Control systems for ultrasonically powered surgical instruments
View Patent ↗In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for controlling a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an ultrasonic transducer, a blade extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer along a longitudinal axis, and a motor coupled to the ultrasonic transducer. The motor, when activated, may rotate the ultrasonic transducer and the blade about the longitudinal axis. A control system may receive an indication to operate the surgical instrument according to an ultrasonic-only mode. The control system may instruct the motor to rotate the blade to a park position, and activate the ultrasonic transducer to longitudinally vibrate the blade.
1. A surgical system, comprising:
a surgical instrument, comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer;
a blade extending distally from the ultrasonic transducer along a longitudinal axis;
a motor coupled to the ultrasonic transducer to rotate the ultrasonic transducer and the blade about the longitudinal axis; and
a sheath extending distally along the longitudinal axis, wherein the blade is rotatable by the motor about the longitudinal axis between an unexposed orientation within the sheath and an exposed orientation;
a power supply; and
a control module, wherein the control module is configured to:
receive an indication to operate the surgical instrument according to an ultrasonic-only mode;
instruct the motor to rotate the blade to a park position corresponding to the exposed orientation; and
activate the ultrasonic transducer to longitudinally vibrate the blade at the park position.
2. The surgical system of claim 1 , further comprising an ultrasonic generator and an enclosure, wherein the ultrasonic generator and the control module are positioned within the enclosure.
3. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the sheath defines a distally-positioned opening in a circumferential wall of the sheath exposing at least a portion of the blade.
4. The surgical system of claim 3 , wherein the blade has a concave side and a non-concave side, and wherein instructing the motor to rotate the blade to the park position comprises instructing the motor to rotate the blade to a position in which the non-concave side is exposed at the distally-positioned opening.
5. The surgical system of claim 3 , wherein the blade comprises a medicament passage extending proximally from a first end at a distal portion of the blade, wherein the control module is further configured to:
receive an indication to operate the surgical instrument according to an injection mode; and
instruct the motor to rotate the blade to a position in which the first end of the medicament passage is exposed at the distally-positioned opening.
6. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises a medicament passage extending proximally from a first end at a distal portion of the blade, and wherein the control module is further configured to:
receive an indication to operate the surgical instrument according to an injection mode; and
instruct a pump to inject medicament through the medicament passage.
7. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to:
receive an indication to operate the surgical instrument according to a rotation mode; and
instruct the motor to provide gross rotational motion to the ultrasonic transducer and the blade.
8. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to:
receive an indication to operate the surgical instrument according to a dual mode;
instruct the motor to provide gross rotational motion to the ultrasonic transducer; and
activate the ultrasonic transducer to longitudinally vibrate the blade.