Patent US6423082B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6423082B1
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US
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Ultrasonic surgical blade with improved cutting and coagulation features
Assignee: Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
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Filing: 2000-03-31
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Granted: 2002-07-23
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Expires: 2020-03-31
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to an ultrasonic surgical blade including a top surface, a bottom surface and a cutting-edge. The cutting-edge is defined by a cutting-surface intermediate the top surface and the bottom surface, and the top surface has a width greater than the width of the bottom surface. The blade may be straight or curved. In one embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the cutting-surface is substantially parallel to at least a portion of the top surface. In still another embodiment of the invention first and second side-walls intersect the top surface to form first and second cutting-edges that may be sharp or blunt. Alternately, a second cutting-edge may be defined by a second cutting surface intermediate the top and bottom surfaces. Depending on the angle between the intermediate cutting-surface and the top surface, the cutting-edge may be sharp or blunt. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a central ridge is provided on the bottom surface of the blade to eliminate blade burrowing and improve precision during coagulation. The cutting-edge is optimized to increase cutting speed of the blade while providing desirable hemostasis. The invention is of particular benefit for breast surgery, due to its cutting and coagulation characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin L. Houser
- 👤 Jorge N. Gutierrez
- 👤 Sarah A. Cook
- 👤 Laura A. Gallagher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320069; A61B2017/320071; A61B2017/320072; A61B2017/320074; A61B2017/320077; A61B2017/320089
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade comprising: a flat bottom surface; a top surface, wherein said top surface has a width greater than said bottom surface; and a cutting-edge, wherein said cutting-edge is defined by a first cutting-surface intermediate said top surface and said bottom surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade comprising: a flat bottom surface; a top surface, wherein said top surface has a width greater than said bottom surface; and a cutting-edge, wherein said cutting-edge is defined by a first cutting-surface intermediate said top surface and said bottom surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic surgical blade is sterile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 1 wherein the included angle at the intersection between said top surface and said first cutting-surface is from about 25 to about 35 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 1 , wherein said first cutting surface is curvilinear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 1 wherein said top surface further comprises a second cutting-surface intersecting said first cutting-surface at said cutting-edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 5 , wherein the intersection of said first cutting-surface and said second cutting-surface has an included angle of between about 10 to about 60 degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 6 , wherein the included angle between said first cutting-surface and said second cutting-surface is from about 25 to about 35 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of said top surface is flat, and at least a portion of said first cutting-surface is flat, wherein said flat portion of said top surface is substantially parallel to said flat portion of said first cutting-surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 7 wherein said top surface has a width about 0.002 inches to about 0.060 inches wider than the width of said bottom surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 9 wherein said cutting-edge is sharp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 9 wherein said cutting-edge is blunt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 11 wherein said blunt cutting-edge is square.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 1 , wherein the blade is curved.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade comprising: a bottom surface; a top surface; a cutting-edge, wherein said cutting-edge is defined by a first cutting-surface intermediate said top surface and said bottom surface; and said top surface comprising a second cutting-surface intersecting said first cutting-surface at said cutting edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade comprising: a bottom surface; a top surface; a cutting-edge, wherein said cutting-edge is defined by a first cutting-surface intermediate said top surface and said bottom surface; and said top surface comprising a second cutting-surface intersecting said first cutting-surface at said cutting edge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 14 , wherein the intersection of said first cutting-surface and said second cutting-surface has an included angle of between about 10 to about 60 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 15 , wherein the included angle between said first cutting-surface and said second cutting-surface is from about 25 to about 35 degrees.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 16 wherein said top surface has a width about 0.002 inches to about 0.060 inches wider than the width of said bottom surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 17 , wherein said first cutting-surface is curvilinear.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 17 wherein said cutting-edge is sharp.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 17 wherein said cutting-edge is blunt.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 17 wherein said curved ultrasonic blade is sterile.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 20 wherein said blunt cutting-edge is square.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of said top surface is flat, and at least a portion of said first cutting-surface is flat, wherein said flat portion of said top surface is substantially parallel to said flat portion of said first cutting-surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The curved ultrasonic surgical blade according to claim 14 , wherein the top surface has a width greater than the bottom surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-07-22 | 2006-01-21 | 2006-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-07-22 | 2010-01-21 | 2010-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-07-22 | 2014-01-21 | 2014-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |