Methods for Ultrasonic Tissue Sensing and Feedback
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
- an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end;
an ultrasonically-actuated cutting element having a tissue contacting surface, the cutting element located at the distal end of the transmission member;
a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting element for clamping tissue, the clamp member including a sensing mechanism that senses load variations on tissue;
a handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member that moves the clamp member relative to the cutting element; and
a feedback mechanism operatively coupled to the sensing mechanism that supplies information related to the load variations;
wherein an output of the cutting element is adjusted based on the sensed load variations supplied from the feedback mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end is provided. The instrument also includes an ultrasonically-actuated cutting element having a tissue contacting surface and a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting element for clamping tissue. The clamp member includes a sensing mechanism that senses load variations. A handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member moves the clamp member relative to the cutting element. Also, a feedback mechanism is operatively coupled to the sensing mechanism that supplies information related to the load variations where the output of the tissue cutting element is adjusted based on the sensed load variations.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
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an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end; an ultrasonically-actuated cutting element having a tissue contacting surface, the cutting element located at the distal end of the transmission member; a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting element for clamping tissue, the clamp member including a sensing mechanism that senses load variations on tissue; a handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member that moves the clamp member relative to the cutting element; and a feedback mechanism operatively coupled to the sensing mechanism that supplies information related to the load variations; wherein an output of the cutting element is adjusted based on the sensed load variations supplied from the feedback mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of applying energy via an ultrasonic surgical instrument having a proximal end and a distal end, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning an ultrasonically-actuated cutting element having a tissue contacting surface at the distal end of a transmission member; positioning a clamp member adjacent to the cutting element for clamping the tissue; moving the clamp member relative to the cutting element via a handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member; sensing load variations on tissue via a sensing mechanism; supplying information related to the load variations to the ultrasonic surgical instrument via a feedback mechanism operatively coupled to the sensing mechanism; and adjusting an output of the cutting element based on the sensed load variations supplied from the feedback mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, the instrument comprising:
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an ultrasonic transmission member having a proximal end and a distal end; an ultrasonically-actuated cutting element located at the distal end of the transmission member; a clamp member supported adjacent to the cutting element; and a handle member located at the proximal end of the transmission member that moves the clamp member relative to the cutting element, wherein the proximal end includes a sensing mechanism that senses load variations and supplies information related to the load variations to the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and wherein the output of the cutting element is adjusted based on the sensed load variations. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification