Devices and techniques for cutting and coagulating tissue

• US 9,089,360 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• 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., Giordano, James R., Abbott, Daniel J., Miller, Matthew C., Price, Nathan J., Price, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US12/896,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20110082486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 310/317
• 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 end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument, the method comprising:

generating by a generator at least one electrical signal;

monitoring the at least one electrical signal against a first set of logic conditions;

triggering a first response of the generator when the first set of logic conditions is met;

triggering a pulsing response when the first set of logic conditions is met; and

wherein the pulsing response comprises;

generating by the generator a first pulse amplitude for a first pulse time, where the first pulse time is the period over which the first pulse amplitude is driven by the generator; and

generating by the generator a second pulse amplitude for a second pulse time, where the second pulse time is the period over which the second pulse amplitude is driven by the generator.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising triggering an audible response when the first set of logic conditions is met.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising triggering a visual response when the first set of logic conditions is met.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising repeating generating by the generator a pulse amplitude for a pulse time, where the pulse time is the period over which the pulse amplitude is driven by the generator.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

monitoring the at least one electrical signal against a second set of logic conditions; and

triggering a second response of the generator when the second set of logic conditions is met.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising determining the triggering of the first or the second response on a hierarchical basis.

7. A device for driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument, the generator comprising:

a signal processor operative to generate at least one electrical signal;

a first circuit to monitor the at least one electrical signal against a first set of logic conditions; and

a second circuit to trigger a first response of the generator when the first set of logic conditions is met;

a pulsing circuit coupled to and responsive to the trigger circuit;

wherein the pulsing circuit is operative to generate a first pulse amplitude for a first pulse time, where the first pulse time is the period over which the first pulse amplitude is driven by the generator; and

generate a second pulse amplitude for a second pulse time, where the second pulse time is the period over which the second pulse amplitude is driven by the generator.

8. The device of claim 7, comprising a speaker coupled to and responsive to the trigger circuit.

9. The device of claim 7, comprising a display coupled to and responsive to the trigger circuit.