Patent · US Active

Smart blade technology to control blade instability

US11344326B2 · kind B2 · utility

39Cited by
1,522References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 27, 2018
Grant dateMay 31, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 16, 2041

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2218/008
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of determining instability of an ultrasonic blade includes monitoring a phase angle φ between voltage Vg(t) and current Ig(t) signals applied to an ultrasonic transducer, coupled to an ultrasonic blade via an ultrasonic waveguide, inferring the blade temperature based on the phase angle φ, comparing the inferred temperature to an ultrasonic blade instability trigger point threshold, and adjusting a power level applied to the ultrasonic transducer to modulate the temperature of the blade. The method may also include determining a frequency/temperature relationship of an ultrasonic blade that exhibits a displacement or modal instability and compensating for a thermal induced instability of the ultrasonic blade. The method may be implemented in an ultrasonic surgical instrument or by a control circuit in a power generator for the ultrasonic surgical instrument.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.