Devices and techniques for cutting and coagulating tissue

US10022568B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jeffrey D. Messerly · Cincinnati, US
• Eitan T. Wiener · Cincinnati, US
• Brian T. Noyes · Mason, US
• Jeffrey L. Aldridge · Lebanon, US
• James R. Giordano · Milford, US
• Robert J. Beetel · Sunnyvale, US
• Daniel J. Abbott · Loveland, US
• Foster B. Stulen · Mason, US
• Matthew C. Miller · Cincinnati, US
• Aaron C. Voegele · Loveland, US
• Jeffrey P. Wiley · Cincinnati, US
• Nathan J. Price · Dunlap, US
• Daniel W. Price · Loveland, US
• Robert L. Koch, Jr. · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 27, 2015
• Grant date: Jul 17, 2018
• Expiry date: Jun 17, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B06B2201/76
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to a method of driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. In accordance with the method, a generator is configured to generate at least one time varying electrical signal having a resonant frequency, monitor the resonant frequency of the at least one electrical signal, calculate a frequency slope between frequency data points of the time varying electrical signal, where the frequency slope is the change in resonant frequency over time, compare the frequency slope to a threshold frequency slope, and trigger a first response of the generator when the frequency slope crosses the threshold frequency slope.