Abstract: An electrosurgical device may include a controller including an electrical generator, a surgical probe having a distal active electrode in electrical communication with an electrical source terminal of the electrical generator, and a return pad in electrical communication with an electrical return terminal of the electrical generator. The electrical generator may be configured to source an electrical current from the electrical source terminal, in which the electrical current combines characteristics of a therapeutic electrical signal and characteristics of an excitable tissue stimulating signal. The device may be configured to determine a distance from the electrode to an excitable tissue, based at least in part on an output signal generated by a sensing device in the pad. The device may also be configured to alter one or more characteristics of the therapeutic signal when the distance from the electrode to the tissue is less than a predetermined value.

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: 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: A method of determining an initial temperature of an ultrasonic blade may include measuring a resonant frequency of an ultrasonic blade prior to activating an ultrasonic transducer, in which the ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the blade via an ultrasonic waveguide, comparing the measured resonant frequency to a baseline resonant frequency, determining an initial temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on a difference between the measured resonant frequency and the baseline resonant frequency, and applying a power level to the blade based on the initial temperature of the blade. The method may further include applying a high power level to the transducer when the initial temperature of the ultrasonic blade is low or applying a low power level to the transducer when the initial temperature of the blade is high. The baseline resonant frequency may be stored in a memory look up table.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of limiting an ultrasonic blade temperature includes adjusting at least one power parameter of the ultrasonic energy in response to reaching a predetermined frequency parameter change threshold in the ultrasonic blade limiting the temperature of the ultrasonic blade to an upper temperature limit. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a jaw, and a controller. The jaw is movably positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade and configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and is configured to measure an ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade. The controller has a memory including a plurality of predetermined data correlations that correlate changes in measured ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade to a blade temperature of the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device may include a controller including an electrical generator, a surgical probe having a distal active electrode in electrical communication with an electrical source terminal of the electrical generator, and a return pad in electrical communication with an electrical return terminal of the electrical generator. The electrical generator may be configured to source an electrical current from the electrical source terminal, in which the electrical current combines characteristics of a therapeutic electrical signal and characteristics of an excitable tissue stimulating signal. The device may be configured to determine a distance from the electrode to an excitable tissue, based at least in part on an output signal generated by a sensing device in the pad. The device may also be configured to alter one or more characteristics of the therapeutic signal when the distance from the electrode to the tissue is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of determining instability of an ultrasonic blade includes monitoring a phase angle ? 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 ?, 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.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for determining the state of an end effector of an ultrasonic surgical instrument are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to measure a complex impedance of an ultrasonic electromechanical system including an ultrasonic blade and compare the measured complex impedance to reference complex impedance patterns that each correspond to a state of the end effector. Accordingly, the control circuit can further be configured to determine the state of the end effector according to which of the plurality of reference complex impedance patterns the measured complex impedance corresponds.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of sealing tissue includes interrogating the tissue with an electrical signal and adjusting an electrical parameter of at least one of the ultrasonic energy or the RF energy in response to the tissue feedback to inhibit transecting the tissue. The ultrasonic surgical instrument has an end effector, a shaft assembly, a body, and a power controller. The power controller is operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade and the RF electrode and configured to direct activation of the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode. The power controller is further configured to interrogate the tissue with the electrical signal via the ultrasonic blade or the RF electrode to provide a tissue feedback and adjust an electrical parameter of the ultrasonic energy or the RF energy in response to the tissue feedback to inhibit transecting the tissue.

Abstract: A generator, ultrasonic device, and method for controlling a temperature of an ultrasonic blade are disclosed. A control circuit coupled to a memory determines an actual resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade by an ultrasonic waveguide. The actual resonant frequency is correlated to an actual temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit retrieves from the memory a reference resonant frequency of the ultrasonic electromechanical system. The reference resonant frequency is correlated to a reference temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit then infers the temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on the difference between the actual resonant frequency and the reference resonant frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument and method of limiting an ultrasonic blade temperature includes adjusting at least one power parameter of the ultrasonic energy in response to reaching a predetermined frequency parameter change threshold in the ultrasonic blade limiting the temperature of the ultrasonic blade to an upper temperature limit. The ultrasonic surgical instrument further includes an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a jaw, and a controller. The jaw is movably positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade and configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The controller operatively connects to the ultrasonic blade and is configured to measure an ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade. The controller has a memory including a plurality of predetermined data correlations that correlate changes in measured ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic blade to a blade temperature of the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector that has an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm that is movable relative to the ultrasonic blade from an opened position toward a closed position. The ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm are able to receive tissue in the opened position, and the clamp arm is able to clamp tissue against the ultrasonic blade in the closed position. There is a first electrode connected with the clamp arm, and a second electrode associated with the ultrasonic blade. The electrodes are able to apply bipolar radiofrequency (RF) energy to tissue captured in the end effector. The instrument further has a first button for activating the ultrasonic blade to provide a cutting and sealing mode at the end effector. There is also a second button for activating the electrodes to provide a spot coagulation mode at the end effector.

Abstract: An ultrasonic electromechanical system for an ultrasonic electromechanical system may include an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm disposed opposite the ultrasonic blade, an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade, in which the ultrasonic transducer is configured to oscillate the ultrasonic blade in response to a drive signal, and a control circuit coupled to the ultrasonic transducer. The control circuit can be configured to determine a position of a tissue clamped between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm, and control an amount of power of the drive signal based at least in part on the position of the tissue.

Abstract: An ultrasonic electromechanical system for an ultrasonic surgical instrument may include an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm disposed opposite the ultrasonic blade, an ultrasonic transducer configured to oscillate the ultrasonic blade in response to a drive signal, and a control circuit coupled to the ultrasonic transducer. The control circuit can be configured to determine a temperature of the ultrasonic blade, increase an amount of power of the drive signal when the temperature of the ultrasonic blade is less than a first predetermined value, and decrease the amount of power of the drive signal when the temperature of the ultrasonic blade is greater than a second predetermined value. The second predetermined value may be greater than the first predetermined value. An ultrasonic generator connectable to the ultrasonic electromechanical system may include the control circuit.

Abstract: Various forms are directed to systems and methods for dissection and coagulation of tissue. A surgical instrument includes an end effector configured to dissect and seal tissue at a distal end thereof, and a generator that is electrically coupled to the surgical instrument and that is configured to deliver energy to the end effector. The surgical instrument includes an end effector configured to interact with a tissue at a distal end thereof, a generator electrically coupled to the surgical instrument and configured to deliver radio frequency (RF) energy and ultrasonic energy to the end effector to allow the end effector to interact with the tissue. The energy delivered to the end effector switches between RF energy and ultrasonic energy based on a determination of various factors such as tissue impedance.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured to grasp, seal, and/or cut tissue through application of therapeutic energy, and also detect nerves through application of non-therapeutic electrical energy. A medical device may include two jaws at an end effector, used to apply therapeutic energy and to perform surgical procedures. The therapeutic energy may be in the form of ultrasonic vibrations or higher voltage electrosurgical energy. One of the jaws may be configured to cut tissue through application of the blade. In addition, one or both of the two jaws may be configured to apply nontherapeutic energy for nerve stimulation probing. The application of therapeutic energy may be disabled while the nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy is applied, and vice versa. The nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy may be applied to the use of one or more probes positioned near one or both of the jaws.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a single surgical instrument configured to grasp, seal, and/or cut tissue through application of therapeutic energy, and also detect nerves through application of non-therapeutic electrical energy. A medical device may include two jaws at an end effector, used to apply therapeutic energy and to perform surgical procedures. The therapeutic energy may be in the form of ultrasonic vibrations or higher voltage electrosurgical energy. One of the jaws may be configured to cut tissue through application of the blade. In addition, one or both of the two jaws may be configured to apply nontherapeutic energy for nerve stimulation probing. The application of therapeutic energy may be disabled while the nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy is applied, and vice versa. The nontherapeutic nerve stimulation energy may be applied to the use of one or more probes positioned near one or both of the jaws.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for determining the state of an end effector of an ultrasonic surgical instrument are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to measure a complex impedance of an ultrasonic electromechanical system including an ultrasonic blade and compare the measured complex impedance to reference complex impedance patterns that each correspond to a state of the end effector. Accordingly, the control circuit can further be configured to determine the state of the end effector according to which of the plurality of reference complex impedance patterns the measured complex impedance corresponds.

Abstract: A generator, ultrasonic device, and method for controlling a temperature of an ultrasonic blade are disclosed. A control circuit coupled to a memory determines an actual resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade by an ultrasonic waveguide. The actual resonant frequency is correlated to an actual temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit retrieves from the memory a reference resonant frequency of the ultrasonic electromechanical system. The reference resonant frequency is correlated to a reference temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit then infers the temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on the difference between the actual resonant frequency and the reference resonant frequency.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device may include an ultrasonic system including a transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade, A method of delivering energy to the device may include sensing a vessel contacting the blade, identifying that the vessel is calcified, and generating a warning. In some aspects, the method further includes disabling one or more activation functions of the blade. In another aspect, the method further includes generating a message to apply compression to the vessel for a predetermined period, disabling activation functions of the blade during compression, and enabling activation functions after the expiration of the compression period. In yet another aspect, the method includes applying a compressive clamp force to the calcified vessel by driving a clamp arm toward the blade, disabling activation functions of the blade during compression, and enabling the activation functions after adjusting the compressive force. An ultrasonic surgical instrument may effect the method.