Surgical system with user adaptable techniques based on tissue impedance
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Yates, Kristen G. Denzinger, Kevin L. Houser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for treating tissue includes applying an energy modality to tissue at an amplitude, measuring tissue impedance of the tissue, modulating application of the energy modality based on the measured tissue impedance, and ceasing application of the energy modality when a termination parameter is met.
Claims21
A method for treating tissue comprising:
- delivering, by a drive circuit, an energy signal to a surgical instrument at an amplitude;
- measuring, by a processor, tissue impedance of tissue engaged with the surgical instrument;
- modulating, by the processor, delivery of the energy signal based on the measured tissue impedance;
- and
- ceasing delivery of the energy signal when a termination parameter is met.
A surgical instrument for coagulating and dissecting tissue, the surgical instrument comprising:
- a processor;
- an end effector at a distal end of the surgical instrument, the end effector configured to interact with tissue, the end effector comprising:
- a clamp arm comprising an electrode;
- an ultrasonic blade;
- an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade and configured to receive a drive signal from a generator to cause ultrasonic motion of the ultrasonic blade and deliver ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade;
- wherein the processor is configured to:
- control delivery of RF energy to the electrode at an amplitude or ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade at an amplitude;
- measure tissue impedance of tissue engaged with the surgical instrument;
- modulate delivery of the RF energy or delivery of the ultrasonic energy based on the measured tissue impedance;
- and
- cease delivery of the RF energy or delivery of the ultrasonic energy when a termination parameter is met.
A generator for delivering energy to a surgical instrument for coagulating and dissecting tissue, the surgical instrument comprising an end effector at a distal end thereof, the end effector configured to interact with tissue, the end effector comprising a clamp arm, an ultrasonic blade, an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade and configured to receive a drive signal from the generator to cause ultrasonic motion of the ultrasonic blade and deliver ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade, the generator comprising:
- a first drive circuit configured to deliver a drive signal to an ultrasonic transducer;
- a second drive circuit configured to deliver radio frequency (RF) energy to the electrode;
- and
- a processor configured to control the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit, and wherein the processor is configured to:
- control the second drive circuit to deliver RF energy to the electrode at an amplitude or the first drive circuit to deliver ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade at an amplitude;
- measure tissue impedance of tissue engaged with the surgical instrument;
- control the second drive circuit to modulate delivery of the RF energy or the first drive circuit to delivery of the ultrasonic energy based on the measured tissue impedance;
- and
- control the second drive circuit to cease delivery of the RF energy or the first drive circuit to cease delivery of the ultrasonic energy when a termination parameter is met.
21-40. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.