Ultrasonic surgical instrument with cooling system

• US 9,655,641 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stoddard, Robert B., Larson, Eric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US14/284,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20150073458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• 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 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location

Abstract

A method of treating tissue includes ultrasonically treating tissue by oscillating a blade of an ultrasonic surgical instrument in contact with tissue and activating a fluid control system to pump cooling fluid through a blade conduit of the blade to cool the blade.

Claims

1. A method of treating tissue, comprising:

depressing an activation button of the ultrasonic surgical instrument to ultrasonically treat tissue by oscillating a blade of an ultrasonic surgical instrument in contact with tissue, the blade defining a blade conduit extending at least partially therethrough, wherein depressing the activation button also activates a fluid control system to pump cooling fluid through an inflow conduit and into an inlet of the blade conduit to cool the blade, the inflow conduit defined about a waveguide that supports the blade at a distal end thereof;

releasing the activation button to deactivate the fluid control system and to cease oscillation of the blade; and

receiving a sensed temperature of the blade after releasing the activation button, wherein deactivating the fluid control system includes deactivating the fluid control system once the sensed temperature of the blade is below a lower temperature limit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein deactivation of the fluid control system is delayed a predetermined amount of time after release of the activation button.

3. A method of treating tissue, comprising:

ultrasonically treating tissue by oscillating a blade of an ultrasonic surgical instrument in contact with tissue, the blade defining a blade conduit extending at least partially therethrough;

activating a fluid control system to pump cooling fluid through an inflow conduit and into an inlet of the blade conduit to cool the blade; and

receiving a sensed temperature of the blade and activating the fluid control system once the sensed temperature of the blade is above an upper temperature limit.

4. The method of claim 3 further including deactivating the fluid control system after the sensed temperature of the blade is below a lower temperature limit.

5. The method of claim 3 further including inputting the upper temperature limit before ultrasonically treating tissue.

6. The method of claim 4 further including inputting the lower temperature limit before ultrasonically treating tissue.

7. A method of treating tissue, comprising:

ultrasonically treating tissue by oscillating a blade of an ultrasonic surgical instrument in contact with tissue, the blade defining a blade conduit extending at least partially therethrough;

activating a fluid control system to pump cooling fluid through an inflow conduit and into an inlet of the blade conduit to cool the blade; and

receiving a sensed temperature of the blade and varying the amount of fluid flowing through the blade cooling system in response to the sensed temperature of the blade.