Ultrasonic surgical system, and abnormality detection method and abnormality detection program for ultrasonic surgical system

• US 20050070800A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hiroyuki
• Application Number:
  US10/876,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20050070800A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0003 of parts of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00132 Setting operation time of a device A61B2017/00123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical system includes a handpiece having an ultrasonic vibrator; and a probe connected to the ultrasonic vibrator. The handpiece includes a first storage unit that stores first determination criterion information being a criterion of whether an abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system. The probe includes a second storage unit that stores second determination criterion information as a criterion of whether an abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system. The ultrasonic surgical system also includes a control unit that stops driving the ultrasonic vibrator based on the first and second determination criterion information.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic surgical system, comprising:

a handpiece including an ultrasonic vibrator, and a first storage unit that stores first determination criterion information being a criterion of whether an abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system;

a probe including a second storage unit that stores second determination criterion information as a criterion of whether an abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system, connected to the ultrasonic vibrator, and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations output from the ultrasonic vibrator to a treatment target; and

a control unit determining whether the abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system based on the first determination criterion information and the second determination criterion information, stopping driving the ultrasonic vibrator if determining that the abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system.

2. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit stores as the first determination criterion information history information on abnormality that has occurred in the ultrasonic surgical system, in the first storage unit.

3. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a switchover unit that switches over between a driving mode in which the control unit controls the ultrasonic vibrator and a test mode in which whether an abnormality resulting from the handpiece occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system is determined, wherein

in the test mode, if the abnormality resulting from the handpiece is not determined, the control unit erases the history information from the first storage unit and permits the ultrasonic vibrator, driving of which is stopped, to be driven again.

4. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 1, further comprising a time calculation unit that calculates an output time at which the ultrasonic vibrator outputs the ultrasonic vibration to the handpiece, wherein

the control unit calculates an accumulated output time of the handpiece based on the output time, and stores the accumulated output time as the first determination criterion information, in the first storage unit.

5. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit stores as the second determination criterion information history information on abnormality that has occurred in the ultrasonic surgical system, in the second storage unit.

6. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a switchover unit that switches over between a driving mode in which the control unit controls the ultrasonic vibrator and a test mode in which whether an abnormality resulting from the probe occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system is determined, wherein

in the test mode, if the abnormality resulting from the probe is not determined, the control unit erases the history information from the second storage unit and permits the ultrasonic vibrator, driving of which is stopped, to be driven again.

7. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 1, further comprising a time calculation unit that calculates an output time at which the ultrasonic vibrator outputs the ultrasonic vibration to the probe, wherein

the control unit calculates an accumulated output time of the probe based on the output time, and stores the accumulated output time as the second determination criterion information, in the second storage unit.

8. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pressing unit that presses the treatment target against the probe; and

a conduction detection unit that detects electric conduction between the pressing unit and the probe based on at least one of the first determination criterion information and the second determination criterion information when the pressing unit contacts with the probe, wherein

the control unit, when receiving detection information indicating detection of the electric conduction between the pressing unit and the probe from the conduction detection unit, determines that the abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system, and stops driving the ultrasonic vibrator.

9. A method of detecting an abnormality of an ultrasonic surgical system which includes (1) a handpiece having an ultrasonic vibrator and (2) a probe connected to the ultrasonic vibrator, the method comprising:

determining whether an abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system based on first determination criterion information on the handpiece and second determination criterion information on the probe before the ultrasonic vibrator is driven;

determining whether a resonance point of the ultrasonic vibrator is detected within a frequency range set by one of the first determination criterion information and the second determination criterion information if the abnormality is not determined before the ultrasonic vibrator is driven;

determining that an abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system if the resonance point is not detected within the frequency range;

determining whether an abnormality occurs to the ultrasonic surgical system based on driving information obtained during driving of the ultrasonic vibrator and based on one of the first determination criterion information and the second determination criterion information if the abnormality is not determined based on the resonance point; and

stopping driving the ultrasonic vibrator when the abnormality is determined.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising storing, in a storage unit, history information on the abnormality as one of the first determination criterion information and the second determination criterion information if the abnormality is determined.

11. The abnormality detection method according to claim 10, further comprising:

switching from a driving mode in which the ultrasonic vibrator is driven, to a test mode in which an abnormality of one of the probe and the handpiece is determined, after the driving of the ultrasonic vibrator is stopped and the history information is stored;

in the test mode, if the abnormality is not determined, erasing the history information from the storage unit and permitting the ultrasonic vibrator, driving of which is stopped, to be driven again; and

switching from the test mode to the driving mode after the ultrasonic vibrator is permitted.

12. A computer program product for detecting an abnormality of an ultrasonic surgical system which includes (1) a handpiece having an ultrasonic vibrator and (2) a probe connected to the ultrasonic vibrator, including computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform:

determining whether an abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system based on first determination criterion information on the handpiece and second determination criterion information on the probe before the ultrasonic vibrator is driven;

determining whether a resonance point of the ultrasonic vibrator is detected within a frequency range set by one of the first determination criterion information and the second determination criterion information if the abnormality is not determined before the ultrasonic vibrator is driven;

determining that an abnormality occurs in the ultrasonic surgical system if the resonance point is not detected within the frequency range;

determining whether an abnormality occurs to the ultrasonic surgical system based on driving information obtained during driving of the ultrasonic vibrator and based on one of the first determination criterion information and the second determination criterion information if the abnormality is not determined based on the resonance point; and

stopping driving the ultrasonic vibrator when the abnormality is determined.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to perform storing, in a storage unit, history information on the abnormality as one of the first determination criterion information and the second determination criterion information if the abnormality is determined.

14. The computer program product according to claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to perform:

switching from a driving mode in which the ultrasonic vibrator is driven, to a test mode in which an abnormality of one of the probe and the handpiece is determined, after the driving of the ultrasonic vibrator is stopped and the history information is stored;

in the test mode, if the abnormality is not determined, erasing the history information from the storage unit and permitting the ultrasonic vibrator, driving of which is stopped, to be driven again; and

switching from the test mode to the driving mode after the ultrasonic vibrator is permitted.