Abstract: Various aspects of a generator, ultrasonic device, and method for estimating a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device are disclosed. The ultrasonic device includes an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency, including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A control circuit measures a complex impedance of an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the complex impedance is defined as Z g ? ( t ) = V g ? ( t ) I g ? ( t ) . The control circuit receives a complex impedance measurement data point and compares the complex impedance measurement data point to a data point in a reference complex impedance characteristic pattern. The control circuit then classifies the complex impedance measurement data point based on a result of the comparison analysis and assigns a state or condition of the end effector based on the result of the comparison analysis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a housing, an ultrasonic transducer support by the housing, and an integrated usage indicator. The housing is configured to removably connect to a shaft assembly. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to be acoustically connected to a waveguide and operated a predetermined number of use cycles. The integrated usage indicator is operatively connected to the housing and includes a used state indicator. The used state indicator is configured to indicate to a clinician in a used state when the ultrasonic transducer has been operated at least the predetermined number of use cycles for limiting usage of the ultrasonic transducer to the predetermined number of use cycles.

Abstract: Various aspects of a generator, ultrasonic device, and method for estimating and controlling a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device are disclosed. The ultrasonic device includes an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency, including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A control circuit measures a complex impedance of an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the complex impedance is defined as Z g ? ( t ) = V g ? ( t ) I g ? ( t ) . The control circuit receives a complex impedance measurement data point and compares the complex impedance measurement data point to a data point in a reference complex impedance characteristic pattern. The control circuit then classifies the complex impedance measurement data point based on a result of the comparison analysis and assigns a state or condition of the end effector based on the result of the comparison analysis.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, and an axial location feature. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm that can move between an open and closed position. The shaft assembly includes a proximal shaft portion, an acoustic waveguide extending proximally from the ultrasonic blade, a distal shaft portion extending along a distal axis, and an articulation section interposed between the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion. The articulation section can deflect the distal shaft portion and the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis between a non-deflected position and a deflected position. The axial location feature can inhibit the ultrasonic blade from shifting relative to the clamp arm along the distal axis as the end effector is driven between the non-deflected position and the deflected position.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device may include an electromechanical ultrasonic system having a resonant frequency, the system including a transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A method of driving the blade may include determining a tissue type contacting the blade, setting current delivered to the transducer to achieve a desired blade temperature, and setting a desired period during which the desired temperature is applied to the tissue. The tissue type may be determined by measuring an impedance of the transducer, comparing an impedance measurement data point to a reference data point, and classifying the impedance measurement data point based on a result of the comparison. Alternatively, the tissue type may be determined by applying a drive signal to the transducer, sweeping the frequency of the drive signal from below to above a resonance of the ultrasonic system, measuring and recording impedance/admittance variables, and comparing the measured variables to reference variables.

Abstract: An instrument includes an ultrasonic blade, a first fluid port, an irrigation member, a second fluid port, and a fluid communication assembly. The ultrasonic blade defines a distal opening. The ultrasonic blade is operable in a first mode to emulsify tissue that is distally positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is further operable in a second mode to transect and seal tissue that is transversely positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The first fluid port is in communication with the distal opening of the ultrasonic blade. The irrigation member is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the ultrasonic blade. The second fluid port is in communication with the irrigation member. The fluid communication assembly is configured to couple the first fluid port with a fluid source, couple the first fluid port with a suction source, and couple the second fluid port with the fluid source.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector having a clamp arm pivotable relative to an ultrasonic blade, an articulation section configured to deflect the end effector, an acoustic waveguide having a distal portion extending along an axis, a clamp arm closure assembly comprising a body configured to actuate in order to drive the pivoting of the clamp arm, and a clamp arm clocking assembly. The clamp arm clocking assembly is capable of driving rotation of the clamp arm about the axis relative to the ultrasonic blade between a first clocked position and a second clocked position. The clamp arm clocking assembly includes a rotating body pivotally coupled with the clamp arm, a translating drive extending through the articulation section, and a rotation driver assembly. The rotation driver is in communication with the translating driver in order to convert translational motion of the translating driver into rotational motion of the rotating body.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an ultrasonic medical device is presented. The method includes machining a surgical tool from a flat metal stock, contacting a face of a first transducer with a first face of the surgical tool, and contacting a face of a second transducer with an opposing face of the surgical tool opposite the first transducer. The first and second transducers are configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the longitudinal portion of the surgical tool. Upon activation, the first transducer and the second transducer are configured to induce a standing wave in the surgical tool and the induced standing wave comprises a node at a node location in the surgical tool and an antinode at an antinode location in the surgical tool.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument that can be used in a robotic surgical system includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm pivotally secured relative to the ultrasonic blade for clamping a tissue therebetween. A shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector and includes a tube, an acoustic waveguide received within the tube, and a sheath positioned between the acoustic waveguide and the tube to damp acoustic vibrations from the acoustic waveguide toward the tube. At least one sensor is positioned on at least one of the end effector or the sheath to measure a force applied at the end effector or the sheath as a measured force, respectively, and thereby provide real-time feedback of a clamping force applied between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly having a proximal shaft portion extending along a longitudinal axis and having an articulation section extending distally therefrom. The instrument also includes a waveguide including a flexible portion which extends at least partially through the articulation section. The instrument further includes an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade acoustically coupled with the waveguide and configured to be driven by the waveguide with ultrasonic energy. The articulation section is configured to selectively deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis and through a first plane. The articulation section is further configured to selectively deflect the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis and through a second plane. The second plane is different from the first plane for multiplanar deflection of the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, a carrier, and a support structure. Shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector. The shaft assembly defines a longitudinal axis. The carrier is configured to translate the end effector along the longitudinal axis. The carrier includes a carriage, an actuation driver, and an actuation assembly. The actuation driver is configured to rotate along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis. The actuation assembly is operatively coupled with the actuation driver and the carriage. The support structure includes a supporting portion. The supporting portion is configured to reduce torsional forces exerted on the carriage as the actuation assembly transfers the rotation of the actuation driver into translation of a portion of the shaft assembly to actuate the end effector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an end effector including an ultrasonic blade, an ultrasonic waveguide, an ultrasonic transducer assembly, and a carrier. The acoustic waveguide includes at least a proximal portion thereof extending along a longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a fixation member and is operatively connected to the acoustic waveguide such that the acoustic waveguide is in acoustic communication with an ultrasonic transducer. The carrier has at least a portion thereof engaged with the fixation member of the ultrasonic transducer assembly thereby inhibiting movement of the ultrasonic transducer assembly relative to the carrier. The carrier movably supports the ultrasonic transducer assembly along the longitudinal axis such that the ultrasonic transducer assembly is configured to move from a proximal position on the longitudinal axis to a distal position on the longitudinal axis for inserting the ultrasonic blade into a patient.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument that can be used in a robotic surgical system includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm pivotally secured relative to the ultrasonic blade. A shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector and includes a tube, an acoustic waveguide received within the tube, and a sheath positioned between the acoustic waveguide and the tube to damp acoustic vibrations from the acoustic waveguide toward the tube. At least one sensor is positioned on at least one of the end effector or the sheath to measure a force applied at the end effector or the sheath as a measured force, respectively, and thereby provide real-time feedback of a non-clamping force applied against one of the ultrasonic blade or the clamp arm.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument including an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a shaft assembly that defines a longitudinal axis proximally extending from the end effector and an ultrasonic transducer assembly proximally extending from an acoustic waveguide in communication with the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic surgical instrument also includes a housing proximally projecting from the shaft assembly such that the ultrasonic transducer assembly is positioned within the housing and a carrier moveably supports the ultrasonic transducer assembly along the longitudinal axis. The carrier collectively moves the ultrasonic transducer assembly, the acoustic waveguide, and the end effector relative to the housing from a proximal, retracted position to a distal, extended position, for inserting the ultrasonic blade into a patient.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, an ultrasonic transducer assembly, and a shaft assembly the shaft assembly includes a tube, an acoustic waveguide, and a sheath radially positioned between the acoustic waveguide and the tube. The acoustic waveguide is received within the tube and is acoustically connected between the ultrasonic blade and ultrasonic transducer assembly to communicate ultrasonic vibrations from the ultrasonic transducer assembly to the ultrasonic blade. The acoustic waveguide extends along a longitudinal axis. The sheath includes a sheath body having an outer body surface and a plurality of damping rings radially extending from the outer body surface and engaged with the tube. The plurality of damping rings are configured to acoustically isolate the acoustic waveguide from the tube.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, an ultrasonic transducer assembly, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes a tube, and an waveguide. The waveguide is received within the tube and is acoustically connected between the ultrasonic blade and ultrasonic transducer assembly to communicate ultrasonic vibrations from the ultrasonic transducer assembly to the ultrasonic blade. The waveguide includes an acoustic body, a first isolation structure, a second isolation structure and a sheath. The acoustic body extends along a longitudinal axis. The first isolation structure radially extends about the acoustic body. The second isolation structure radially extends about the acoustic body and is longitudinally spaced from the first isolation structure. The sheath is radially positioned between the first isolation structure and the tube and is further radially positioned between the second isolation structure.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, and a clamp arm driver. The shaft assembly includes a shaft portion extending along a first longitudinal axis, an articulation assembly, a distal shaft portion, and an ultrasonic waveguide extending through the proximal shaft portion, the articulation assembly, and the distal shaft portion. The articulation section is configured to deflect the end effector toward and away from the first longitudinal axis between a straight and articulated configuration. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade defining a second longitudinal axis and a clamp arm configured to move between an open and closed configuration in order to grasp tissue. The clamp arm drive is configured to rotate the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade about the second longitudinal axis and actuate the clamp arm between the open and closed configuration while the end effector is in the articulated configuration.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, an actuation driver, and an actuation assembly. The end effector includes first and second jaws. At least one of the first and second jaws is configured to move relative to the other of the first and second jaws to compress tissue therebetween. The shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector. The shaft assembly includes a closure member extending along a longitudinal axis. The actuation driver is configured to configured to receive a motor output from a motor. The actuation assembly is operatively coupled with the actuation driver and the closure member. The actuation assembly includes a translating member configured to translate together with the closure member along the longitudinal axis a predetermined distance using the actuation driver such that the closure member applies a predetermined closure force to the first and second jaws corresponding to the predetermined distance.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an end effector with an ultrasonic blade, an acoustic waveguide, an ultrasonic transducer assembly, and a carrier. At least a proximal portion of the acoustic waveguide extends along a longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic transducer assembly is operatively coupled with the acoustic waveguide. The carrier is configured to translate the end effector. The carrier includes a carriage and a translation driver. The carriage movably supports the ultrasonic transducer assembly along the longitudinal axis. The translation driver is configured to translate the carriage and the ultrasonic transducer assembly along the longitudinal axis so that the ultrasonic transducer assembly moves from a proximal position along the longitudinal axis to a distal position along the longitudinal axis for inserting the ultrasonic blade into a patient.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes an end effector, a shaft assembly, and a waveguide grounding feature. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm movable between an open position and a closed position. The shaft assembly includes a proximal shaft portion extending along a longitudinal axis, an acoustic waveguide extending proximally from the ultrasonic blade, a distal shaft portion extending along a distal axis, and an articulation section interposed between the proximal shaft portion and the distal shaft portion. The articulation section can deflect the distal shaft portion and the end effector relative to the longitudinal axis between a straight configuration and an articulated configuration. The waveguide grounding feature inhibits the ultrasonic blade from shifting relative to the clamp arm along the distal axis as the end effector is driven between the straight configuration and the articulated configuration.