Devices and techniques for cutting and coagulating tissue

• US 9,072,539 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Messerly, Jeffrey D., Wiener, Eitan T., Noyes, Brian T., Aldridge, Jeffrey L., Abbott, Daniel J., Miller, Matthew C., Price, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US13/584,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 310/316.01, 310/316.02, 606169-171
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00176 Two pulses, e.g. second pulse having an effect different from the first one
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00303 active, e.g. with a motor creating vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00845 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 : combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 : Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 : Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0284 : with consecutive, i.e. sequential generation, e.g. with frequency sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/76 : Medical, dental
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to an apparatus and method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. The method comprises generating at least one electrical signal. The at least one electrical signal is monitored against a first set of logic conditions.

Claims

1. A method of driving an ultrasonic end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

generating by a generator at least one time varying electrical signal to drive the ultrasonic end effector at a resonant frequency thereof;

monitoring the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic end effector;

comparing the resonant frequency to a threshold frequency;

triggering a first response of the generator when the resonant frequency crosses the threshold frequency;

incrementing a timer when the resonant frequency is less than the threshold frequency; and

setting a logic condition when the timer is greater than a required trigger time.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining when the resonant frequency is less than the threshold frequency; and

determining when the timer is greater than the required trigger time.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

resetting the timer when the resonant frequency is greater than the threshold frequency;

comparing a latched time with a minimum latch time; and

resetting the timer when the latched time is greater than the minimum latch time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an audible feedback when the first response is triggered.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a visual feedback when the first response is triggered.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a tactile feedback when the first response is triggered.

7. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an ultrasonic drive system;

an ultrasonic end effector coupled to the ultrasonic drive system;

a generator coupled to the ultrasonic drive system, the generator comprising a processor operative to generate at least one time varying electrical signal to drive the ultrasonic end effector at a resonant frequency thereof; and

a circuit coupled to the generator to monitor the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic end effector, wherein the circuit is operable to;

compare the resonant frequency to a threshold frequency and trigger a first response of the generator when the resonant frequency crosses the threshold frequency;

increment a timer when the resonant frequency is less than the threshold frequency; and

set a logic condition when the timer is greater than a required trigger time.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the processor is operative to:

determine when the resonant frequency is less than the threshold frequency; and

determine when the timer is greater than the required trigger time.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the processor is operative to:

reset the timer when the resonant frequency is greater than the threshold frequency;

compare a latched time with a minimum latch time; and

reset the timer when the latched time is greater than the minimum latch time.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, comprising a speaker coupled to and responsive to the circuit.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 7, comprising a display coupled to and responsive to the circuit.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 7, comprising a haptic device coupled to and responsive to the circuit.

13. A surgical instrument, comprising:

an ultrasonic drive system;

an ultrasonic end effector coupled to the ultrasonic drive system;

a generator coupled to the ultrasonic drive system, the generator comprising a processor operative to generate at least one time varying electrical signal to drive the ultrasonic end effector at a resonant frequency thereof;

a circuit coupled to the generator to monitor the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic end effector, wherein the circuit is operable to;

compare the resonant frequency to a threshold frequency and trigger a first response of the generator when the resonant frequency crosses the threshold frequency; and

a pulsing circuit coupled to and responsive to the circuit, wherein the pulsing circuit is operative to;

generate a first pulse amplitude for a first period over which the generator is driven; and

generate a second pulse amplitude for a second period over which the generator is driven.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the processor is operative to:

increment a timer when the resonant frequency is less than the threshold frequency; and

set a logic condition when the timer is greater than the required trigger time.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the processor is operative to:

determine when the resonant frequency is less than the threshold frequency; and

determine when a timer is greater than a required trigger time.

16. The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the processor is operative to:

reset a timer when the resonant frequency is greater than the threshold frequency;

compare a latched time with a minimum latch time; and

reset the timer when the latched time is greater than the minimum latch time.

17. The surgical instrument of claim 13, comprising a speaker coupled to and responsive to the circuit.

18. The surgical instrument of claim 13, comprising a display coupled to and responsive to the circuit.

19. The surgical instrument of claim 13, comprising a haptic device coupled to and responsive to the circuit.