting the electrical energy, and a battery supplying power to the handpiece to allow the handpiece to transfer the vibration energy to the end effector, the battery charged with the electrical energy transmitted from the shaft assembly.

A surgical instrument is disclosed including a transducer configured to produce vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency and an ultrasonic blade extending along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer. The ultrasonic blade includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is movable along the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer. The surgical instrument further includes a protective sheath including a proximal end and a distal end and disposed adjacent to the body. The protective sheath further includes a pad positioned toward the distal end of the protective sheath and located between the body and the distal end of the protective sheath.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a first modular assembly including at least one operator input feature an ultrasonic transducer supported by the first modular assembly, and a second modular assembly configured to be removably coupled with the first modular assembly. The second modular assembly includes at least a portion of an end effector extending distally from a distal end portion of the second modular assembly. The instrument includes a mechanical lockout assembly configured to switch between at least an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration. In the locked configuration, the first modular assembly and the second modular assembly are partially coupled together such that the operator is physically prevented from activating the instrument using the operator input feature. In the unlocked configuration, the first modular assembly and the second modular assembly are completely coupled together and the operator is able to activate the instrument using the operator input feature.

A surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic transducer, a distally extending shaft, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade includes an upper treatment side, a lower treatment side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side. The clamp arm is movable relative to the ultrasonic blade for clamping tissue therebetween, and it provides an RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy. The RF electrode includes first and second electrode side portions. The first electrode side portion is spaced laterally outward from the first lateral side of the ultrasonic blade by a first lateral gap distance. The second electrode side portion spaced from the first electrode side portion and is spaced laterally outward from the second lateral side of the ultrasonic blade by a second lateral gap distance.

A surgical instrument includes an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft extending distally along a shaft axis, a waveguide acoustically coupled with the ultrasonic transducer and extending distally through the shaft, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled with the waveguide. A nodal support element is arranged within a distal portion of the shaft and encircles the waveguide at a distal-most acoustic node of the waveguide. The nodal support element includes a support portion aligned with the distal-most acoustic node, and a sealing portion extending axially from the support portion. The support portion engages an inner surface of the shaft and is configured to support the waveguide in coaxial alignment with the shaft axis. The sealing portion sealingly engages the inner surface of the shaft and is configured to prevent proximal ingress of fluid through the shaft.