Devices and techniques for cutting and coagulating tissue

• US 10,022,567 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Messerly, Jeffrey D., Wiener, Eitan T., Noyes, Brian T., Aldridge, Jeffrey L., Giordano, James R., Beetel, III, Robert J., Abbott, Daniel J., Stulen, Foster B., Miller, Matthew C., Voegele, Aaron C., Wiley, Jeffrey P., Price, Nathan J., Price, Daniel W., Koch, Jr., Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US14/810,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20150327883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 310315-319, 606 37, 606 38, 606169
• 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 a method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. In accordance with the method, a generator is configured to generate at least one time varying electrical signal having a resonant frequency, monitor the resonant frequency of the at least one electrical signal, compare the resonant frequency to a threshold frequency, and trigger a first response of the generator when the resonant frequency crosses the threshold frequency.

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 time varying electrical signal having a resonant frequency;

monitoring, by the generator, the resonant frequency of the at least one time varying electrical signal;

comparing, by the generator, the resonant frequency to a threshold frequency; and

triggering, by the generator, a first response of the generator when the resonant frequency crosses the threshold frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining, by the generator, when the resonant frequency is less than the threshold frequency;

incrementing, by the generator, a timer when the resonant frequency is less than the threshold frequency;

determining, by the generator, when the timer is greater than a required trigger time; and

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

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

resetting, by the generator, a timer when the resonant frequency is greater than the threshold frequency;

comparing, by the generator, a latched time with a minimum latch time; and

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

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

receiving, by a generator, a resonant frequency threshold;

monitoring, by the generator, a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic drive system;

comparing, by the generator, the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic drive system with the resonant frequency threshold; and

incrementing, by the generator, a timer when the resonant frequency is less than the resonant frequency threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, by the generator, a required time before trigger parameter;

receiving, by the generator, a timer value from the timer;

comparing, by the generator, the required time before trigger parameter and the timer value;

setting, by the generator, a condition set latch when the timer value is greater than the required time before trigger parameter and indicating that a predetermined condition has not been met;

or

resetting, by the generator, the condition set latch when the timer value is less than or equal to the required time before trigger parameter.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

resetting, by the generator, the timer when the resonant frequency is greater than the resonant frequency threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, by the generator, when a condition set latch is set; and

indicating that a predetermined condition set has not been met when the condition set latch is not set.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, by the generator, a minimum latch time parameter for the condition set latch;

receiving, by the generator, an indication that the condition set latch is set;

comparing, by the generator, a latched time of the condition set latch with the minimum latch time parameter for the condition set latch; and

indicating, by the generator, that the predetermined condition set has been met when the latched time of the condition set latch is less than the minimum latch time parameter for the condition set latch.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

resetting, by the generator, a timer latch; and

indicating, by the generator, that the predetermined condition set has not been met when the latched time of the condition set latch is greater than the minimum latch time parameter for the condition set latch.

10. A generator configured to drive an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument, the generator comprising:

a processor;

a timer circuit coupled to the processor;

a timer latch coupled to the processor;

a condition set latch coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes machine executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

receive a resonant frequency threshold;

monitor a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic drive system;

compare the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic drive system with the resonant frequency threshold; and

increment the timer circuit when the resonant frequency is less than the resonant frequency threshold.

11. The generator of claim 10, wherein the machine executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive a required time before trigger parameter;

receive a timer value from the timer circuit;

compare the required time before trigger parameter and the timer value;

set the condition set latch when the timer value is greater than the required time before trigger parameter and indicate that a predetermined condition has set been met;

or

reset the condition set latch when the timer value is less than or equal to the required time before trigger parameter.

12. The generator of claim 10, wherein the machine executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

reset the timer circuit when the resonant frequency is greater than the resonant frequency threshold.

13. The generator of claim 12, wherein the machine executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine whether the condition set latch is set; and

indicate that a predetermined condition set has not been met when the condition set latch is not set.

14. The generator of claim 13, wherein the machine executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive a minimum latch time parameter for the condition set latch;

receive an indication that the condition set latch is set;

compare a latched time of the condition set latch with the minimum latch time parameter for the condition set latch; and

indicate that the predetermined condition set has been met when either the latched time of the condition set latch is less than the minimum latch time parameter for the condition set latch.

15. The generator of claim 13, wherein the machine executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

reset the timer latch; and

indicate that the predetermined condition set has not been met when a latched time of the condition set latch is greater than the minimum latch time parameter for the condition set latch.