# US 11,304,741 B2 · Combination ultrasonic and electrosurgical system having generator filter circuitry > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,741 B2 - Document ID: US11304741B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/967,761 - Filed: 2018-05-01 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-22 - Assignees: Cilag GmbH International - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: Stephen M. Leuck; Eitan T. Wiener - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304741B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00) - A61B 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw} - A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor} - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments} - A61B 2017/00137: {Details of operation mode} - A61B 2017/00738: {part of the tool being offset with respect to a main axis, e.g. for better view for the surgeon} - A61B 2017/00929: {isolating electrical current} - A61B 2017/2929: {with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft} - A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members} - A61B 2017/320072: {Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts} - A61B 2017/320074: {blade} - A61B 2017/320075: {single edge blade, e.g. for cutting} - A61B 2017/320078: {Tissue manipulating surface} - A61B 2017/320088: {with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath} - A61B 2017/320094: {additional movable means performing clamping operation} - A61B 2017/320095: {with sealing or cauterizing means} - A61B 2018/00077: {high, i.e. electrically conducting} - A61B 2018/00083: {low, i.e. electrically insulating} - A61B 2018/00136: {with polymer} - A61B 2018/00178: {Electrical connectors} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00607: {Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument} - A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing} - A61B 2018/00988: {Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter} - A61B 2018/00994: {combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound} - A61B 2018/126: {bipolar} - A61B 2018/142: {at least partly surrounding the target, e.g. concave, curved or in the form of a cave} - A61B 2018/1452: {including means for cutting (A61B2018/146 takes precedence)} - A61B 2018/1457: {having opposing blades cutting tissue grasped by the jaws, i.e. combined scissors and pliers} - A61B 2090/0803: {Counting the number of times an instrument is used} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical system includes a surgical instrument having a body, a shaft extending distally from the body, an ultrasonic transducer supported by the body, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade configured to be driven by the ultrasonic transducer with ultrasonic energy, and an RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy. A generator is operatively coupled with the surgical instrument and is operable to generate a combined drive signal having an ultrasonic energy component and an RF energy component. Filter circuitry arranged externally of the body of the surgical instrument is operable to convert the combined drive signal to an ultrasonic drive signal configured to energize the ultrasonic transducer to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, and an RF drive signal configured to energize the RF electrode with RF energy sufficient to seal tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical system comprising: (a) a surgical instrument, comprising: (i) a body, (ii) a shaft extending distally from the body, (iii) an ultrasonic transducer supported by the body, and (iv) an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises: (A) an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, and (B) a radiofrequency (RF) electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy; (b) a generator operatively coupled with the surgical instrument, wherein the generator is operable to generate a combined drive signal having an ultrasonic energy component and an RF energy component; (c) an accessory device configured to operatively couple the surgical instrument and the generator, and (d) a signal filter arranged within the accessory device, wherein the signal filter includes an ultrasonic output and an RF output and is operable to convert the combined drive signal to: (i) an ultrasonic drive signal configured to energize the ultrasonic transducer to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, wherein the ultrasonic output of the signal filter is configured to electrically connect to the ultrasonic transducer via the accessory device for communicating the ultrasonic drive signal from the ultrasonic output of the signal filter to the ultrasonic transducer, and (ii) an RF drive signal configured to energize the RF electrode with RF energy sufficient to seal tissue, wherein the RF output of the signal filter is configured to electrically connect to the RF electrode via the accessory device for communicating the RF drive signal from the RF output of the signal filter to the RF electrode, wherein at least a portion of the accessory device is operable to simultaneously communicate each of the ultrasonic drive signal and the RF drive signal externally therefrom and respectively to the ultrasonic transducer and the RF electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the accessory device further comprises: (a) a power cable having a first portion configured to couple to the surgical instrument and a second portion configured to couple to the generator; and (b) a cable adapter configured to couple the power cable with the generator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical system of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the power cable is configured to releasably couple to the cable adapter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The surgical system of claim 2, wherein a distal end of the first portion of the power cable relative to the accessory device is configured to releasably couple with the body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The surgical system of claim 2, wherein a distal end of the first portion of the power cable relative to the accessory device is configured to couple with a proximal end of the body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical system of claim 5, wherein the distal end of the first portion of the power cable relative to the accessory device is configured to align coaxially with the ultrasonic transducer when the power cable is coupled with the body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is housed within an interior of the body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is supported externally of the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the RF electrode is provided by the ultrasonic blade. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the RF electrode comprises a first RF electrode and a second RF electrode, wherein the RF drive signal is configured to energize the first and second RF electrodes with bipolar RF energy sufficient to seal tissue. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The surgical system of claim 10, wherein the end effector further comprises a clamp arm, wherein the clamp arm provides the first RF electrode and the ultrasonic blade provides the second RF electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein power parameters of each of the ultrasonic drive signal and the RF drive signal are selectively adjustable by the generator. ### Claim 13 A surgical system comprising: (a) a surgical instrument, comprising: (i) an ultrasonic transducer, (ii) a shaft extending distally relative to the ultrasonic transducer, and (iii) an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises: (A) an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, and (B) a radiofrequency (RF) electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy; (b) a generator operatively coupled with the surgical instrument, wherein the generator is operable to generate a combined drive signal having an ultrasonic energy component and an RF energy component; and (c) an accessory device arranged externally of the surgical instrument and configured to operatively couple the generator with the surgical instrument, wherein the accessory device includes a signal filter having an ultrasonic output and an RF output and operable to convert the combined drive signal to: (i) an ultrasonic drive signal configured to energize the ultrasonic transducer to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, wherein the ultrasonic output of the signal filter is configured to electrically connect to the ultrasonic transducer, and (ii) an RF drive signal configured to energize the RF electrode with RF energy sufficient to seal tissue, wherein the RF output of the signal filter is configured to electrically connect to the RF electrode, wherein at least a portion of the accessory device is operable to simultaneously communicate each of the ultrasonic drive signal and the RF drive signal externally therefrom and respectively to the ultrasonic transducer and the RF electrode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical system of claim 13, wherein the accessory device is arranged externally of the generator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The surgical system of claim 13, wherein the accessory device comprises one of a power cable configured to couple to the surgical instrument or a cable adapter configured to couple the power cable to the generator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The surgical system of claim 13, wherein the accessory device comprises a power cable configured to couple with the surgical instrument, wherein a distal end of the power cable relative to the accessory device is configured to releasably couple with the surgical instrument. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The surgical system of claim 13, wherein the accessory device comprises a power cable configured to couple with the surgical instrument, wherein a distal end of the power cable relative to the accessory device is configured to align coaxially with the ultrasonic transducer when the power cable is coupled with the surgical instrument. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The surgical system of claim 13, wherein power parameters of each of the ultrasonic drive signal and the RF drive signal are selectively adjustable by the generator. ### Claim 19 A method of delivering energy to a surgical instrument of a surgical system having an ultrasonic blade and an RF electrode, the surgical system including (a) the surgical instrument, comprising: (i) a body, (ii) a shaft extending distally from the body, (iii) the ultrasonic transducer supported by the body, and (iv) an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises: (A) an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is operable to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, and (B) the RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy; (b) a generator operatively coupled with the surgical instrument, wherein the generator is operable to generate a combined drive signal having an ultrasonic energy component and an RF energy component; (c) an accessory device configured to operatively couple the surgical instrument and the generator, and (d) a signal filter arranged externally of the body of the surgical instrument, wherein the signal filter includes an ultrasonic output and an RF output and is operable to convert the combined drive signal to: (i) an ultrasonic drive signal configured to energize the ultrasonic transducer to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, wherein the ultrasonic output of the signal filter is configured to electrically connect to the ultrasonic transducer via the accessory device for communicating the ultrasonic drive signal from the ultrasonic output of the signal filter to the ultrasonic transducer, and (ii) an RF drive signal configured to energize the RF electrode with RF energy sufficient to seal tissue, wherein the RF output of the signal filter is configured to electrically connect to the RF electrode via the accessory device for communicating the RF drive signal from the RF output of the signal filter to the RF electrode, wherein at least a portion of the accessory device is configured to communicate each of the separated ultrasonic and RF electrode drive signals externally therefrom and respectively to the ultrasonic transducer and the RF electrode, the method comprising: (a) generating the combined drive signal with the generator, wherein the combined drive signal includes the ultrasonic energy component and the RF energy component; (b) receiving the combined drive signal with the accessory device that communicates with the generator and with the surgical instrument, wherein the accessory device includes signal filter; (c) filtering the combined drive signal with the signal filter to produce the ultrasonic drive signal and the separate RF drive signal; (d) transmitting, simultaneously, the ultrasonic drive signal and the RF drive signal from the accessory device to the surgical instrument so that: (i) the ultrasonic drive signal energizes the ultrasonic transducer to drive the ultrasonic blade with ultrasonic energy, and (ii) the RF drive signal energizes the RF electrode with RF energy sufficient to seal tissue. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the accessory device comprises at least one of a power cable or a cable adapter.