Method for driving an ultrasonic system to improve acquisition of blade resonance frequency at startup

• US 7,179,271 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Donofrio, William T., Wiener, Eitan T., Brotz, Joseph A., Hein, John E., Friedman, Allan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US10/326,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 606/169, 606/166, 606/167, 606/170, 606/171, 606/180, 606/1, 604/22, 601/2, 702/72, 702/75, 702/106, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/169
• 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 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00725 Calibration or performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location

Abstract

The ability of an ultrasonic system to sweep and lock onto a resonance frequency of a blade subjected to a heavy load at startup is improved by applying a high drive voltage or a high drive current while systematically increasing the level of the applied signal. Increasing the drive signal to the hand piece results in an improved and more pronounced “impedance spectrum.” That is, under load, the increased drive signal causes the maximum phase margin to become higher and the minimum/maximum impedance magnitude to become more pronounced. Increasing the excitation drive signal to the hand piece/blade at startup significantly alleviates the limiting factors associated with ultrasonic generators, which results in an increase of the maximum load capability at startup.

Claims

1. A method for improving acquisition of resonance at start up of an end effector connected to an ultrasonic system, comprising the steps of:

exciting the end effector using a generator;

checking to determine whether the resonance has been captured;

if the resonance is not captured, progressively exciting the end effector at a higher drive currents/voltages level during a plurality of sweeps and repeating the checking step subsequent to repeating the progressively exciting step; and

if the resonance of the end effector is captured, ending the method.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said exciting step comprises the step of:

applying a drive signal to the end effector using the ultrasonic generator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said applying step comprises exciting the end effector with an ultrasonic signal at a predetermined drive frequency.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the drive signal has a voltage level of approximately 140 volts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said checking step comprises the step of:

performing a frequency sweep to locate a resonance frequency of the end effector.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said checking step comprises the step of:

determining whether a microprocessor located in the generator has acquired the resonance frequency of the end effector.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the excitement signal is drive signal having a predetermined voltage level.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the end effector is a blade.