Patent · US Active

Ultrasonic energy device which varies pressure applied by clamp arm to provide threshold control pressure at a cut progression location

US11419667B2 · kind B2 · utility

38Cited by
1,536References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 6, 2018
Grant dateAug 23, 2022
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 3, 2041

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L67/10
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Surgical instruments and system and methods for using surgical instruments are disclosed. A surgical instrument comprises an end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade and clamp arm, an ultrasonic transducer, and a control circuit. The ultrasonic transducer ultrasonically oscillates the ultrasonic blade in response to a drive signal from a generator. The end effector receives electrosurgical energy to weld tissue. The control circuit determines a resonant frequency measure indicative of a thermally induced change in resonant frequency and a electrical continuity measure; calculates a weld focal point based on the determined measures, controls closure of the clamp arm to vary a pressure applied by the clamp arm to provide a threshold control pressure to the tissue loaded into the end effector, and maintains a gap between the ultrasonic blade and clamp arm at a point proximal to the proximal end of the tissue. Pressure is varied based on corresponding weld focal point.

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