Methods and systems for controlling an ultrasonic handpiece based on tuning signals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9980741-B2
Application number	US-201213495742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2012
Priority date	Jun 13, 2011
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A system includes a handpiece configured to generate vibratory energy and a generator coupled to the handpiece. The generator includes a processing device and a memory device having encoded thereon computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processing device to perform functions including applying a first tuning signal to the handpiece. The first tuning signal has a first variable frequency within a predetermined frequency range. The functions further include detecting a first parameter and a second parameter of the ultrasonic handpiece in response to the first tuning signal, comparing the first parameter to the second parameter, and applying a second tuning signal to the ultrasonic handpiece. The second tuning signal has a second variable frequency within the predetermined frequency range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling an ultrasonic handpiece, said method comprising:
sensing a pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and a surgical implement disposed within the body of a patient;
comparing the sensed pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and the surgical implement to a predetermined pressure range to determine if the sensed pressure is within the predetermined pressure range, the predetermined pressure range indicating that the sensed pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and the surgical implement is ready for welding;
applying a first tuning signal to the ultrasonic handpiece only when the pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and the surgical implement is determined to be within the predetermined pressure range, the first tuning signal having a first variable frequency within a predetermined frequency range between 19.5 kHz and 20.7 kHz;
detecting a first impedance and a second impedance of the ultrasonic handpiece in response to the first tuning signal;
comparing the first impedance to the second impedance;
applying a second tuning signal to the ultrasonic handpiece, the second tuning signal having a second variable frequency within the predetermined frequency range; and
transferring, when the pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and the surgical implement has settled within the predetermined pressure range for at least a predetermined settling interval, vibratory energy through the ultrasonic handpiece to the surgical implement to form a weld at the surgical implement for stabilizing body tissue with the weld, wherein the predetermined settling interval is 2 seconds.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said comparing the first impedance to the second impedance comprises determining whether a difference between the first impedance and the second impedance is less than a predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
detecting a third impedance and a fourth impedance of the ultrasonic handpiece in response to the second tuning signal;
comparing the third impedance to the fourth impedance; and
applying a third tuning signal to the ultrasonic handpiece, the third tuning signal having a third variable frequency within the predetermined frequency range.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said comparing the third impedance to the fourth impedance comprises determining whether a difference between the third impedance and the fourth impedance is less than a predetermined threshold.

5. A surgical generator for use with an ultrasonic handpiece, said surgical generator comprising:
a processing device; and
a memory device comprising a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processing device to perform functions comprising:
receiving a pressure signal from a pressure sensor indicative of a pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and a surgical implement disposed within a body of a patient;
determining a sensed pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and the surgical implement based on the pressure signal;
comparing the sensed pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and the surgical implement to a predetermined pressure range to determine if the sensed pressure is within the predetermined pressure range, the predetermined pressure range indicating that the sensed pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and the surgical implement is ready for welding;
applying a first tuning signal to the ultrasonic handpiece only when the pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and the surgical implement is determined to be within the predetermined pressure range, the first tuning signal having a first variable frequency within a predetermined frequency range between 19.5 kHz and 20.7 kHz;
detecting a first impedance and a second impedance of the ultrasonic handpiece in response to the first tuning signal;
comparing the first impedance to the second impedance;
applying a second tuning signal to the ultrasonic handpiece, the second tuning signal having a second variable frequency within the predetermined frequency range; and
causing vibratory energy to be transferred, when the pressure between the ultrasonic handpiece and the surgical implement has settled within the predetermined pressure range for at least a predetermined settling interval, through the ultrasonic handpiece to the surgical implement to form a weld at the surgical implement for stabilizing body tissue with the weld, wherein the predetermined settling interval is 2 seconds.

6. The surgical generator in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said comparing the first impedance to the second impedance comprises determining whether a difference between the first impedance and the second impedance is less than a predetermined threshold.

7. The surgical generator in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the functions performed by the processing device further comprise:
detecting a third impedance and a fourth impedance of the ultrasonic handpiece in response to the second tuning signal;
comparing the third impedance to the fourth impedance; and
applying a third tuning signal to the ultrasonic handpiece, the third tuning signal having a third variable frequency within the predetermined frequency range.

8. The surgical generator in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said comparing the third impedance to the fourth impedance comprises determining whether a difference between the third impedance and the fourth impedance is less than a predetermined threshold.

9. A system comprising:
a handpiece configured to generate vibratory energy, the handpiece comprising a pressure sensor adapted to produce a pressure signal indicative of a pressure between the handpiece and a surgical implement; and
a generator coupled to the handpiece, the generator comprising a processing device and a memory device having encoded thereon computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processing device to perform functions comprising:
receiving a pressure signal from the pressure sensor indicative of a pressure between the handpiece and a surgical implement disposed within a body of a patient;
determining a sensed pressure between the handpiece and the surgical implement based on the pressure signal;
comparing the sensed pressure between the handpiece and the surgical implement to a predetermined pressure range to determine if the sensed pressure is within the predetermined pressure range, the predetermined pressure range indicating that the sensed pressure between the handpiece and the surgical implement is ready for welding;
applying a first tuning signal to the handpiece only when the pressure between the handpiece and the surgical implement is determined to be within the predetermined pressure range, the first tuning signal having a first variable frequency within a predetermined frequency range between 19.5 kHz and 20.7 kHz;
detecting a first impedance and a second impedance of the handpiece in response to the first tuning signal;
comparing the first impedance to the second impedance;
applying a second tuning signal to the handpiece, the second tuning signal having a second variable frequency within the predetermined frequency range; and
transferring, when the pressure between the handpiece and the surgical implement has settled within the predetermined pressure range for at least a predetermined settling interval, vibratory energy through the handpiece to the surgical implement to form a weld at the surgical implement for stabilizing body tissue with the weld, wherein the predetermined settling interval is 2 seconds.

10. The system in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said comparing the first impedance

Assignees

• Bonutti Peter M
• Beyers Justin
• P Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bonutti Peter M
• Beyers Justin

Classifications

• A61B2090/064

  for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension · CPC title

• A61B17/320068 Primary

  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 title

• A61B2017/00022

  Sensing or detecting at the treatment site · CPC title

• A61B90/06

  Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for · CPC title