Combination ultrasonic and electrosurgical instrument and method for sealing tissue with various termination parameters

A method of sealing a tissue with a surgical instrument including a controller and an ultrasonic blade and an RF electrode respectively configured to deliver an ultrasonic energy and an RF energy to the tissue, wherein the controller includes a memory having a first collection of predetermined termination parameters and a second collection of predetermined termination parameters stored thereon, wherein the first collection of predetermined termination parameters includes a first smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter and a first larger tissue predetermined termination parameter, wherein the second collection of predetermined termination parameters includes a second smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter and a second larger tissue predetermined termination, the method comprising:

• (a) activating one or both of the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode to apply ultrasonic energy or RF energy, respectively, to tissue;
• (b) identifying a relative size of the tissue as a smaller tissue size or a larger tissue size;
• (c) setting one of the first smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter or the first larger tissue predetermined termination parameter based on the identified relative size of the tissue;
• (d) setting one of the second smaller predetermined termination parameter and the second larger tissue predetermined termination parameter based on the identified relative size of the tissue;
• (e) measuring a first measured termination parameter with the controller;
• (f) measuring a second measured termination parameter with the controller;
• and
• (g) terminating one or both of the ultrasonic energy or the RF energy via the controller when at least one of the first measured termination parameter or the second measured termination parameter respectively reaches the set one of the first or second smaller tissue predetermined termination parameters or the set one of the first or second larger tissue predetermined termination parameters to thereby inhibit transecting the tissue.

A method of sealing a tissue with a surgical instrument including a controller and an end effector respectively configured to deliver energy to the tissue, wherein the controller includes a memory having a first collection of predetermined termination parameters and a second collection of predetermined termination parameters stored thereon, wherein the first collection of predetermined termination parameters includes a first smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter and a first larger tissue predetermined termination parameter, wherein the second collection of predetermined termination parameters includes a second smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter and a second larger tissue predetermined termination, the method comprising:

• (a) activating the end effector to apply the energy to tissue;
• (b) identifying a relative size of the tissue as a smaller tissue size or a larger tissue size;
• (c) when the relative size of the tissue is identified as the smaller tissue size, setting at least one of the first smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter and the second smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter and measuring a first measured termination parameter with the controller;
• (d) when the relative size of the tissue is identified as the larger tissue size, setting at least one of the first larger tissue predetermined termination parameter and the second larger tissue predetermined termination parameter and measuring a second measured termination parameter with the controller;
• (e) terminating the energy via the controller when the first measured termination parameter reaches the at least one of the first smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter and the second smaller tissue predetermined termination parameter or when the second measured termination parameter reaches the at least one of the first larger tissue predetermined termination parameter and the second larger tissue predetermined termination parameter.