Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a shaft assembly and an end effector having an ultrasonic blade, a clamp arm, and a clamp pad. The clamp arm is pivotally coupled with the shaft assembly. The clamp pad is configured to removably couple with the clamp arm while the clamp arm is pivotally coupled to the shaft assembly. The clamp arm includes a mortise and a pair of support gussets. The clamp pad includes a tenon and a pair of resilient projections where the tenon engages the mortise of the clamp arm and the projections contact the support gussets of the clamp arm.

Abstract: Disclosed are ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices. The disclosed embodiments include a surgical instrument comprising a waveguide, and end effector and an electrical switch. The waveguide may comprise a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer and one output of a radio frequency (RF) generator. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm coupled. The ultrasonic blade may be mechanically coupled to the distal end of the waveguide and electrically coupled to the waveguide. The clamp arm may comprise a movable jaw member electrically coupled to another output of the RF generator such that an electrical current can pass through the movable jaw member and the ultrasonic blade through tissue located between the movable jaw member and the ultrasonic blade.

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: A surgical instrument comprising a waveguide, an end effector, and an electrical switch is disclosed. The waveguide comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer and one output of a radio frequency (RF) generator. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The ultrasonic blade is mechanically coupled to the distal end of the waveguide and electrically coupled to the waveguide. The clamp arm comprises a movable jaw member electrically coupled to another output of the RF generator. The electrical switch is operable to cause the surgical instrument to deliver electrical current from the RF generator to the movable jaw member for a first period, and to cause the surgical instrument to deliver ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade for a second period.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) instrument may include a method of classifying a tissue in live time. The method may include activating the instrument for a first period of time T1 when the RF instrument contacts the tissue, plotting at least three electrical parameters associated with the tissue to classify the tissue into distinct groups, and applying a classification algorithm to classify the tissue into a distinct group in live time. The parameters may include an initial impedance of the tissue, a minimum impedance of the tissue, and an amount of time that the impedance slope is ˜0. The instrument may collect the parameters during a predetermined amount of time, such as within the first 0.75 seconds of the activation of the device. The classification algorithm may include a support vector machine algorithm that may use a linear, polynomial, or radial basis set.

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 end effector of an instrument is positioned in a patient. An ultrasonic blade of the end effector is positioned against tissue in the patient. The ultrasonic blade is activated to vibrate ultrasonically while the ultrasonic blade is positioned against tissue. At least one electrode of the end effector is positioned against tissue in the patient. The at least one electrode is activated to apply RF electrosurgical energy to tissue against which the at least one electrode is positioned against tissue.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, and an end effector. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The body comprises a pivotal trigger. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue. Pivotal movement of the trigger causes movement of the clamp arm. The trigger includes a compliant feature configured to limit the amount of force delivered to tissue by the clamp arm. The flexible feature may comprise a flexible band, living hinge, a series of living hinges, or a flexible tab.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, and an end effector. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The body comprises a pivotal trigger. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue. Pivotal movement of the trigger causes movement of the clamp arm. The trigger includes a compliant feature configured to limit the amount of force delivered to tissue by the clamp arm. The flexible feature may comprise a flexible band, living hinge, a series of living hinges, or a flexible tab.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument includes a body and a shaft assembly extending distally from the body. The shaft assembly includes an acoustic waveguide. The instrument further includes an end effector including an ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is in acoustic communication with the acoustic waveguide. The instrument further includes a sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic of the shaft assembly and/or the end effector. The end effector is configured to be activated at varying power levels based on the at least one characteristic sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. One or both of the shaft assembly or the pivoting member comprise a guide feature. The guide feature is configured to provide lateral alignment of the distal portion of the pivoting member with the blade as the pivoting member is pivoted to the closed position.

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 selector switch having a plurality of surgical modes. A generator is electrically coupled to the surgical instrument and is configured to deliver energy to the end effector. Each surgical mode of the selector switch corresponds to an algorithm for controlling the power delivered from the generator to the end effector, and each algorithm corresponding to the plurality of surgical modes is configured to allow a user to control the power output level of the generator.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an ultrasonic blade, and a pivoting member. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The ultrasonic blade is positioned distal to the shaft assembly. The pivoting member is pivotable with respect to the blade from an open position to a closed position to thereby clamp tissue between the pivoting member and the blade. One or both of the shaft assembly or the pivoting member comprise a guide feature. The guide feature is configured to provide lateral alignment of the distal portion of the pivoting member with the blade as the pivoting member is pivoted to the closed position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical instrument having a housing, an end-effector, and a user interface. The end-effector includes a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer and to a pole of an electrical generator. The clamp arm includes a clamp jaw pivotally movable about a pivot point, an electrode defining a surface configured to contact tissue and apply electrical energy to the tissue in contact therewith and configured to couple to an opposite pole of the electrical generator. The user interface includes a first activation button switch to activate a first energy source and a second button switch to select an energy mode for the activation button switch.

Abstract: An end-effector is disclosed. The end-effector includes a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer and electrically couple to a pole of an electrical generator. The clamp arm includes a clamp jaw, a clamp arm pad, and a cantilever electrode that is free to deflect. The cantilever electrode is configured to electrically couple to an opposite pole of the electrical generator. Also disclosed are configurations where the clamp arm includes a peripheral cantilever electrode and a clamp arm pad extending beyond the electrode, a floating cantilever electrode and a resilient clamp arm pad, an interlocked cantilever electrode plate and a clamp arm pad configured to receive the plate, a laterally deflectable cantilever electrode and a clamp arm pad extending beyond the electrode, and a flexible cantilever electrode and a clamp arm pad extending beyond the electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a surgical instrument with an end-effector adapted and configured to deliver a plurality of energy modalities to tissue at a distal end thereof. The energy modalities may be applied simultaneously, independently, or sequentially. A generator is electrically coupled to the surgical instrument and is configured to supply a plurality of energy modalities to the end-effector. In one aspect, the generator is configured to supply electrosurgical energy (e.g., monopolar or bipolar radio frequency (RF) energy) and ultrasonic energy to the end-effector to allow the end-effector to interact with the tissue. The energy modalities may be supplied to the end-effector by a single generator or multiple generators.

Abstract: An end-effector is disclosed. The end-effector includes a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer and electrically couple to a pole of an electrical generator. The clamp arm includes a clamp jaw and an electrode configured to electrically couple to an opposite pole of the electrical generator. In one configuration, the electrode is segmented. In another configuration, the ultrasonic blade includes electrically insulative material deposited on selected areas to prevent electrical shorting in the event of the ultrasonic blade contacts the electrode. In another configuration, the clamp arm, the ultrasonic blade, or both include selectively coated components.

Abstract: An end-effector is disclosed including an ultrasonic blade configured to acoustically couple to an ultrasonic transducer and electrically couple to a pole of an electrical generator and a clamp arm including a clamp jaw and a cantilever electrode fixed to the clamp jaw. The cantilever electrode is configured to electrically couple to an opposite pole of the electrical generator. The clamp arm may include an I-beam shaped clamp arm pad and the cantilever electrode is disposed between the I-beam. The clamp jaw, the cantilever electrode, and the clamp arm pad may define recesses along a length coinciding with the ultrasonic blade. The clamp arm pad may be fixed to the clamp jaw and disposed between the clamp jaw and the cantilever electrode and may extend beyond the surface of the cantilever electrode. The clamp arm may include a stationary gap setting pad and movable floating gap setting pads.

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.