Temperature controlled ultrasonic surgical instruments

• US 9,044,261 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Houser, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Kathleen
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEMAN, SARAH WEBB
• Application Number:
  US12/181,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20090036914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 606169-171, 606 27- 52, 600437-439, 604/19, 604/22, 604/27, 604 30- 34, 604/46, 604/48, 604/506, 604 65- 67
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• 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 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00088 using thermistors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320088 with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• 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 2018/00994 combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic blade extends along a longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. A controller receives a feedback signal from the ultrasonic blade. A lumen is adapted to couple to a pump. The lumen conducts a fluid therethrough based on the feedback signal.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined drive frequency;

an ultrasonic blade coupled to the transducer;

an ultrasonic transmission waveguide coupled between the transducer and the ultrasonic blade;

a controller to receive a feedback signal from at least the ultrasonic blade, wherein the feedback signal is a frequency variation between the predetermined drive frequency of the transducer and a resonant frequency of the transducer, wherein the frequency variation is measured by the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive the feedback signal to measure and control a temperature of the ultrasonic blade, and wherein the resonant frequency of the transducer decreases as a temperature of at least the ultrasonic blade increases; and

a lumen extending continuously at least through the ultrasonic blade, wherein the controller is configured to control fluid flow through the lumen when the resonant frequency of the transducer decreases, and wherein the lumen is adapted to couple to a fluid temperature regulator.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the feedback signal indicates an operation state of the ultrasonic blade.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the lumen extends longitudinally through the transducer and the ultrasonic transmission waveguide.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1, comprising a fluid temperature regulator fluidically coupled to the lumen.

5. A surgical instrument, comprising

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined drive frequency;

an ultrasonic blade coupled to the transducer;

an ultrasonic transmission waveguide coupled between the transducer and the ultrasonic blade;

a controller to receive a feedback signal from at least the ultrasonic blade, wherein the feedback signal is measured by the controller; and

wherein the controller detects a tissue load of the ultrasonic blade;

a lumen extending continuously at least through the ultrasonic blade, wherein the controller is configured to control fluid flow through the lumen when the resonant frequency of the transducer decreases, and wherein the lumen is configured to couple to a fluid temperature regulator; and

a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the ultrasonic blade and to provide the feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal is proportional to the temperature of the ultrasonic blade.

6. A system, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

an ultrasonic blade;

an ultrasonic transmission waveguide coupled between the transducer and the ultrasonic blade;

a controller to receive a feedback signal from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the feedback signal is derived from frequency variations of the ultrasonic blade from the predetermined frequency, wherein the controller is configured to receive the feedback signal to measure and control a temperature of the ultrasonic blade, and wherein the feedback signal is proportional to the temperature of at least the ultrasonic blade;

a lumen extending continuously at least through the ultrasonic blade, wherein the resonant frequency of the transducer decreases as a temperature of at least the ultrasonic blade increases, and wherein the controller is configured to control fluid flow through the lumen when the resonant frequency of the transducer decreases; and

a fluid temperature regulator in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the lumen is coupled to the fluid temperature regulator.

7. The system of claim 6, comprising:

a generator coupled to the controller; and

a triggering mechanism in electrical communication with the generator to activate the generator.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the lumen and electrical communication with the controller.

9. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

a signal generator coupled to the transducer;

an ultrasonic blade;

an ultrasonic transmission waveguide coupled between the transducer and the ultrasonic blade;

a controller to receive a feedback signal from the ultrasonic blade, wherein the feedback signal is derived from frequency variations of the ultrasonic blade from the predetermined frequency, wherein the controller is configured to receive the feedback signal to measure and control a temperature of the ultrasonic blade, and wherein the feedback signal is proportional to the temperature of at least the ultrasonic blade; and

a lumen extending continuously at least through the ultrasonic blade, wherein the controller is configured to control fluid flow through the lumen when the resonant frequency of the transducer decreases, wherein the resonant frequency of the transducer decreases as a temperature of at least the ultrasonic blade increases, and wherein the lumen is adapted to couple to a fluid temperature regulator.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the transducer has a first state in which the transducer is driven by the signal generator and a second state in which the transducer is not driven by the signal generator.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the lumen and electrical communication with the controller, wherein the controller delivers the signal to the pump during the second state.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the fluid is conducted through the lumen for a predetermined period of time.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the fluid is conducted through the lumen for a predetermined repeating cycle.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 9, comprising a fluid temperature regulator fluidically coupled to the lumen.