Ultrasonic generator with supervisory control circuitry
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An ultrasonic surgical device comprising:
- a transducer assembly adapted to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency in response to electrical energy,circuitry generating an output signal having a desired frequency to drive the transducer assembly at a resonant condition, the circuitry providing a resonant condition restoring signal to the transducer assembly in response to detecting a non-resonant condition of the transducer assembly, the resonant condition restoring signal including a most recently stored resonant frequency;
a transmission rod having a first end and a second end, the transmission rod being adapted to receive the ultrasonic vibration from the transducer assembly and to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations from the first end to the second end of the transmission rod; and
an end effector having a first end and a second end, the end effector being adapted to receive the ultrasonic vibrations from the transmission rod and to transmit the vibrations from the first end to the second end of the end effector, the first end of the end effector being coupled to the second end of the transmission rod.
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Abstract
A generator of ultrasonic signals for a transducer which incorporates at least a phase lock loop feedback system for purposes of maintaining the output frequency between first and second voltage values also incorporates supervisory control circuitry for monitoring whether or not the generator and the transducer continue to operate in a resonant condition. In the event that the generator and transducer fail to stay in a resonant condition, the supervisory circuitry will super-impose a control voltage on the phase lock loop feedback path for the purpose of restoring the generator and the transducer to a resonant condition. To reduce the time to return to resonance, a representation of the last resonant frequency can be stored by the supervisory circuitry. When a loss of resonance is detected, the prestored value can be retrieved and superimposed on the phase lock loop feedback circuit for purposes of more quickly restoring the generator and the transducer to resonance.
629 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic surgical device comprising:
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a transducer assembly adapted to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency in response to electrical energy, circuitry generating an output signal having a desired frequency to drive the transducer assembly at a resonant condition, the circuitry providing a resonant condition restoring signal to the transducer assembly in response to detecting a non-resonant condition of the transducer assembly, the resonant condition restoring signal including a most recently stored resonant frequency; a transmission rod having a first end and a second end, the transmission rod being adapted to receive the ultrasonic vibration from the transducer assembly and to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations from the first end to the second end of the transmission rod; and an end effector having a first end and a second end, the end effector being adapted to receive the ultrasonic vibrations from the transmission rod and to transmit the vibrations from the first end to the second end of the end effector, the first end of the end effector being coupled to the second end of the transmission rod.
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2. An ultrasonic system comprising:
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a variable frequency, closed loop, oscillator with an input port and an output port wherein an output signal is generated at the output port in response to an applied electrical signal at the input port; an ultrasonic transducer having a selected resonant frequency wherein the transducer is coupled to the output port; a feedback circuit coupled between the transducer and the input port for applying an electrical signal to the input port with a value corresponding to the selected resonant frequency whereby the transducer will be driven in a resonant condition; and a control circuit coupled to the input port wherein the control circuit includes sensing circuitry for detecting a non-resonant condition and wherein in response thereto the control circuit provides a resonant condition restoring signal to the input port, the resonant condition restoring signal including a most recently stored resonant frequency. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A variable frequency generator for providing electrical signals in a predetermined range to a transducer assembly, the generator comprising:
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an oscillator which includes an output port and a phase locked feedback loop for providing feedback signals for maintaining the frequency of an output signal at the output port within the predetermined range; a second feedback loop coupled to the oscillator and to the phase locked feedback loop wherein in response to a predetermined condition, the second feedback loop generates an override feedback signal which establishes at least one preset frequency for the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A generator for use with an ultrasonic instrument comprising:
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an adjustable source of electrical signals wherein the source includes a first input port and a variable frequency output port for providing variable frequency output signals within a predetermined range; a switch element, coupled to the output port, and adapted to provide variable frequency drive signals to the instrument; a first feedback loop, coupled to the first input port and adapted to receive at least one electrical feedback signal from the instrument wherein feedback signals from the loop vary signals at the variable frequency output within the predetermined range; and a second feedback loop coupled to the source for providing supplemental phase related feedback signals to the input port in response to the presence of a non-resonant condition wherein the phase related signals are converted from a digital to an analog form in a digital-to-analog converter and are adapted to restore a resonant condition.
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21. A method of driving an ultrasonic transducer assembly comprising the steps of:
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providing a drive signal to the transducer at a resonant frequency thereby establishing a resonant condition; adjusting the frequency in response to feedback signals to maintain the resonant condition; monitoring a selected parameter indicative of the resonant condition and in response to a loss of the resonant condition, generating a separate frequency establishing control signal having a most recently stored resonant frequency, and adjusting the frequency of the drive signal in response thereto; and monitoring the selected parameter and in response to re-establishing a resonant condition, removing the frequency establishing control signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A generator for providing electric signals to a transducer assembly comprising:
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a phase lock loop generating an output signal having a desired frequency; detector circuitry to detect a non-resonant condition of the phase lock loop; and a processing unit coupled to the detector circuitry to provide an input signal to the phase lock loop of a desired condition. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification