A surgical system includes a surgical instrument having a body, a shaft extending distally from the body, an ultrasonic transducer supported by the body, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade configured to be driven by the ultrasonic transducer with ultrasonic energy, and an RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy. A generator is operatively coupled with the surgical instrument and is operable to generate a combined drive signal having an ultrasonic energy component and an RF energy component. Filter circuitry arranged externally of the body of the surgical instrument is operable to convert the combined drive signal to an ultrasonic drive signal configured to energize the ultrasonic transducer to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, and an RF drive signal configured to energize the RF electrode with RF energy sufficient to seal tissue.

A method for ultrasonically treating tissue includes accessing a surgical site with an ultrasonic surgical instrument, dissecting tissue with a first portion of the blade, and sealing tissue with a second portion of the blade. The instrument includes a blade that defines a longitudinal axis. The blade is configured to oscillate along the longitudinal axis to ultrasonically treat tissue.

An ultrasonic surgical blade includes a body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface. The distal end is movable relative to a longitudinal axis in accordance with ultrasonic vibrations applied to the proximal end. At least a portion of the outer surface of the body comprises a lubricious coating adhered thereto. The lubricious coating has a coefficient of friction that is less than the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of the body.

A surgical instrument comprises a shaft assembly comprising a shaft and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft; a handle assembly coupled to a proximal end of the shaft; a battery assembly coupled to the handle assembly; a radio frequency (RF) energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply RF energy to a tissue; an ultrasonic energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the tissue; and a controller configured to, based at least in part on a measured tissue characteristic, start application of RF energy by the RF energy output or application of ultrasonic energy by the ultrasonic energy output at a first time.

A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly; a shaft assembly and an end effector. The shaft assembly includes an exterior shaft, a first clutch positioned within the exterior shaft to drive a first function of the surgical instrument when engaged. A second clutch within the exterior shaft to drive a second function when engaged. A rotary driver is positioned within the exterior shaft and configured to rotate within the exterior shaft. The rotary driver includes a first clutch engagement mechanism to engage the first clutch and a second clutch engagement mechanism configured to engage the second clutch independent of the first clutch engagement mechanism engaging the first clutch, such that, at different times both the first clutch and the second clutch are engaged simultaneously only the first clutch is engaged only the second clutch is engaged and neither the first clutch nor the second clutch is engaged simultaneously.

A tip is formed for use with an ultrasonic handpiece. The handpiece, when actuated, is capable of causing the tip to go into ultrasonic vibrations. The tip has a shaft from which a head extends. Teeth extend from the head. At least the teeth have a case hardened outer layer. The case hardened outer layer reduces the wearing of the teeth when the teeth are vibrated against hard tissue.

A system comprising a surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle, a shaft, a plurality of magnets, a plurality of sensors configured to determine a distance away from one or more of the plurality of magnets, and a processor communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to determine a three dimensional change in position of the shaft by computing a three dimensional change in position of the one or more magnets, using the change in the distances determined by the one or more plurality of sensors.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed including a handle including a pivoting handle portion, an end effector configured to treat tissue, a waveguide extending to the end effector, a battery and a vibration generating system selectively operable in a plurality of energizing operating states. The plurality of energizing operating states consists of a first operating state in which a first power is supplied to the end effector and a second operating state in which a second power is supplied to the end effector. The first power is different than the second power. The vibration generating system includes a transducer selectively attachable to the handle and a switch configured to operably switch the vibration generating system between the first operating state and the second operating state. The switch is further configured to operably switch the vibration generating system between the plurality of energizing operating states and a non-energizing operating state.

A device for cutting bone tissue and, more particularly, a sonotrode suitable for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument. The sonotrode has a head and a distal end piece, the distal end piece being equipped as a rectangular blade for cutting bones using mechanical vibration. The sonotrode has at least one structural element and the structural element is selected from the group including: a support structure, a lateral depression on each side, an increased width of the blade together with a slit at the distal end of the blade, or at least one lateral rib.

A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, and an end effector. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The body comprises a pivotal trigger. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue. Pivotal movement of the trigger causes movement of the clamp arm. The trigger includes a compliant feature configured to limit the amount of force delivered to tissue by the clamp arm. The flexible feature may comprise a flexible band, living hinge, a series of living hinges, or a flexible tab.