FREQUENCY AGILE GENERATOR FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

1 . A system comprising a generator and a surgical instrument, wherein

the generator is configured to deliver a combined signal comprising a radio frequency (RF) component and an ultrasonic component to the surgical instrument; and

the surgical instrument comprises:

an RF energy output,

an ultrasonic energy output,

a circuit configured to steer the RF component to the RF energy output and steer the ultrasonic component to the ultrasonic energy output,

wherein the generator is configured to adjust a frequency of the RF component based on a characterization of a circuit component of the circuit.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuit component comprises a band-stop filter.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the circuit further comprises a variable component.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characterization of the circuit component comprises sending a ping signal to the circuit component.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a result of the characterization is stored in the surgical instrument.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characterization is performed when the surgical instrument is manufactured.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characterization is performed when the surgical instrument is connected to the generator.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characterization is performed after the surgical instrument delivers energy to a tissue.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characterization is performed while the surgical instrument is delivering energy to a tissue.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the characterization is performed periodically.

11 . A method for providing a combined signal comprising a radio frequency (RF) component and an ultrasonic component by a generator to a surgical instrument, the surgical instrument comprising an RF energy output, an ultrasonic energy output and a circuit, the method comprising:

performing characterization on a circuit component of the circuit;

adjusting a frequency of the RF component based on a result of the characterization;

delivering, by the generator, the combined signal to the surgical instrument;

steering, by the circuit, the RF component to the RF energy output; and

steering, by the circuit, the ultrasonic component to the ultrasonic energy output.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the circuit component comprises a band-stop filter.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the circuit further comprises a variable component.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein performing characterization on the circuit component comprises sending a ping signal to the circuit component.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising storing a result of the characterization in the surgical instrument.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the characterization is performed when the surgical instrument is manufactured.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the characterization is performed when the surgical instrument is connected to the generator.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the characterization is performed after the surgical instrument delivers energy to a tissue.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the characterization is performed while the surgical instrument is delivering energy to a tissue.

20 . A generator for providing a combined signal comprising a radio frequency (RF) component and an ultrasonic component to a surgical instrument, the generator being configured to:

perform characterization on a circuit component of a circuit of the surgical instrument for steering the RF component to an RF output and steering the ultrasonic component to an ultrasonic output;

adjust a frequency of the RF component based on a result of the characterization; and

deliver the combined signal to the surgical instrument.