Techniques for cutting and coagulating tissue for ultrasonic surgical instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9724118-B2
Application number	US-201313839470-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Apr 9, 2012
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

Various forms are directed to a method for operating an ultrasonic surgical instrument. The ultrasonic surgical instrument may be activated by generating a drive signal provided to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector. A plurality of input variables may be applied to a multi-variable model to generate a multi-variable model output, where the multi-variable model output corresponds to an effect of the ultrasonic instrument on tissue. The plurality of input variables may comprise at least one variable describing the drive signal and at least one variable describing a property of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. When the multi-variable model output reaches a threshold value, feedback may be generated indicating a corresponding state of at least one of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and tissue acted upon by the ultrasonic surgical instrument.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the method comprising:
receiving a trigger signal;
in response to the trigger signal, providing a first drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector at a first power level;
maintaining the first drive signal for a first period;
at an end of the first period, providing a second drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector at a second power level less than the first power level;
after modifying the drive signal to the second power level, deactivating the ultrasonic surgical instrument;
after deactivating the ultrasonic surgical instrument, receiving a second trigger signal;
determining that a rest time has not passed since the deactivating of the ultrasonic surgical instrument; and
re-activating the ultrasonic surgical instrument by generating a third drive signal at a power level less than the first power level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power level less than the first power level is the second power level.

3. A method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the method comprising:
receiving a trigger signal;
in response to the trigger signal, providing a first drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the first drive signal is at a first power level;
maintaining the first drive signal at the first power level for a first period;
providing a second drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the second drive signal is at a second power level lower than the first power level;
applying a plurality of input variables to a multi-variable model to generate a multi-variable model output, wherein the multi-variable model output corresponds to an effect of the ultrasonic surgical instrument on tissue, and wherein the plurality of input variables comprises at least one variable describing the drive signal and at least one variable describing a property of the ultrasonic surgical instrument;
after the multi-variable model output exceeds a threshold value for a first threshold time period, triggering a first response that is a feedback; and
after the multi-variable model output has exceeded the threshold value for a second threshold time period greater than the first threshold time period, providing a third drive signal for the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the third drive signal is at a third power level less than the first power level.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the third power level is greater than the second power level.

5. A method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the method comprising:
receiving a trigger signal;
in response to the trigger signal, providing a first drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the first drive signal is at a first power level;
maintaining the first drive signal at the first power level for a first period;
providing a second drive signal to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the second drive signal is at a second power level lower than the first power level;
applying a plurality of input variables to a multi-variable model to generate a multi-variable model output, wherein the multi-variable model output corresponds to an effect of the ultrasonic surgical instrument on tissue, and wherein the plurality of input variables comprises at least one variable describing the drive signal and at least one variable describing a property of the ultrasonic surgical instrument;
after the multi-variable model output exceeds a threshold value for a threshold time period, triggering a first response that is a feedback, wherein the multi-variable model output exceeds the threshold value within a second period from modifying the drive signal to the second power level; and
upon expiration of the second period, providing a third drive signal for the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector, wherein the third drive signal is at a third power level less than the first power level.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the third power level is greater than the second power level.

Assignees

• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
• Ethicon Endo Surgery Llc

Inventors

• Schulte John B
• Price Daniel W
• Vasquez Jose Domingo
• Dietz Timothy G
• Smith Richard C
• Asher Ryan M
• Aldridge Jeffrey L
• Timm Richard W
• Davis Craig T
• Marcotte Amy L
• Witt David A
• Tellio Karalyn R
• Messerly Jeffrey D
• Bertke Brian D
• Wiener Eitan T
• Yates David C
• Giordano James R

Classifications

• A61B2017/00026

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

• A61B2017/00176

  Two pulses, e.g. second pulse having an effect different from the first one · CPC title

• A61B2017/00128

  related to intensity or progress of surgical action · CPC title

• A61B2017/0003

  of parts of the instruments · CPC title

• A61B2017/00115

  with audible or visual output · CPC title