# US 11,304,720 B2 · Activation of energy devices

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- Number: US 11,304,720 B2
- Document ID: US11304720B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/115,238
- Filed: 2018-08-28
- Published: 2019-07-04
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-28
- Assignees: Cilag GmbH International
- Applicants: Cilag GmbH International
- Inventors: Cory G. Kimball; Ion V. Nicolaescu; Andrew W. Carroll; David C. Yates; Daniel W. Price; William B. Weisenburgh, II; Jeffrey L. Aldridge; Monica Louise Zeckel Rivard; Heather N. Doak; Mary E. Mootoo; Eric M. Roberson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304720B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw}
- A61B 17/02: for holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors
- A61B 18/12: by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
- A61B 34/30: Surgical robots
- A61B 90/37: {Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation}
- A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
- A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor}
- A61B 34/25: {User interfaces for surgical systems}
- A61B 90/30: Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
- 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 2017/00075: {Motion}
- A61B 2017/00084: {Temperature}
- A61B 2017/00106: {ultrasonic}
- A61B 2017/00115: {with audible or visual output}
- 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 2017/00367: {Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/00464: {for use with different instruments}
- 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 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension}
- A61B 2090/066: {for measuring torque}
- 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 2218/006: for smoke evacuation
- A61B 2218/008: for smoke evacuation
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Various systems and methods for controlling the activation of energy surgical instruments are disclosed. An advance energy surgical instrument, such an electrosurgical instrument or an ultrasonic surgical instrument, can include one or more sensor assemblies for detecting the state or position of the end effector, arm, or other components of the surgical instrument. A control circuit can be configured to control the activation of the surgical instrument according to the state or position of the components of the surgical instrument.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical instrument comprising:
an ultrasonic blade;
an arm pivotable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a closed position;
a transducer assembly coupled to the ultrasonic blade, the transducer assembly comprising at least two piezoelectric elements configured to ultrasonically oscillate the ultrasonic blade;
a first sensor configured to sense a first force as the arm transitions to the closed position;
a second sensor configured to sense a second force as the arm transitions to the open position; and
a control circuit coupled to the transducer assembly, the first sensor, and the second sensor, the control circuit configured to activate the transducer assembly according to the first force sensed by the first sensor relative to a first threshold and the second force sensed by the second sensor relative to a second threshold, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the transducer assembly based on an increase in the first force relative to the first threshold while the second force is below the second threshold, and wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the transducer assembly based on an increase in the second force relative to the second threshold while the first force is below the first threshold.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprise a tactile switch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the tactile switch comprises a two-stage tactile switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the first threshold correspond to a second stage of the two-stage tactile switch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is disposed on a housing of the surgical instrument such that the arm bears thereagainst as the arm transitions to the closed position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprise a tactile switch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the tactile switch comprises a one-stage tactile switch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second threshold correspond to a non-zero force.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is disposed adjacent to a rotation point between the arm and the ultrasonic blade such that the arm bears against the second sensor as the arm transitions to the open position.

### Claim 10

A surgical instrument comprising:
an ultrasonic blade;
an arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a closed position;
a transducer assembly coupled to the ultrasonic blade, the transducer assembly comprising at least two piezoelectric elements configured to ultrasonically oscillate the ultrasonic blade;
a first sensor configured to measure a first force as the arm transitions to the closed position;
a second sensor configured to measure a second force as the arm transitions to the open position; and
a control circuit coupled to the transducer assembly, the first sensor, and the second sensor, the control circuit configured to:
activate the transducer assembly based on the first force exceeding a first threshold while the second force is below a second threshold;
activate the transducer assembly based on the second force exceeding the second threshold while the first force is below the first threshold; and
deactivate the transducer assembly based on the first force being below the first threshold and the second force being below the second threshold.

### Claim 11

A surgical instrument comprising:
an ultrasonic blade;
an arm pivotable relative to the ultrasonic blade between an open position and a closed position;
a transducer assembly coupled to the ultrasonic blade, the transducer assembly comprising at least two piezoelectric elements configured to ultrasonically oscillate the ultrasonic blade;
a first sensor configured to sense a first force as the arm transitions to the closed position;
a second sensor configured to sense a second force as the arm transitions to the open position; and
a control circuit coupled to the transducer assembly, the first sensor, and the second sensor, the control circuit configured to:
determine a state of the arm based on the first force sensed by the first sensor relative to a first threshold and the second force sensed by the second sensor relative to a second threshold, wherein the state comprises an open state, an in-between state, and a closed state; and
activate the transducer assembly based on the state of the arm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the transducer assembly is activated in the open state and in the closed state, and wherein the transducer assembly is deactivated in the in-between state.