Ultrasonic surgical instruments with distally positioned jaw assemblies

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to surgical instruments comprising an end effector, a shaft and a jaw assembly. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade extending distally substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis. The shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along the longitudinal axis. The jaw assembly may comprise first and second jaw members. The jaw assembly may be pivotable about a first axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis from a first position where the first and second jaw members are substantially parallel to the ultrasonic blade to a second position. Additionally, the first and second jaw members may be pivotable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a shaft;   a jaw assembly, comprising:
 a wrist member pivotably coupled to the shaft, 
 a first jaw coupled to the wrist member; and 
 a second jaw coupled to the wrist member, wherein at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is pivotable relative to the wrist member to transition the first jaw and the second jaw between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and 
   an ultrasonic blade movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, wherein, in the extended configuration, the ultrasonic blade extends from the shaft, and, in the retracted configuration, the ultrasonic blade is positioned within the shaft;   wherein the jaw assembly is movable within a first range of motion based on the ultrasonic blade being in the extended configuration; and   wherein the jaw assembly is movable within a second range of motion greater than the first range of motion based on the ultrasonic blade being in the retracted configuration.   
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein the wrist member is pivotable relative to the shaft about a first axis, and wherein the at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is pivotable relative to the wrist member about a second axis transverse to the first axis. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein the jaw assembly is configured to capture tissue and maneuver the tissue towards the ultrasonic blade. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein the first range of motion is encompassed by the second range of motion. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein the ultrasonic blade prevents the jaw assembly from rotating beyond the first range of motion, based on the ultrasonic blade being in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a first cable configured to pivot the first jaw relative to the wrist member; and   a second cable configured to pivot the at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw relative to the wrist member.   
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 an instrument mounting portion extending from the shaft;   a waveguide extending from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the waveguide is movably coupled to the ultrasonic blade; and   a transducer extending from the waveguide.   
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30 , wherein the transducer is positioned within the instrument mounting portion. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument of  claim 31 , wherein the transducer is movably coupled to the waveguide. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30 , wherein the transducer extends beyond the instrument mounting portion. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30 , further comprising a gear operably coupled to the waveguide, wherein the ultrasonic blade is movable between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration, based on rotation of the gear. 
     
     
         35 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a shaft;   a jaw assembly, comprising:
 a wrist member pivotably coupled to the shaft, 
 a first jaw pivotably coupled to the wrist member; and 
 a second jaw pivotably coupled to the wrist member, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are pivotable relative to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and 
   an ultrasonic assembly comprising a waveguide and an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic assembly is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein, in the extended position, the ultrasonic blade extends from the shaft, and, in the retracted position, the ultrasonic blade is positioned within the shaft;   wherein the wrist member is rotatable relative to the shaft within a first range of motion based on the ultrasonic assembly being in the extended position; and   wherein the wrist member is rotatable relative to the shaft within a second range of motion greater than the first range of motion based on the ultrasonic assembly being in the retracted position.   
     
     
         36 . The surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein the wrist member is pivotable relative to the shaft about a first axis, and wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are pivotable relative to the wrist member about a second axis transverse to the first axis. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein the jaw assembly is configured to capture tissue and maneuver the captured tissue towards the ultrasonic assembly. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein the first range of motion is encompassed by the second range of motion. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical instrument of  claim 35 , wherein the ultrasonic assembly prevents the wrist member from rotating beyond the first range of motion, based on the ultrasonic assembly being in the extended position. 
     
     
         40 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a shaft;   a jaw assembly, comprising:
 a wrist member pivotably relative to the shaft about a first axis; 
 a first jaw; and 
 a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are pivotable relative to the wrist member about a second axis transverse to the first axis, and wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are pivotable relative to one another from an open configuration to a closed configuration to capture tissue therebetween; and 
   an ultrasonic blade movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, wherein, in the extended configuration, the ultrasonic blade extends from the shaft, and, in the retracted configuration, the ultrasonic blade is housed within the shaft;   wherein the wrist member is pivotable relative to the shaft within a first range of motion based on the ultrasonic blade being in the extended configuration; and   wherein the wrist member is pivotable relative to the shaft within a second range of motion greater than the first range of motion based on the ultrasonic blade being in the retracted configuration.   
     
     
         41 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the first range of motion is encompassed by the second range of motion. 
     
     
         42 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the ultrasonic blade prevents the wrist member from rotating beyond the first range of motion, based on the ultrasonic blade being in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         43 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 a first cable configured to pivot the first jaw relative to the wrist member;   a second cable configured to pivot the second jaw relative to the wrist member; and   a third cable configured to pivot the wrist member relative to the shaft.