Surgical instrument with tissue density sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10653437-B2
Application number	US-201715715738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2017
Priority date	Apr 18, 2012
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an end effector, a body assembly, a power source, and a control module. The end effector is operable for use in a surgical procedure and can deliver energy to a surgical site. The end effector comprises at least one sensor. The sensor is able to measure at least one physical characteristic associated with the surgical site. The body assembly is in communication with the end effector. The power source is in communication with the body assembly and is operable to deliver power to the end effector. The control module is in communication with the sensor and is operable to change delivery of power to the end effector based on data from the sensor indicating a change in tissue density.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
(a) an end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade, wherein the end effector is configured to deliver ultrasonic energy to a surgical site via the ultrasonic blade;
(b) an acoustic drivetrain comprising an ultrasonic transducer in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic blade;
(c) a sensor configured to measure an acoustic reaction generated by either the end effector or the acoustic drivetrain; and
(d) a control module, where the control module is configured to generate a first frequency at a first resonant frequency associated with the acoustic drivetrain utilizing the acoustic reaction of the end effector or the acoustic drivetrain under a first load during exemplary use, wherein the control module is configured to generate a second frequency at a resonant frequency associated with the acoustic drivetrain utilizing the acoustic reaction of the end effector or the acoustic drivetrain under a second load during exemplary use, wherein the control module is further configured to determine a shift from the first resonant frequency to the second resonant frequency associated with the acoustic drivetrain, wherein the control module is configured to generate a notification signal in response to determining the shift.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a microphone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the notification signal is indicative of a tissue density encountered by the end effector.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprises a second sensor configured to communicate with the control module, wherein the control module is configured to generate the notification signal at least partially in response to a signal from the second sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second sensor comprises an accelerometer.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second sensor is configured to measure thermal energy.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second sensor is configured to measure electrical impedance.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second sensor is configured to measure acoustic impedance.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the notification signal is configured to generate an audible tone.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the notification signal is configured to generate a vibration response.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to generate a control signal along with the notification signal, wherein control signal is configured to alter a current provided by a power source to the ultrasonic transducer.

12. An apparatus comprising:
(a) an end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade, wherein the end effector is configured to deliver ultrasonic energy to a surgical site via the ultrasonic blade;
(b) an acoustic drivetrain comprising an ultrasonic transducer in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic blade;
(c) a sensor configured to produce a set of data in response to the acoustic drivetrain activating the ultrasonic blade, and
(d) a control module, where the control module is configured to generate a baseline of amplitudes associated with a plurality of frequencies based on the set of data generated while the acoustic drivetrain activates the ultrasonic blade under a first load from a first anatomical structure during exemplary use, wherein the control module is further configured to determine a change in the baseline of amplitudes associated with the plurality of frequencies based on operation of the acoustic drivetrain under a second load from a second anatomical structure during exemplary use, wherein the control module is further configured to generate a control signal or a notification signal in response to determining the change in the baseline of amplitudes associated with the plurality of frequencies based on operation of the acoustic drivetrain.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the control module is further configured to determine a change in temperature of the end effector, wherein the control module is configured to generate the control signal or the notification signal in at least partial response to the change in temperature.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the control module is further configured to determine a change in speed of the end effector, wherein the control module is configured to generate the control signal or the notification signal in at least partial response to the change in speed.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the control module is further configured to determine a change in impedance of the end effector, wherein the control module is configured to generate the control signal or the notification signal in at least partial response to the change in impedance.

16. A method of detecting a change in tissue density using a surgical device having an ultrasonic blade, at least one sensor, and a computing module, wherein the ultrasonic blade is operable to respond to at least one physical characteristic of tissue engaged by the ultrasonic blade, the method comprising:
(a) processing data from the at least one sensor with the computing module when the ultrasonic blade is under a first load presented by a first anatomical structure during exemplary use to generate a baseline of amplitudes associated with a plurality of frequencies for the ultrasonic blade;
(b) processing data from the at least one sensor with the computing module when the ultrasonic blade is under a second load presented by the first anatomical structure or a second anatomical structure during exemplary use to generate a first sample of amplitudes associated with the plurality of frequencies for the ultrasonic blade; and
(c) comparing the first sample of amplitudes with the baseline of amplitudes associated with the plurality of frequencies to thereby generate a difference between the baseline of amplitude and the first sample of amplitudes, wherein the act of comparing the first sample of amplitudes with the baseline of amplitudes is performed by the computing module.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising notifying a user in response to the comparison of the first sample of amplitudes with the baseline of amplitude associated with the plurality of frequencies exceeding a threshold value.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein notifying the user comprises generating an audible tone.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein notifying the user comprises generating a vibrational response to provide tactile feedback to the user.

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Dannaher William D
• Price Daniel W
• Kimball Cory G
• Kelly William D
• Rhee Sora
• Gee Jacob S
• Bertke Brian D
• Welling Alissa L

Classifications

• A61B2017/320071

  with articulating means for working tip · CPC title

• A61B2017/320097

  with stapling means · CPC title

• A61B2090/065

  for measuring contact or contact pressure · CPC title

• A61B2017/00119

  alarm; indicating an abnormal situation · CPC title

• A61B2017/00026

  Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue · CPC title