System for controlling ultrasonic clamping and cutting instruments

• US 20060229514A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wiener, Eitan T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,335,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/471
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0011 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means

Abstract

A control system for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a generator supplying electrical energy to an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the electrical energy supplied by the generator being controlled such that power applied by the instrument is maintained constant once a predetermined pressure threshold is met. The control system operates by assigning a nominal power at which the ultrasonic instrument is to operate and adjusting the current and voltage applied to the ultrasonic surgical instrument so as to maintain the power applied by the ultrasonic surgical instrument at approximately the nominal power.

Claims

1. A control system for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

a generator supplying electrical energy to an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the electrical energy supplied by the generator being controlled such that power applied by the instrument is maintained constant once a predetermined pressure threshold is met.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the power applied by the instrument is equal to the product of the current and voltage generated by the generator.

3. The control system according to claim 2, further including means for measuring impedance passing through the ultrasonic surgical instrument and controlling the power level based upon the measured impedance.

4. The control system according to claim 3, wherein the means for controlling the power level includes adjusting current passing through the ultrasonic surgical instrument based upon the measured impedance.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein voltage supplied by the generator is increased as the force applied continues to increase.

6. The control system according to claim 1, further including means for measuring impedance passing through the ultrasonic surgical instrument and controlling the power level based upon the measured impedance.

7. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the means for controlling the power level includes adjusting current passing through the ultrasonic surgical instrument based upon the measured impedance.

8. The control system according to claim 1, further including means for balancing vibration levels of the ultrasonic surgical instrument with pressure applied by the ultrasonic surgical instrument.

9. An ultrasonic surgical system, comprising:

an instrument and an ultrasonic signal generator linked to the instrument for supplying a desired signal to the instrument, the instrument includes an ultrasonic transducer, a housing and an end-effector;

the ultrasonic signal generator includes a control system, the control system includes a generator supplying electrical energy to the instrument, the electrical energy supplied by the generator being controlled such that power applied by the instrument is maintained constant once a predetermined pressure threshold is met.

10. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 9, wherein the power applied by the instrument is equal to the product of the current and voltage generated by the generator.

11. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 10, further including means for measuring impedance passing through the instrument and controlling the power level based upon the measured impedance.

12. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 11, wherein the means for controlling the power level includes adjusting current passing through the instrument based upon the measured impedance.

13. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 9, wherein voltage supplied by the generator is increased as the force applied continues to increase.

14. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 9, further including means for measuring impedance passing through the instrument and controlling the power level based upon the measured impedance.

15. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 14, wherein the means for controlling the power level includes adjusting current passing through the instrument based upon the measured impedance.

16. The ultrasonic surgical system according to claim 9, further including means for balancing vibration levels of the instrument with pressure applied by the instrument.

17. A method for controlling the application of power by an ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising the following steps:

assigning a nominal power at which the ultrasonic instrument is to operate;

adjusting the current and voltage applied to the ultrasonic surgical instrument so as to maintain the power applied by the ultrasonic surgical instrument at approximately the nominal power.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of adjusting includes measuring impedance passing through the ultrasonic surgical instrument and controlling the power level based upon the measured impedance.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein controlling the power level includes adjusting current passing through the ultrasonic surgical instrument based upon the measured impedance.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein voltage supplied by the generator is increased as the force applied continues to increase.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of adjusting includes balancing vibration levels of the ultrasonic surgical instrument with pressure applied by the ultrasonic surgical instrument.