Low energy or minimum disturbance method for measuring frequency response functions of ultrasonic surgical devices in determining optimum operating point

• US 8,569,925 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gilbert, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/784,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 310/311, 310/316.01, 310/317, 310/319
• US Class Current: 310/311
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00146 with multiple frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320074 blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320078 Tissue manipulating surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0253 taken directly from the generator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/76 Medical, dental
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 11/00 Transmission systems employing sonic, ultrasonic or infrasonic waves

Abstract

A method for measuring frequency response is provided that includes supplying ultrasonic energy to an ultrasonic device configured to impart energy to tissue, providing a drive signal and a noise signal, combining the drive signal and the noise signal to create a combined signal, amplifying the combined signal and providing the amplified signal to the ultrasonic device, receiving an output signal from the ultrasonic device and the noise signal, calculating a transfer function estimate based on the output signal and the noise signal, adjusting the drive signal generator based on the calculated transfer function estimate, and determining a phase difference by time aligning the noise signal in the output signal with the noise signal provided.

Claims

1. A method for measuring frequency response, comprising:

supplying ultrasonic energy to an ultrasonic device configured to impart energy to tissue;

providing a drive signal;

providing a noise signal, wherein the noise signal is a pseudo random noise sequence;

combining the drive signal and the noise signal to create a combined signal; and

amplifying the combined signal and providing the amplified signal to the ultrasonic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an output signal from the ultrasonic device and the noise signal;

calculating a transfer function estimate based on the output signal and the noise signal; and

adjusting the drive signal generator based on the calculated transfer function estimate.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a phase difference by time aligning the noise signal in the output signal with the noise signal provided.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the noise signal is pink noise.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the noise signal is a narrowband white noise.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the combined signal is amplified by an amplifier having a gain.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the gain is preset by a manufacturer.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the gain is user selectable.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the transfer function estimate is calculated by a Fast Fourier Transform of the output signal and the noise signal.

10. A method for supplying power to an ultrasonic device, comprising:

providing a drive signal;

amplifying the drive signal;

providing a noise signal;

providing an output of a resonance circuit to the ultrasonic device;

receiving an output signal of the ultrasonic device and the noise signal;

calculating a transfer function estimate based on the output signal of the ultrasonic device and the noise signal;

adjusting the drive signal based on the calculated transfer function estimate.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the resonance circuit is an LC circuit.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the drive signal is amplified by a Class D amplifier.