Impedance monitoring apparatus, system, and method for ultrasonic surgical instruments

US9017326B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Brian F. DiNardo · Cincinnati, US
• David C. Yates · Morrow, US
• Jeffrey D. Messerly · Cincinnati, US
• Eitan T. Wiener · Cincinnati, US
• David A. Witt · Maineville, US
• James R. Giordano · Milford, US
• Jeffrey L. Aldridge · Lebanon, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 15, 2009
• Grant date: Apr 28, 2015
• Expiry date: Jul 9, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2018/00875
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument comprises an ultrasonic generator module coupled to an ultrasonic drive system, which comprises an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a waveguide and an end effector coupled to the waveguide. The ultrasonic drive system is configured to resonate mechanically at a resonant frequency to generate a first ultrasonic drive signal. An electronic circuit is coupled to the ultrasonic generator module to monitor an electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic drive system. A processor is coupled to the electronic circuit to control the ultrasonic drive signal in response to the monitored electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic drive system.