# US 11,298,148 B2 · Live time tissue classification using electrical parameters

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- Number: US 11,298,148 B2
- Document ID: US11298148B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/144,486
- Filed: 2018-09-27
- Published: 2019-09-12
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2018-03-08
- Assignees: Cilag GmbH International
- Applicants: Ethicon LLC
- Inventors: Madeleine C. Jayme; James M. Wilson; Craig N. Faller; Kristen G. Denzinger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298148B2

## CPC

- 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)}
- A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/22012: {in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement (for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245)}
- A61B 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw}
- A61B 17/3211: Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
- A61B 18/12: by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
- A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor}
- A61B 18/1233: {with circuits for assuring patient safety}
- A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B 18/1442: {Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps}
- A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod}
- A61B 17/282: {Jaws}
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 90/361: {Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras}
- A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments}
- A61B 2017/00022: {Sensing or detecting at the treatment site}
- A61B 2017/00026: {Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue}
- A61B 2017/0003: {of parts of the instruments}
- A61B 2017/00039: {Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect}
- A61B 2017/00061: {spectrum}
- A61B 2017/00075: {Motion}
- A61B 2017/00084: {Temperature}
- A61B 2017/00106: {ultrasonic}
- A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output}
- A61B 2017/00137: {Details of operation mode}
- A61B 2017/00146: {with multiple frequencies}
- A61B 2017/00154: {pulsed}
- A61B 2017/00199: {with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display}
- A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00482: {with a code}
- A61B 2017/0084: {low friction (A61B2017/00853 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/22014: {the ultrasound transducer being outside patient's body; with an ultrasound transmission member; with a wave guide; with a vibrated guide wire}
- A61B 2017/2825: {Inserts of different material in jaws}
- A61B 2017/32007: {with suction or vacuum means}
- A61B 2017/320073: {probe}
- A61B 2017/320074: {blade}
- A61B 2017/320084: {Irrigation sleeves}
- A61B 2017/320094: {additional movable means performing clamping operation}
- A61B 2017/320095: {with sealing or cauterizing means}
- A61B 2017/320097: {with stapling means}
- A61B 2018/00589: {Coagulation}
- A61B 2018/00595: {Cauterization}
- A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting}
- A61B 2018/00607: {Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument}
- A61B 2018/00619: {Welding}
- A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing}
- A61B 2018/00648: {using more than one sensed parameter}
- A61B 2018/00684: {using lookup tables}
- A61B 2018/00702: {Power or energy}
- A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature}
- A61B 2018/00827: {Current}
- A61B 2018/00875: {Resistance or impedance}
- A61B 2018/00886: {Duration}
- A61B 2018/00892: {Voltage}
- A61B 2018/00994: {combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound}
- A61B 2018/1253: {monopolar}
- A61B 2018/126: {bipolar}
- A61B 2018/128: {generating two or more frequencies}
- A61B 2018/1412: {Blade}
- A61B 2018/1452: {including means for cutting (A61B2018/146 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2034/107: {Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions}
- A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure}
- A61B 2090/066: {for measuring torque}
- A61B 2090/0808: {for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus}
- A61B 2090/0809: {Indication of cracks or breakages}
- A61B 2090/0811: {for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument}
- A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system
- A61B 2218/002: Irrigation
- A61B 2218/008: for smoke evacuation
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) instrument may include a method of classifying a tissue in live time. The method may include activating the instrument for a first period of time T1 when the RF instrument contacts the tissue, plotting at least three electrical parameters associated with the tissue to classify the tissue into distinct groups, and applying a classification algorithm to classify the tissue into a distinct group in live time. The parameters may include an initial impedance of the tissue, a minimum impedance of the tissue, and an amount of time that the impedance slope is ˜0. The instrument may collect the parameters during a predetermined amount of time, such as within the first 0.75 seconds of the activation of the device. The classification algorithm may include a support vector machine algorithm that may use a linear, polynomial, or radial basis set.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of classifying a tissue in live time, the method comprising:
activating, by a processor, a radio frequency (RF) instrument for a first period of time T1, wherein the RF instrument contacts the tissue;
plotting together, by the processor, at least three electrical parameters associated with the tissue in contact with the RF instrument to classify the tissue into distinct groups; and
applying, by the processor, a classification algorithm to classify the tissue into a distinct group in live time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein plotting together, by the processor, the at least three electrical parameters associated with the tissue in contact with the RF instrument comprises plotting together, by the processor, an initial RF impedance of the tissue, a minimum RF impedance of the tissue, and an amount of time in milliseconds that an RF impedance slope of the tissue is ˜0.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting, by the processor, data associated with the at least three electrical parameters in a predetermined amount of time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein collecting, by the processor, data associated with the at least three electrical parameters in a predetermined amount of time comprises collecting, by the processor, the data associated with the at least three electrical parameters within a first 0.75 seconds after activation of the RF instrument.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein applying, by the processor, a classification algorithm to classify the tissue into a distinct group in live time comprises using, by the processor, a support vector machine algorithm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein using, by the processor, a support vector machine algorithm comprises using, by the processor, a linear basis function, a polynomial basis function, or a radial basis function.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising applying, by the processor, an activation algorithm specific to each tissue group after the first period of time T1.

### Claim 8

A surgical instrument comprising: a radio frequency (RF) instrument comprising an end effector; and a generator configured to supply power to the end effector, wherein the generator comprises a control circuit configured to:
activate the RF instrument for a first period of time T1, wherein the RF instrument is configured to contact a tissue;
plot together at least three electrical parameters associated with the tissue in contact with the RF instrument to classify the tissue into distinct groups; and apply
a classification algorithm to classify the tissue into a distinct group in live time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the at least three electrical parameters associated with the tissue in contact with the RF instrument comprise an initial RF impedance of the tissue, a minimum RF impedance of the tissue, and an amount of time in milliseconds that an RF impedance slope of the tissue is ˜0.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is further configured to collect data associated with the at least three electrical parameters in a predetermined amount of time.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the predetermined amount of time comprises a first 0.75 seconds after activation of the RF instrument.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is further configured to classify the tissue into the distinct group in live time using a support vector machine algorithm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein the support vector machine algorithm comprises a linear basis function, a polynomial basis function, or a radial basis function.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is further configured to apply an activation algorithm specific to each tissue group after the first period of time T1.

### Claim 15

A generator for a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a radio frequency (RF) instrument comprising an end effector, the generator comprising:
a control circuit configured to:
activate the RF instrument for a first period of time T1, wherein the RF instrument is configured to contact a tissue;
plot together at least three electrical parameters associated with the tissue in contact with the RF instrument to classify the tissue into distinct groups; and
apply a classification algorithm to classify the tissue into a distinct group in live time.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The generator for the surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the at least three electrical parameters associated with the tissue in contact with the RF instrument comprise an initial RF impedance of the tissue, a minimum RF impedance of the tissue, and an amount of time in milliseconds that an RF impedance slope of the tissue is ˜0.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The generator for the surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is further configured to collect data associated with the at least three electrical parameters in a predetermined amount of time.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The generator for the surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the predetermined amount of time comprises a first 0.75 seconds after activation of the RF instrument.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The generator for the surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is further configured to classify the tissue into the distinct group in live time using a support vector machine algorithm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The generator for the surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein the support vector machine algorithm comprises a linear basis function, a polynomial basis function, or a radial basis function.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The generator for the surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is further configured to apply an activation algorithm specific to each tissue group after the first period of time T1.