Methods of measuring conditions of an ultrasonic instrument
First Claim
1. A method of measuring conditions of an ultrasonic instrument comprising:
- storing a predetermined interferential pattern on a memory device;
securing the memory device to an ultrasonic instrument including a generator, an end effector, and a waveguide that is coupled to the generator and the end effector;
generating at least one pulse with the generator;
transmitting the at least one pulse to at least one of the waveguide and the end 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;
ascertaining differences between the actual interferential pattern and the predetermined interferential pattern by comparing the actual interferential pattern to the predetermined interferential pattern with the generator, the predetermined interferential pattern being established prior to a usage of the ultrasonic instrument; and
identifying at least one condition of the end effector in real-time based upon the differences between the predetermined interferential pattern and the actual interferential pattern.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of measuring conditions of an ultrasonic instrument comprising:
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storing a predetermined interferential pattern on a memory device; securing the memory device to an ultrasonic instrument including a generator, an end effector, and a waveguide that is coupled to the generator and the end effector; generating at least one pulse with the generator; transmitting the at least one pulse to at least one of the waveguide and the end 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; ascertaining differences between the actual interferential pattern and the predetermined interferential pattern by comparing the actual interferential pattern to the predetermined interferential pattern with the generator, the predetermined interferential pattern being established prior to a usage of the ultrasonic instrument; and identifying at least one condition of the end effector in real-time based upon the differences between the predetermined interferential pattern and the actual interferential pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20)
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13. A method of measuring conditions of an ultrasonic instrument comprising:
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storing at least one predetermined interferential pattern on a memory device; securing the memory device to an ultrasonic instrument, the ultrasonic instrument including a housing that supports a generator, a shaft that extends from the housing, a waveguide operably associated with the shaft, an end effector supported on a distal end of 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 at least one actual interferential pattern of the at least one registered reflected ultrasound wave; ascertaining differences between the at least one actual interferential pattern and the at least one predetermined interferential pattern by comparing the at least one actual interferential pattern to the at least one predetermined interferential pattern with the generator, the at least one predetermined interferential pattern being established prior to a usage of the ultrasonic instrument; and identifying at least one condition of the end effector in real-time based upon the differences between the at least one predetermined interferential pattern and the at least one actual interferential pattern. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
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Specification