Various embodiments are directed to articulatable surgical instruments. Some embodiments comprise an end effector to treat tissue, where the end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade. A hollow shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. A waveguide may extend through the shaft and may be acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade. The waveguide may comprise a distally positioned flange positioned within the hollow shaft proximally from the blade and may be held stationary at a first pivot point positioned within the hollow shaft proximally from the flange. A reciprocating wedge may be positioned within the hollow shaft such that distal motion of the wedge pushes the wedge between the flange and the hollow shaft, causing the ultrasonic blade to pivot about the first pivot point in a first direction.

Various embodiments are directed to articulatable surgical instruments and surgical systems comprising articulatable surgical instruments. Some embodiments comprise an end effector to treat tissue, where the end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade. A hollow shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. A waveguide may extend through the hollow shaft and may be acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade. The waveguide may comprise a distally positioned flange positioned within the hollow shaft proximally from the ultrasonic blade and may be held stationary at a first pivot point positioned within the hollow shaft proximally from the flange. A reciprocatable wedge may be configured to interact with the flange to cause the ultrasonic blade to pivot about the first pivot point in a first direction.

An ultrasonic surgical device capable of cutting biological tissues such as bone and cartilage. The ultrasonic surgical device includes a static casing, which sheaths an ultrasonic horn, and a lubrication film, which separates the ultrasonic horn and the static casing. The static casing, which may also incorporate a plurality of fluid channels to allow passage of fluids along its length and eventual distribution of such fluids at the cutting end and biological tissue interface, inhibits the transfer of heat generated along the ultrasonic horn. The cutting end and the static casing are separated by a flexible joint, which serves to inhibit the transfer of vibrational energy, and consequently heat, from the cutting end to the static casing. As such, the static casing remains stable and can be used both to manipulate the surgical device with greater haptic control and facilitate effective penetration of larger cross-sections of biological tissue.

The invention relates to a holding device for a lithotripsy device for fragmenting calculi, the holding device comprising a housing with a distal end and a proximal end and a sonotrode being connectable to the distal end, arranged within the housing there being an acceleration tube with a longitudinal center axis, a cavity, a proximal end, and a distal end, and with a movable projectile within the cavity for shock excitation of the sonotrode, a proximal-side abutment element arranged at the proximal end, and a distal-side abutment element arranged at the distal end of the acceleration tube, and the holding device being assignable a force generation apparatus for generating a force for moving the projectile back and/or forth between the proximal-side abutment element and the distal-side abutment element, and a vibration excitation apparatus for exciting vibrations of the sonotrode being arranged in the housing, wherein the holding device comprises a vibration compensation apparatus with at least one mass and at least one spring element such that the vibration compensation apparatus makes it possible to decouple the acceleration tube from the excitation of vibrations by means of the vibration excitation apparatus. The invention also relates to a lithotripsy device for fragmenting calculi.

A medical probe is provided in which at least a portion of the outer surface of the medical probe is coated with a diamond-like carbon material or with a diamond-like carbon derivative material. In one embodiment, substantially the entire outer surface is coated except for an end portion of the medical probe adapted for connection to an endoscopy apparatus. In another embodiment, the medical probe is a lithotripsy probe for use with an ultrasonic transducer in the removal of hard masses, such as kidney stones, from the biliary and/or urinary systems.

A device for transmitting mechanical waves, including a mechanical waveguide having an elongated shape and extending between a proximal end and a distal end for propagating the mechanical waves coupled at the proximal end up to the distal end, and a radiopaque marker secured to the mechanical waveguide adjacent to the distal end thereof.

An ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion. The distal blade portion bends more easily than does the proximal blade portion. A user-actuated articulated sheath surrounds a portion of the medical ultrasonic blade. The distal blade portion includes a distal end portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue.

An ultrasound medical instrument includes a medical ultrasonic blade having a proximal blade portion and a distal blade portion. The distal blade portion bends more easily than does the proximal blade portion. A user-actuated articulated sheath surrounds a portion of the medical ultrasonic blade. The distal blade portion includes a distal end portion adapted to contact and ultrasonically treat patient tissue.

An ultrasound catheter includes a catheter body, an ultrasound transmission member, a sonic connector, a constraining member, and a vibrational absorber. The vibrational absorber has an opening through which the ultrasonic transmission member extends. The vibrational absorber is located in a recessed portion of the constraining member. The vibrational absorber is both longitudinally interposed between the constraining member and the distal portion of the sonic connector and laterally interposed between the recessed portion of the constraining member and the ultrasound transmission member. The recessed portion of the constraining member overlaps a portion of an exterior of the distal portion of the sonic connector.

Surgical systems and methods are provided for controlling actuation and movement of various surgical devices.