# US 11,076,880 B2 · Temperature estimation and tissue detection of an ultrasonic dissector from frequency response monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,880 B2 - Document ID: US11076880B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/840,267 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2013-12-12 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-11 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Anthony B. Ross; David J. Van Tol; David Price - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076880B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw} - A61B 17/320068: {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)} - B06B 1/0207: {Driving circuits (specially adapted for particular applications, see the relevant subclass, e.g. G01; circuits for steering transducer arrays G10K11/34; basic circuits H03)} - A61B 2017/0003: {of parts of the instruments} - A61B 2017/00075: {Motion} - A61B 2017/00084: {Temperature} - A61B 2017/00106: {ultrasonic} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2017/320094: {additional movable means performing clamping operation} - A61B 2017/320095: {with sealing or cauterizing means} - B06B 2201/76: Medical, dental - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B06B: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, {e.g.} FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL (for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. B07B1/40, B23Q17/12, B24B31/06; measurement of mechanical vibrations G01H; in direction finding, locating, distance or velocity measuring G01S; {generating seismic energy G01V1/02}; control of mechanical vibrations in general G05D; sound-producing devices, e.g. bells, sirens, whistles G10K, {e.g. methods or devices for transmitting, conducting, or directing sound in general G10K11/00}; generation of electrical oscillations H03B; electromechanical resonators in general H03H; electromechanical transducers {for communication techniques, e.g. microphones, speakers} H04R) ## Abstract An ultrasonic surgical apparatus including a first signal generator outputting a drive signal at a predetermined voltage and frequency, a first oscillating structure receiving the drive signal and oscillating at the frequency of the drive signal, and a bridge circuit, detecting the mechanical motion of the first oscillating structure and outputting a signal representative of the mechanical motion. The apparatus also includes a second oscillating structure integrally formed within a portion of the first oscillating structure, the second oscillating structure outputting an electrical signal, and a microcontroller receiving the signal output by the bridge circuit and output by the second oscillating structure, the microcontroller determining an instantaneous frequency at which the first oscillating structure is oscillating based on the received signal, comparing the electrical signal from the second oscillating structure with a known signal value and determining the temperature of the second oscillating structure based on a the comparison. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ultrasonic surgical apparatus comprising: a first signal generator outputting a drive signal at a predetermined frequency; a first oscillating structure, receiving the drive signal and oscillating at a frequency of the drive signal; a plurality of second oscillating structures integrally formed within a portion of the first oscillating structure, the plurality of second oscillating structures outputting electrical signals depending upon magnitude and frequency of a mechanical force applied to the plurality of second oscillating structures; and a microcontroller receiving the electrical signals output by the plurality of second oscillating structures, the microcontroller determining a temperature gradient along the plurality of second oscillating structures based on the received electrical signals by comparing the electrical signals from the plurality of second oscillating structures with a known signal value, and determining a temperature of the first oscillating structure based on the temperature gradient, wherein each second oscillating structure of the plurality of second oscillating structures is an accelerometer, and is positioned in proximity of an anti-node of harmonics of a resonant frequency of the first oscillating structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the known signal value is determined during a start-up routine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the known signal value is ascertained each time the ultrasonic surgical apparatus is powered on. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the known signal value is set during manufacture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicator signaling that the first oscillating structure has exceeded a pre-set temperature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the signal is selected from the group consisting of visual signals, audible signals, tactile signals, and performance inhibiting signals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicator signaling that the first oscillating structure has exceeded at least one of multiple pre-set temperatures. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein upon exceeding a first temperature a first signal is issued. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein upon exceeding a second temperature a second signal is issued, said second signal being different from the first signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first oscillating structure includes one or more of a transducer, a waveguide, or a blade. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each second oscillating structure of the plurality of second oscillating structures is integrally formed within the blade. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first oscillating structure includes the transducer, the blade and the waveguide, and the plurality of second oscillating structures include at least one second oscillating structure integrally formed in the blade and at least one second oscillating structure integrally formed in the waveguide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the microcontroller compares the electrical signals returned from each second oscillating structure of the plurality of second oscillating structures to determine which portion of the first oscillating structure is being heated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the microcontroller compares each of the electrical signals returned from the plurality of second oscillating structures to the known signal value to determine if any of the portions of the first oscillating structure are being heated. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second signal generator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the signal produced by the second signal generator causes each second oscillating structure of the plurality of second oscillating structures to oscillate at its resonance frequency. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the signals generated by the first and second signal generators are applied to the first oscillating structure and the plurality of second oscillating structures simultaneously. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a return signal from each second oscillating structure of the plurality of second oscillating structures is monitored to confirm that each second oscillating structure is oscillating at each second oscillating structure's resonance frequency. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the microcontroller causes the second signal generator to adjust its signal to maintain each second oscillating structure of the plurality of second oscillating structures oscillating at each second oscillating structure's resonance frequency. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the microcontroller compares an initial signal generated by the second signal generator to a second signal to determine the temperature of the plurality of second oscillating structures. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus comprises the plurality of second oscillating structures, and the microcontroller can determine the temperature of the plurality of second oscillating structures. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anti-nodes of the first oscillating structure are defined where an amplitude of harmonic oscillations of a resonant frequency of the first oscillating structure is greatest.