METHODS OF MEASURING CONDITIONS OF AN ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENT

• US 20130121366A1
• Filed: 11/11/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: MISUCHENKO, IGORIS, MARTSINOVSKIY, GEORGY
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/1
• 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• 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 method of measuring conditions of an ultrasonic instrument includes providing an ultrasonic instrument that includes an end effector and a waveguide operably coupled to a generator and the end effector. The method involves generating one or more pulses with the generator, transmitting the one or more pulses to one or both of the waveguide and the end effector, generating one or more waves that scatter in an interferential pattern in response to the transmission of the one or more pulses, registering a signal indicative of the interferential pattern, generating an actual interferential pattern based upon the signal, and identifying one or more conditions of the end effector based upon the actual interferential pattern.

Claims

1. A method of measuring conditions of an ultrasonic instrument comprising the steps of:

providing an ultrasonic instrument having;

an end effector; and

a waveguide operably coupled to a generator and the end effector; and

generating at least one pulse with the generator;

transmitting the at least one pulse to at least one of the waveguide and the effector;

generating at least one wave that scatters in an interferential pattern in response to the transmission of the at least one pulse;

registering a signal indicative of the interferential pattern;

generating an actual interferential pattern based upon the signal; and

identifying at least one condition of the end effector based upon the actual interferential pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing the ultrasonic instrument with at least one sensor in electrical communication with the generator;

registering the signal indicative of the interferential pattern with the sensor; and

electrically communicating the signal from the sensor to the generator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of registering the signal for a predetermined time period, wherein the waveguide defines a predetermined length, wherein sound velocity in the waveguide is predetermined, and wherein the predetermined time period is greater than twice the predetermined length of the waveguide divided by the sound velocity in the waveguide.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning the end effector in contact with tissue, wherein the at least one condition corresponds to the interaction of the end effector and the tissue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition includes at least one of temperature, mechanical load, and relative positioning of the end effector.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a series of pulses with the generator.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the at least one pulse based upon the at least one condition.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a memory device operably coupled to the ultrasonic instrument, the memory device including at least one predetermined interferential pattern based upon the at least one condition; and

comparing the actual interferential pattern with the at least one predetermined interferential pattern.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of adjusting the at least one pulse in response to differences between the actual interferential pattern and the at least one predetermined interferential pattern.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein each condition has at least one predetermined interferential pattern.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a curved waveguide.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of calibrating an operating temperature range of the ultrasonic instrument from about room temperature to about three-hundred degrees centigrade.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sensing the signal with the generator; and

registering the signal with the generator.

14. A method of measuring conditions of an ultrasonic instrument comprising the steps of:

providing an ultrasonic instrument having;

a housing having a shaft extending therefrom;

an end effector operably coupled to a distal end of the shaft;

a waveguide operably associated with the shaft; and

a transducer operably associated with the waveguide;

generating at least one pulse with the transducer;

transmitting the at least one pulse to the waveguide;

registering at least one ultrasound wave reflected by at least one of the waveguide and the end effector in response to transmission of the at least one pulse;

generating an interferential pattern of the at least one registered reflected ultrasound wave; and

identifying at least one condition of the end effector based upon the interferential pattern.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of registering the at least one ultrasound wave for a predetermined time period, wherein the waveguide defines a predetermined length, wherein sound velocity in the waveguide is predetermined, and wherein the predetermined time period is greater than twice the predetermined length of the waveguide divided by the sound velocity in the waveguide.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of positioning the end effector in contact with tissue, wherein the at least one condition corresponds to the interaction of the end effector and the tissue.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one condition includes at least one of temperature, mechanical load, and positioning of the end effector relative to the shaft.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of generating a series of pulses with the transducer.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of adjusting the at least one pulse based upon the at least one condition.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

providing a memory device operably coupled to the ultrasonic instrument, the memory device including at least one predetermined interferential pattern based upon the at least one condition; and

comparing the generated interferential pattern of the at least one registered reflected ultrasound wave with the at least one predetermined interferential pattern.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of calibrating the operating temperature range of the ultrasonic instrument from about room temperature to about three-hundred degrees centigrade.