Cilag International Gmbh

Ethicon, Gmbh

Samtec Incorporated

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Eric M Roberson

Stephen M Leuck

Brian D Black

Amrita Singh Sawhney

Kristen G Denzinger

David C Yates

Kevin L Houser

Chad Paul Boudreaux

Craig N Faller

Cameron R Nott

Patrick Jarvis Scoggins

Madeleine C Jayme

Frederick E Shelton, IV

Jacob Spencer Gee

Fergus P Quigley

John E Brady

Craig T Davis

Shan Wan

Ryan M Asher

William D Dannaher

Ion V Nicolaescu

Douglas Edward McCartin

James Edward Borgelt

Jeffrey L Aldridge

Gregory A Trees

Amelia Pierce

Jason L Harris

Gregory W Johnson

Geoffrey S Strobl

David A Witt

Jason R Lesko

Frederick L Estera

Nathan T Cummings

Amy M Krumm

Candice Otrembiak

Mark E Tebbe

Timothy S Holland

James M Wilson

Geni M Giannotti

Glenn W Ellison

Jeffrey David Messerly

Foster B Stulen

Mark A Davison

Gregory D Bishop

Alexander R Cuti

Matthew S Schneider

Jeffrey A Bullock

Fajian Zhang

Maxwell T Rockman

Kevin Bash

Cody R Jackson

William Bruce Weisenburgh, Ii

Daniel W Price

Cory G Kimball

Sean P Conlon

Tamara S Widenhouse

Andrew W Carroll

Mary E Mootoo

Monica L Rivard

Monica L Zeckel

Kristen L D'Uva

Heather N Doak

Monica Louise Zeckel Rivard

Jeffrey W Bullock

William D Danaher

Various aspects of a generator, ultrasonic device, and method for estimating and controlling a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device are disclosed. The ultrasonic device includes an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency, including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A control circuit measures a complex impedance of an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the complex impedance as defined as The control circuit receives a complex impedance measurement data point and compares the complex impedance measurement data point to a data point in a reference complex impedance characteristic pattern. The control circuit then classifies the complex impedance measurement data point based on a result of the comparison analysis and assigns a state or condition of the end effector based on the result of the comparison analysis. The control circuit estimates the state of the end effector of the ultrasonic device and controls the state of the end effector of the ultrasonic device based on the estimated state.

Methods for estimating and controlling state of ultrasonic end effector

An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a discharge port in communication with a first fluid path, an aspiration port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a diverter in mechanical communication with the two electrodes. The diverter may receive, on its surface, a fluid emitted by the discharge port, and maintain a contact of the fluid with the first and second electrodes. The diverter may be further configured to prevent an aspiration, by the aspiration port, of the fluid on its surface. An electrosurgical device may include a source port in communication with a first fluid path, an evacuation port in communication with a second fluid path, a first and second electrode, and a housing. The device may include a shaft extending distally from the housing and the end effector as described above.

Electrosurgical instrument with fluid diverter

A generator, ultrasonic device, and method for controlling a temperature of an ultrasonic blade are disclosed. A control circuit coupled to a memory determines an actual resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade by an ultrasonic waveguide. The actual resonant frequency is correlated to an actual temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit retrieves from the memory a reference resonant frequency of the ultrasonic electromechanical system. The reference resonant frequency is correlated to a reference temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit then infers the temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on the difference between the actual resonant frequency and the reference resonant frequency. The control circuit controls the temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on the inferred temperature.

Methods for controlling temperature in ultrasonic device

An ultrasonic instrument includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer support by the housing, and an integrated usage indicator. The housing is configured to removably connect to a shaft assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to be acoustically connected to a waveguide and operated a predetermined number of use cycles. The integrated usage indicator is operatively connected to the housing and includes a used state indicator. The used state indicator is configured to indicate to a clinician in a used state when the ultrasonic transducer has been operated at least the predetermined number of use cycles for limiting usage of the ultrasonic transducer to the predetermined number of use cycles.

Surgical instrument use indicator

A surgical instrument for use during a surgical procedure includes an instrument body, an ultrasonic transducer assembly extending along a longitudinal axis, a power cord, and a transducer slip joint. The ultrasonic transducer assembly is rotatably mounted within the instrument body about the longitudinal axis and defines a first outer profile. The power cord projects from the instrument body to provide electrical power to the ultrasonic transducer assembly for operating an acoustic waveguide. The transducer slip joint is positioned between the power cord and the ultrasonic transducer assembly and electrically and mechanically connects the power cord to the ultrasonic transducer assembly. The ultrasonic transducer assembly selectively rotates relative to the power cord for inhibiting the power cord from winding upon rotation of the ultrasonic transducer assembly. The transducer slip joint also defines a second outer profile that fits within the first outer profile of the ultrasonic transducer assembly.

Ultrasonic surgical instrument with transducer slip joint

A surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic transducer assembly, and a transducer lock having a lock member configured to move between unlocked and locked positions. The transducer assembly is rotatably mounted along a longitudinal axis within the body such that the transducer assembly is configured to selectively rotate about the longitudinal axis. With the lock member in the unlocked position, the transducer assembly is configured to be selectively rotated about the longitudinal axis relative to the body. With the lock member in the locked position, the transducer lock is configured to seize the transducer assembly and inhibit rotation relative to the housing for coupling with an acoustic waveguide. The surgical instrument may also include an integral torque wrench for coupling the acoustic waveguide with a predetermined torque and an integral torque indictor for signaling to a user that the acoustic waveguide is coupled with the predetermined torque.

Ultrasonic surgical instrument with transducer locking feature

A method of controlling the temperature of an ultrasonic blade includes applying a power level to an ultrasonic transducer to achieve a desired temperature at an ultrasonic blade coupled to the transducer via an ultrasonic waveguide, inferring a temperature of the blade based on a voltage V(t) signal and a current I(t) signal applied to the transducer, comparing the inferred temperature of the blade to a predetermined temperature; and adjusting the power level to the transducer based on the comparison. In some aspects, the method includes measuring a phase angle &#x3c6; between the voltage V(t) and the current I(t) and inferring the temperature of the blade from the phase angle &#x3c6;. In some aspects, the method includes measuring an impedance Z(t) equal to a ratio of the voltage V(t) to the current I(t) and inferring the temperature of the blade from the impedance Z(t).

Application of smart ultrasonic blade technology

Various systems and methods for determining the composition of tissue via an ultrasonic surgical instrument are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to monitor the change in resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system of the ultrasonic surgical instrument as the ultrasonic blade oscillates against a tissue and determine the composition of the tissue accordingly. In some aspects, the control circuit can be configured to modify the operation of the ultrasonic electromechanical system or other operational parameters of the ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the detected tissue composition.

Determining tissue composition via an ultrasonic system

A method for controlling an operation of an ultrasonic blade of an ultrasonic electromechanical system is disclosed. The method includes providing an ultrasonic electromechanical system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade via an ultrasonic waveguide; applying, by an energy source, a power level to the ultrasonic transducer; determining, by a control circuit coupled to a memory, a mechanical property of the ultrasonic electromechanical system; comparing, by the control circuit, the mechanical property with a reference mechanical property stored in the memory; and adjusting, by the control circuit, the power level applied to the ultrasonic transducer based on the comparison of the mechanical property with the reference mechanical property.

Method for controlling smart energy devices

A generator, ultrasonic device, and method of determining a temperature of an ultrasonic blade are disclosed. A control circuit coupled to a memory determines an actual resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade by an ultrasonic waveguide. The actual resonant frequency is correlated to an actual temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit retrieves from the memory a reference resonant frequency of the ultrasonic electromechanical system. The reference resonant frequency is correlated to a reference temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit then infers the temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on the difference between the actual resonant frequency and the reference resonant frequency.

Temperature control of ultrasonic end effector and control system therefor

An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a discharge port, an aspiration port, two electrodes, and a diverter formed from a porous material. The diverter includes a matrix having voids to receive fluid from the discharge port. A releasable diverter assembly may include an assembly body configured to receive a pair of electrodes and a diverter composed of a porous material. A shaft assembly of an electrosurgical device may include two electrodes and two fluid cannulae. Each cannula may be disposed proximate to a surface of each of the electrodes. An end effector of an electrosurgical device may include a fluid discharge port, two electrodes, and a diverter disposed therebetween. A proximal edge of the diverter may form a secant line with respect to the end of the discharge port so that fluid emitted by the discharge port is disposed on a surface of the diverter.

Saline contact with electrodes

A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The clamp arm is movable relative to the ultrasonic blade to transition the end effector between an open configuration and a closed configuration to clamp tissue between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm. The surgical instrument further comprises an ultrasonic transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic energy output and a waveguide configured to transmit the ultrasonic energy output to the ultrasonic blade. The surgical instrument further comprises a control circuit, configured to detect an immersion of the end effector in a liquid and compensate for heat flux lost due to the immersion of the end effector in the liquid.

Detection of end effector emersion in liquid

Various aspects of a generator, ultrasonic device, and method for estimating and controlling a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device are disclosed. The ultrasonic device includes an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency, including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A control circuit measures a complex impedance of an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the complex impedance is defined as The control circuit receives a complex impedance measurement data point and compares the complex impedance measurement data point to a data point in a reference complex impedance characteristic pattern. The control circuit then classifies the complex impedance measurement data point based on a result of the comparison analysis and assigns a state or condition of the end effector based on the result of the comparison analysis. The control circuit estimates the state of the end effector of the ultrasonic device and controls the state of the end effector of the ultrasonic device based on the estimated state.

Growing community of inventors

Lebanon, OH, United States of America

Eric M Roberson