Method for detecting transverse vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece
First Claim
1. A method for detecting transverse vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece, comprising the steps of:
- applying a drive signal to an ultrasonic hand piece using an ultrasonic generator;
measuring an electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece/blade at a first electrical characteristic level while the hand piece/blade is held in midair;
calculating an expected electrical characteristic using the first electrical characteristic level;
setting a pass/fail threshold level for an actual measured electrical characteristic based on the expected electrical characteristic;
measuring the actual electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece/blade;
comparing the measured actual electrical characteristic to the pass/fail threshold;
if the measured actual electrical characteristic is less than the pass/fail threshold, displaying a first message on a liquid crystal display of the generator; and
if the measured actual electrical characteristic is greater than the pass/fail threshold, displaying a second message on a liquid crystal display of the generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for detecting transverse mode vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece/blade is achieved by monitoring the power delivered to the hand piece/blade to determine whether it increases as expected when power levels applied to the hand piece/blade are changed. While the blade is being held in midair, the power delivered to the hand piece/blade and/or the impedance of the hand piece/blade is measured at a first power level. Using the value obtained at the first power level, the expected power at a second power level is calculated and used to set a pass/fail threshold level for an actual measured power. Alternatively, the threshold is set for the impedance is set. Next, the actual power delivered to the hand piece/blade and/or the impedance of the hand piece/blade is measured at a level 5 power setting. A determination is made whether the hand piece/blade exhibits transverse mode behavior based on whether the actual measured power exceeds the established pass/fail threshold level. If this is the case, operation of the generator is inhibited, a “Transverse Mode Vibrations Present in Hand Piece/Blade” error code is stored in the generator, and a “Bad Hand Piece” message is displayed on a liquid crystal display on the generator. In addition, a method for detecting transverse mode vibration in an ultrasonic hand piece/blade is achieved by monitoring power delivered to the hand piece/blade to determine if the an extraordinary power increase occurs as the drive frequency is shifted downward and/or upward from a primary intended resonance operating frequency.
628 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for detecting transverse vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece, comprising the steps of:
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applying a drive signal to an ultrasonic hand piece using an ultrasonic generator;
measuring an electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece/blade at a first electrical characteristic level while the hand piece/blade is held in midair;
calculating an expected electrical characteristic using the first electrical characteristic level;
setting a pass/fail threshold level for an actual measured electrical characteristic based on the expected electrical characteristic;
measuring the actual electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece/blade;
comparing the measured actual electrical characteristic to the pass/fail threshold;
if the measured actual electrical characteristic is less than the pass/fail threshold, displaying a first message on a liquid crystal display of the generator; and
if the measured actual electrical characteristic is greater than the pass/fail threshold, displaying a second message on a liquid crystal display of the generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
calculating the expected electrical characteristic for a level five setting.
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5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electrical characteristic is power.
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6. The method of claim 3, wherein the level 5 setting is approximately 425 ma RMS.
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7. The method of claim 3, wherein the power level is approximately 100 ma RMS.
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8. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying a second message comprises the step of:
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storing a “
Transverse Mode Vibrations Present in Hand Piece/Blade”
error code in the generator; and
displaying a “
Bad Hand Piece”
message on the liquid crystal display of the generator.
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9. The method of claim 1, wherein the drive signal has a frequency of approximately 20 Khz to 70 KHz.
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10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pass/fail threshold is approximately 10 percent of the expected electrical characteristic.
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11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical characteristic is power.
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12. A method for detecting transverse vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece, comprising the steps of:
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sweeping a drive signal having a voltage and current applied to an ultrasonic hand piece/blade using an ultrasonic generator;
monitoring and storing parameters applied to the hand piece/blade in non-volatile memory located in the ultrasonic generator;
calculating an electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece based on the stored voltages and stored currents;
generating response curves based on the stored parameters;
performing an extrapolation using the response curve to determine whether the hand piece/blade exhibits transverse modes;
if the hand piece/blade exhibits transverse modes, displaying a message on a liquid crystal display of the generator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
applying the drive signal from a minimum drive current level to a maximum drive current level.
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15. The method of claim 14, wherein the minimum drive current level is approximately 100 ma RMS and the maximum drive current level is approximately 425 ma RMS.
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16. The method of claim 12, wherein the response curves are at least one of a Power-Delivered vs. Drive Current Level curve and a Hand Piece/Blade impedance vs. Drive Current level curve.
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17. The method of claim 12, wherein the extrapolation comprises the step of:
checking the generated response curves to determine whether any curve represents at least one of a straight line and a relationship which is quadratic.
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18. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical characteristic is power.
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19. The method of claim 12, wherein the parameters are voltages and currents.
Specification