TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

• US 20090036914A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Houser, Kevin L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,044,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/169
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00088 using thermistors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320088 with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic blade extends along a longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. A controller receives a feedback signal from the ultrasonic blade. A lumen is adapted to couple to a pump. The lumen conducts a fluid therethrough based on the feedback signal.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

an ultrasonic end effector extending along a longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer;

a controller to receive a feedback signal from the ultrasonic end effector; and

a lumen adapted to couple to a pump, wherein the lumen is to conduct a fluid therethrough based on the feedback signal.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic end effector is an ultrasonic blade.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the feedback signal is derived from frequency variations of the ultrasonic blade from the predetermined frequency, and wherein the feedback signal is proportional to the temperature of the ultrasonic blade.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2, comprising a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the ultrasonic blade and to provide the feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal is proportional to the temperature of the ultrasonic blade.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the feedback signal indicates an operational state of the ultrasonic blade.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the lumen is adapted to couple to a fluid temperature regulator.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 2, comprising an ultrasonic transmission waveguide extending longitudinally and coupled between the transducer and the ultrasonic blade wherein the lumen extends through the ultrasonic blade.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the lumen extends longitudinally through the transducer and the ultrasonic transmission waveguide.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein a second lumen extends longitudinally through the ultrasonic transmission waveguide.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the lumen is located within the ultrasonic blade and extends into the clamping mechanism.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 2, comprising an ultrasonic transmission waveguide extending longitudinally and coupled between the transducer and the ultrasonic blade, wherein the lumen extends longitudinally and transversely through the ultrasonic blade and a portion of the ultrasonic transmission waveguide and extends laterally to an edge of the ultrasonic transmission waveguide and is fluidically coupled to an inlet port formed at a node of the ultrasonic transmission waveguide.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 1, comprising a clamping mechanism comprising the lumen extending therethrough to conduct the fluid through the clamping mechanism.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, comprising another lumen extending through the ultrasonic end effector to conduct fluid through the end effector.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the ultrasonic end effector is an ultrasonic blade.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the lumen is located within the ultrasonic blade and extends into the clamping mechanism.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 1, comprising:

an ultrasonic transmission waveguide extending longitudinally and coupled between the transducer and the ultrasonic end effector; and

a sheath disposed over the ultrasonic transmission waveguide;

wherein the lumen is disposed between the sheath and the ultrasonic transmission waveguide.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 16, comprising a temperature sensor disposed between the sheath and ultrasonic transmission waveguide to measure the temperature of the ultrasonic end effector and to provide the feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal is proportional to the temperature of the ultrasonic end effector.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 16, comprising a frequency sensor to measure the frequency of the ultrasonic end effector to provide a feedback signal wherein the feedback signal is proportional to the temperature of the ultrasonic end effector.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the frequency sensor is an acoustic sensor.

20. The surgical instrument of claim 1, comprising a phase change material disposed within the lumen.

21. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of saline, air, and water.

22. The surgical instrument of claim 21, wherein the fluid is heated.

23. The surgical instrument of claim 22, wherein the fluid is chilled.

24. A system, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

an ultrasonic blade extending along the longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer;

a controller to receive a feedback signal from the ultrasonic blade;

a lumen adapted to couple to a pump, the lumen to conduct a fluid through the lumen based on the feedback signal; and

a pump in electrical communication with the controller and in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the controller is to operate the pump to conduct the fluid through the lumen.

25. The system of claim 24, comprising:

a fluid temperature regulator in fluid communication with the pump and in electrical communication with the controller.

26. The system of claim 24, comprising:

a generator coupled to the controller; and

a triggering mechanism in electrical communication with the generator to activate the generator.

27. The surgical device of claim 26, wherein the pump is integral to the generator.

28. A method, comprising:

receiving a feedback signal proportional to a temperature of an ultrasonic end effector; and

conducting fluid from a pump to a lumen in fluid communication with the pump and the ultrasonic end effector based on the temperature measurement feedback signal.

29. The method of claim 28, comprising:

conducting the fluid from the pump to the lumen in fluid communication with the pump intermittently based on the temperature measurement feedback signal.

30. The method of claim 28, comprising:

conducting the fluid from the pump to the lumen in fluid communication with the pump continuously based on the temperature measurement feedback signal.

31. The method of claim 28, comprising:

conducting the fluid from the pump to the lumen in fluid communication with the pump for a predetermined period based on the temperature measurement feedback signal.

32. The method of claim 28, comprising:

receiving a frequency variation feedback signal, wherein the frequency variation feedback signal is proportional to a temperature of the ultrasonic end effector.

33. The method of claim 28, comprising:

receiving a temperature measurement feedback signal, wherein the temperature measurement feedback signal is proportional to a temperature of an ultrasonic end effector.

36. The method of claim 28, comprising:

sensing a no tissue load condition feedback signal; and

conducting the fluid from the pump to the lumen in fluid communication with the pump and the ultrasonic end effector based on the no tissue load condition feedback signal.

37. The method of claim 28, comprising:

conducting fluid from the pump to a lumen in fluid communication with the pump and a clamping mechanism based on the temperature measurement feedback signal.

34. The method of 33, comprising:

conducting the fluid from the pump to the lumen in fluid communication with the pump to maintain the temperature of the ultrasonic end effector below 100°

C.

35. The method of 34, comprising:

conducting the fluid from the pump to the lumen in fluid communication with the pump to maintain the temperature of the ultrasonic end effector between 50°

C. and 100°

C.

38. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a controller;

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

a signal generator coupled to the transducer.

an ultrasonic end effector extending along a longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer;

a lumen adapted to couple to a pump, wherein the lumen is to conduct a fluid therethrough based on a signal from the controller.

39. The surgical instrument of claim 38, wherein the transducer has first state in which the transducer is driven by the signal generator and a second state in which the transducer is not driven by the signal generator.

40. The surgical instrument of claim 39, wherein the controller delivers the signal to the pump during the second state.

41. The surgical instrument of claim 40, wherein the fluid is conducted through the lumen for a predetermined period of time.

42. The surgical instrument of claim 41, wherein the fluid is conducted through the lumen for a predetermined repeating cycle.