Abstract: Disclosed is a modular energy system that comprises a first module, comprising a first panel, and a first connector attached to the first panel. A portion of the first connector extends past a first edge of the first panel. The modular energy system further comprises a second module, comprising a second panel, and a second connector attached to the second panel. The second connector is aligned with a second edge of the second panel, and the second connector defines a cavity. The second module is coupled to the first module, wherein the portion of the first connector that extends past the first edge of the first panel is positioned within the cavity defined by the second connector.

Abstract: A port module removably coupleable to an energy module of a module energy system is disclosed. The port module includes a light pipe and a receptacle defined by the light pipe. The receptacle is configured to receive a plug of an electrosurgical instrument therein. A seal is defined between the light pipe and the receptacle.

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 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 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: A first module configured to engage with a second module in a stacked configuration to define a modular energy system is provided. The first module comprises a first bridge connector portion and a second conductive portion. The first bridge connector portion is configured to engage with a second bridge connector portion of the second module as the first module and the second module are engaged. The first conductive portion is configured to engage with a second conductive portion of the second module as the first module and the second module are engaged, prior to engagement between the first bridge connector portion and the second bridge connector portion.

Abstract: A first module configured to engage with a second module in a stacked configuration to define a modular energy system is provided. The second module comprises a second bridge connector portion that comprises a second outer housing and a second electrical connection element. The first module comprises a first bridge connector portion comprising a first outer housing and a first electrical connection element. The first outer housing is configured to engage the second outer housing during assembly of the modular energy system prior to the first electrical connection element engaging the second electrical connection element.

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: Various aspects of a generator, ultrasonic device, and method for estimating and controlling a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device are disclsoed. 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 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.

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 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 method of ultrasonic sealing includes activating an ultrasonic blade temperature sensing, measuring a first resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system that includes a transducer coupled to the blade via a waveguide, making a first comparison between the measured first resonant frequency and a first predetermined resonant frequency, and adjusting a power level applied to the transducer based on the first comparison. The first predetermined frequency may correspond to an optimal tissue coagulation temperature. The method may further include measuring a second resonant frequency of the system, making a second comparison between the measured second frequency and a second predetermined frequency, and adjusting the power level based on the second comparison. The second predetermined frequency may correspond a melting point temperature of a clamp arm pad. An ultrasonic instrument and a generator may implement the method.

Abstract: A method of controlling the application of energy to a radio frequency (RF) instrument based on a surgical technique may include activating the instrument for a first period T1, during which time a portion of an end effector contacts a tissue, plotting at least two electrical parameters associated with the tissue to classify an amount of the end effector in contact with the tissue, applying a classification algorithm to classify the amount of the end effector in contact with the tissue, and applying an amount of energy to the end effector based on the amount of the end effector in contact with the tissue. The parameters may include a minimum impedance of the tissue and an amount of time that the impedance slope is ˜0. The end effector may contact the tissue with a tip end or with an entire surface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device may include an electromechanical ultrasonic system that includes an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A method of delivering energy to the ultrasonic device may include sensing a vessel type in contact with the blade, determining that the vessel type is either a vein or an artery, and delivering power to the transducer based on the vessel type. Power may be applied to the transducer at a power level P that differs from a nominal power level Pn for a period T that differs from a nominal period Tn based on the vessel. The power level P may be lower than Pn for a period T that is longer than Tn when the vessel is a vein. Alternatively, the power level P my be greater than Pn for a period T that is shorter than Tn when the vessel is an artery.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for determining the composition of tissue via an ultrasonic surgical instrument are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to monitor the change in resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system of the ultrasonic surgical instrument as the ultrasonic blade oscillates against a tissue and determine the composition of the tissue accordingly. In some aspects, the control circuit can be configured to modify the operation of the ultrasonic electromechanical system or other operational parameters of the ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the detected tissue composition.

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.