System and method for driving an ultrasonic handpiece as a function of the mechanical impedance of the handpiece
AssigneeStryker Corporation
InventorsAdam Downey, Matthew Owen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ultrasonic surgical tool system for actuating a handpiece with a tip. The frequency of the drive signal applied to the handpiece drivers is a function of the equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the handpiece and tip and the frequency responsiveness of these components.
Claims14
A system for vibrating the tip of an ultrasonic handpiece, the handpiece having at least one driver to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, the system including:
- a control console for generating the AC drive signal that is applied to the handpiece;
- a sensor for measuring a voltage of the AC drive signal;
- a sensor for measuring a current of the AC drive signal;
- and
- a processor coupled to the sensors for measuring the voltage and current of the AC drive signal and configured to:
- based on the voltage of the AC drive signal, the current of the AC drive signal, a frequency of the AC drive signal and a capacitance of the at least one driver, calculate a current applied to the at least one driver and an equivalent of current applied to the mechanical components of the handpiece;
- calculate a value based on the current applied to the at least one driver and the equivalent of current applied to the mechanical components of the handpiece;
- determine if the calculated value based on the current applied to the at least one driver and the equivalent of current applied to the mechanical components of the handpiece is substantially equal to a target value, the target value being based on a target frequency for the vibrations of the mechanical components of the handpiece;
- and
- adjust the frequency of the AC drive signal output by the control console if the calculated value is not substantially equal to the target value.
A system for vibrating the tip of an ultrasonic handpiece, the handpiece having at least one driver to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, the system including:
- a control console for generating the AC drive signal that is applied to the handpiece;
- the handpiece having the at least one driver coupled to the control console to be energized by the AC drive signal;
- a processor internal to the control console and configured to:
- based on a voltage of the AC drive signal, a current of the AC drive signal, a frequency of the AC drive signal and a capacitance of the at least one driver, calculate a value, and
- based on the calculated value, set the frequency of the AC drive signal output by the control console;
- a power supply that outputs a signal at a constant frequency;
- and
- an amplifier coupled to the power supply that receives the signal output by said power supply and that is configured to amplify the signal from said power supply so as to output a variable frequency signal, wherein the processor is coupled to said amplifier to set the potential and frequency of the AC drive signal by regulating the frequency and amplitude of the signal output by said amplifier.
A method of regulating the sourcing of an AC drive signal to an ultrasonic handpiece having a tip and at least one driver to which the AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, said method including the steps of:
- sourcing an AC drive signal to the at least one driver, the AC drive signal having a potential and a frequency;
- measuring a voltage and a current of the AC drive signal;
- calculating a current applied to the at least one driver as a function of a capacitance of the at least one driver and the voltage and frequency of the AC drive signal;
- calculating an equivalent of current applied to the mechanical components of the handpiece by determining a difference between the current of the AC drive signal and the current applied to the at least one driver;
- calculating a value based on the current applied to the at least one driver and the equivalent of current applied to the mechanical components of the handpiece;
- based on the calculated value, setting the frequency of the AC drive signal;
- and
- supplying the AC drive signal to the handpiece having the at least one driver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.