Techniques for cutting and coagulating tissue for ultrasonic surgical instruments

• US 9,724,118 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Vasquez, Jose Domingo, Dietz, Timothy G., Asher, Ryan M., Davis, Craig T., Marcotte, Amy L., Bertke, Brian D., Giordano, James R., Wiener, Eitan T., Tellio, Karalyn R., Schulte, John B., Smith, Richard C., Timm, Richard W., Witt, David A., Messerly, Jeffrey D., Yates, David C., Price, Daniel W., Aldridge, Jeffrey L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Jocelin
• Application Number:
  US13/839,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20130296908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 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 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0003 of parts of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00132 Setting operation time of a device A61B2017/00123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00176 Two pulses, e.g. second pulse having an effect different from the first one
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

Various forms are directed to a method for operating an ultrasonic surgical instrument. The ultrasonic surgical instrument may be activated by generating a drive signal provided to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector. A plurality of input variables may be applied to a multi-variable model to generate a multi-variable model output, where the multi-variable model output corresponds to an effect of the ultrasonic instrument on tissue. The plurality of input variables may comprise at least one variable describing the drive signal and at least one variable describing a property of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. When the multi-variable model output reaches a threshold value, feedback may be generated indicating a corresponding state of at least one of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and tissue acted upon by the ultrasonic surgical instrument.

Claims

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

receiving a trigger signal;

in response to the trigger signal, providing a first drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector at a first power level;

maintaining the first drive signal for a first period;

at an end of the first period, providing a second drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector at a second power level less than the first power level;

after modifying the drive signal to the second power level, deactivating the ultrasonic surgical instrument;

after deactivating the ultrasonic surgical instrument, receiving a second trigger signal;

determining that a rest time has not passed since the deactivating of the ultrasonic surgical instrument; and

re-activating the ultrasonic surgical instrument by generating a third drive signal at a power level less than the first power level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the power level less than the first power level is the second power level.

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

receiving a trigger signal;

in response to the trigger signal, providing a first drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the first drive signal is at a first power level;

maintaining the first drive signal at the first power level for a first period;

providing a second drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the second drive signal is at a second power level lower than the first power level;

applying a plurality of input variables to a multi-variable model to generate a multi-variable model output, wherein the multi-variable model output corresponds to an effect of the ultrasonic surgical instrument on tissue, and wherein the plurality of input variables comprises at least one variable describing the drive signal and at least one variable describing a property of the ultrasonic surgical instrument;

after the multi-variable model output exceeds a threshold value for a first threshold time period, triggering a first response that is a feedback; and

after the multi-variable model output has exceeded the threshold value for a second threshold time period greater than the first threshold time period, providing a third drive signal for the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the third drive signal is at a third power level less than the first power level.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the third power level is greater than the second power level.

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

receiving a trigger signal;

in response to the trigger signal, providing a first drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the first drive signal is at a first power level;

maintaining the first drive signal at the first power level for a first period;

providing a second drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the second drive signal is at a second power level lower than the first power level;

applying a plurality of input variables to a multi-variable model to generate a multi-variable model output, wherein the multi-variable model output corresponds to an effect of the ultrasonic surgical instrument on tissue, and wherein the plurality of input variables comprises at least one variable describing the drive signal and at least one variable describing a property of the ultrasonic surgical instrument;

after the multi-variable model output exceeds a threshold value for a threshold time period, triggering a first response that is a feedback, wherein the multi-variable model output exceeds the threshold value within a second period from modifying the drive signal to the second power level; and

upon expiration of the second period, providing a third drive signal for the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the third drive signal is at a third power level less than the first power level.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third power level is greater than the second power level.