Ultrasonic surgical system having a fluid cooled blade and related cooling methods therefor

An ultrasonic surgical system, comprising:

• an ultrasonic surgical instrument adapted to operably couple to an ultrasonic generator, comprising:
• a housing having an elongated shaft;
• a waveguide disposed at a distal end of the shaft;
• a coolant inlet port defined in an outer surface of the housing;
• and
• a coolant pump disposed within the housing and configured to move coolant from the coolant inlet port to the waveguide;
• an ultrasonic generator adapted to operably couple to the ultrasonic instrument, comprising:
• an ultrasonic driver unit configured to provide ultrasonic energy to the waveguide;
• and;
• a coolant activation unit configured to provide a coolant activation signal to the coolant pump.

A method of cooling an ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

• insufflating a body cavity of a patient with insufflation media;
• introducing an ultrasonic surgical instrument into the insufflated body cavity;
• activating delivery of ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic surgical instrument;
• and
• moving the insufflation media through the ultrasonic surgical instrument to cool the ultrasonic surgical instrument.