IP Library Granted Patent US 8,569,925
Granted Patent B2
US 8,569,925 · App. 13/784,257 · Granted Oct 29, 2013

Low energy or minimum disturbance method for measuring frequency response functions of ultrasonic surgical devices in determining optimum operating point

Inventor: James A. Gilbert (Boulder, CO)
Assignee: Covidien LP
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,569,925
App. No.
13/784,257
Granted
Oct 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for measuring frequency response is provided that includes supplying ultrasonic energy to an ultrasonic device configured to impart energy to tissue, providing a drive signal and a noise signal, combining the drive signal and the noise signal to create a combined signal, amplifying the combined signal and providing the amplified signal to the ultrasonic device, receiving an output signal from the ultrasonic device and the noise signal, calculating a transfer function estimate based on the output signal and the noise signal, adjusting the drive signal generator based on the calculated transfer function estimate, and determining a phase difference by time aligning the noise signal in the output signal with the noise signal provided.

Claims (27)

1. A method for measuring frequency response, comprising:

supplying ultrasonic energy to an ultrasonic device configured to impart energy to tissue;

providing a drive signal;

providing a noise signal, wherein the noise signal is a pseudo random noise sequence;

combining the drive signal and the noise signal to create a combined signal; and

amplifying the combined signal and providing the amplified signal to the ultrasonic device.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving an output signal from the ultrasonic device and the noise signal;

calculating a transfer function estimate based on the output signal and the noise signal; and

adjusting the drive signal generator based on the calculated transfer function estimate.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining a phase difference by time aligning the noise signal in the output signal with the noise signal provided.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the noise signal is pink noise.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the noise signal is a narrowband white noise.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the combined signal is amplified by an amplifier having a gain.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the gain is preset by a manufacturer.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the gain is user selectable.

9. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the transfer function estimate is calculated by a Fast Fourier Transform of the output signal and the noise signal.

10. A method for supplying power to an ultrasonic device, comprising:

providing a drive signal;

amplifying the drive signal;

providing a noise signal;

providing an output of a resonance circuit to the ultrasonic device;

receiving an output signal of the ultrasonic device and the noise signal;

calculating a transfer function estimate based on the output signal of the ultrasonic device and the noise signal;

adjusting the drive signal based on the calculated transfer function estimate.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the resonance circuit is an LC circuit.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the drive signal is amplified by a Class D amplifier.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2013
From: GILBERT, JAMES A.
To: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
Reel/Frame 029917/0258 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 4, 2013
From: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
To: COVIDIEN LP
Reel/Frame 029919/0484 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 13400350 · Feb 20, 2012
Continuation 12561067 · Sep 16, 2009
Related Publication 20130178883A1 · Jul 11, 2013