Ultrasonic surgical apparatus and associated method

A surgical instrument assembly comprising:

• a surgical instrument including a handpiece and a probe or horn attached to said handpiece;
• a first source of ultrasonic vibratory energy operatively connected to said probe or horn;
• a second source of electrical current operatively connected to said instrument to deliver electrical current to organic tissues of a patient at a surgical site contacted by a distal end of said probe or horn;
• a third source of vacuum underpressure connected to said instrument to apply suction to said surgical site via said instrument;
• and
• a sensor of electrical potential disposable in contact with the patient at a desired distance from the surgical site,
• said sensor being operatively connected to at least one of said first source and said third source to automatically attenuate an output thereof in response to a detected potential of a predetermined magnitude.

A surgical method comprising:

• providing a surgical instrument including a handpiece and a probe or horn attached to said handpiece;
• placing a distal end or operative tip of said probe or horn in contact with organic tissues of a patient at an operative site;
• disposing a sensor on the patient at a distance from the surgical site;
• during the contacting of said organic tissues with said distal end or operative tip, vibrating said probe or horn at an ultrasonic frequency;
• during the contacting of said organic tissues with said distal end or operative tip and the vibrating of said probe or horn, conducting electrical current into the patient at least proximate the surgical site;
• during the contacting of said organic tissues with said distal end or operative tip and the vibrating of said probe or horn, applying suction to said surgical site via said instrument;
• during the contacting of said organic tissues with said distal end or operative tip and the vibrating of said probe or horn, operating said sensor to detect electrical potential;
• and
• attenuating at least one of the vibrating of said probe or horn and the degree of applied suction in response to a detected potential of a predetermined magnitude.

A surgical method comprising:

• providing a surgical instrument including a handpiece and a probe or horn attached to said handpiece;
• placing a distal end or operative tip of said probe or horn in contact with organic tissues of a patient at an operative site;
• disposing a sensor on the patient at a distance from the surgical site;
• during the contacting of said organic tissues with said distal end or operative tip, vibrating said probe or horn at an ultrasonic frequency;
• during the contacting of said organic tissues with said distal end or operative tip and the vibrating of said probe or horn, conducting electrical current into the patient at least proximate the surgical site;
• during the contacting of said organic tissues with said distal end or operative tip and the vibrating of said probe or horn, operating said sensor to detect electrical potential;
• and
• attenuating the vibrating of said probe or horn in response to a detected potential of a predetermined magnitude.