US 10,238,416 B2Granted

Ultrasonic device for cutting and coagulating

AssigneeEthicon, Inc.

InventorsFoster B. Stulen, John B. Schulte, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Jeffery T. Kirk, Randal T. Byrum, Douglas J. Turner, John M. Sarley, David A. Witt, William A. Olson, Kyle P. Moore

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Abstract

A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, and an end effector. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic blade includes a recess region having a plurality of recesses. The recess region is tapered such that the cross-sectional area of the recess region decreases along the length of the recess region. The ultrasonic blade is also curved such that a central longitudinal axis of the ultrasonic blade extends along a curved path. A reference circuit is used to account for voltage drops of unknown values during operation of the surgical apparatus.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for operating on tissue, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a body;
(b) an ultrasonic transducer operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations;
(c) a shaft extending distally from the body, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis;
and
(d) an end effector at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ultrasonic blade includes a recess region having a plurality of recesses and extending a length from a proximal end to a distal tip, wherein the recess region further includes a concave transition and a tapered region, wherein the concave transition of the recess region is distally positioned relative to the proximal end, wherein the tapered region of the recess region is distally positioned relative to the concave transition and tapered such that a cross-sectional area of the tapered region continuously decreases along the length of the tapered region toward the distal tip,
wherein the recesses in the concave transition include a first recess and a second recess, wherein the first recess has a first arcuate section defined by a first radius swept along a first plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the longitudinal axis of the shaft extends along the first plane, wherein the second recess includes a second arcuate section defined by a second radius swept along the first plane, and
wherein the recesses in the tapered region further include a third arcuate section defined at least partially by a third radius swept along a second plane, wherein the second plane is parallel to the first plane, wherein the second plane is offset from the first plane such that the longitudinal axis of the shaft does not extend along the second plane.

4 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

(a) a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument includes one or more variable voltage drop features configured to provide a variable voltage drop during operation of the surgical instrument;
(b) a power source in communication with the surgical instrument, wherein the power source is operable to provide power to the surgical instrument, wherein the power source is configured to generate an interrogation signal at a cycle, wherein the cycle includes a first cycle portion and a second cycle portion;
and
(c) a reference circuit in communication with the surgical instrument, wherein the reference circuit is further in communication with the power source, wherein the reference circuit includes one or more predetermined voltage drop features configured to provide a predetermined voltage drop during operation of the surgical instrument;
wherein the one or more variable voltage drop features and the reference circuit are electrically connected with the power source in parallel,
wherein the power source is configured to read the one or more predetermined voltage drop features of the reference circuit with the first cycle portion of the interrogation signal,
wherein the power source is configured to read the one or more variable voltage drop features with the second cycle portion of the interrogation signal,
wherein the power source is operable to subtract out a voltage drop from the one or more variable voltage drop features based on a voltage drop from the one or more predetermined voltage drop features during operation of the surgical instrument.

5 more elements

A method of operating a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument including one or more variable voltage drop features, a power source, and a reference circuit having one or more predetermined voltage drop features, wherein the one or more variable voltage drop features are configured to provide a variable voltage drop during operation of the surgical instrument, wherein the power source is in communication with the surgical instrument, wherein the power source is operable to provide power to the surgical instrument, wherein the reference circuit is in communication with the surgical instrument, wherein the reference circuit is further in communication with the power source, wherein the one or more predetermined voltage drop features is configured to provide a predetermined voltage drop during operation of the surgical instrument, and wherein the one or more variable voltage drop features and the reference circuit are electrically connected with the power source in parallel, the method comprising:

(a) generating an interrogation signal at a cycle with the power source, wherein the cycle includes a first cycle portion and a second cycle portion;
(b) reading the one or more predetermined voltage drop features of the reference circuit with the first cycle portion of the interrogation signal;
(c) reading the one or more variable voltage drop features with the second cycle portion of the interrogation signal;
(d) detecting a first voltage drop from the surgical instrument, wherein the first voltage drop results from activation of a switch in the surgical instrument, wherein the value of the first voltage drop is unknown;
(e) detecting a second voltage drop from the surgical instrument, wherein the second voltage drop is caused by the reference circuit providing the predetermined voltage drop such that the value of the second voltage drop is the predetermined voltage drop, wherein the act of detecting the second voltage drop is performed in close time proximity to the act of detecting the first voltage drop;
and
(f)providing power to the surgical instrument, wherein the act of providing power to the surgical instrument comprises subtracting out the first voltage drop based on the second voltage drop.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/868,336Filed 23 Apr 2013 · us provisional application
Priority: 30 Apr 2012
Published: US 2013/0289592 A131 Oct 2013
Granted: 26 Mar 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

A61B 17/320092
Using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic: with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
A61B 17/320068
Surgical cutting instruments: using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
A61B 2017/00017
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: electrical control of surgical instruments
A61B 2017/00725
Aspects not otherwise provided for: calibration or performance testing