SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEMS
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector comprising an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm. The clamp arm is movable relative to the ultrasonic blade to transition the end effector through different closure stages between an open configuration and a closed configuration to clamp tissue between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm. The surgical instrument further comprises a transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic energy output, a waveguide configured to transmit the ultrasonic energy output to the ultrasonic blade, and a sensor configured to transmit sensor signals indicative of the closure stages of the end effector. The surgical instrument further comprises a control circuit configured to receive the sensor signals and select an operational mode from operational modes delivering different ultrasonic energy outputs from the transducer based on the received sensor signals.
1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
an ultrasonic blade; and
a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade to transition the end effector through different closure stages between an open configuration and a closed configuration to clamp tissue between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm;
a transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic energy output;
a waveguide configured to transmit the ultrasonic energy output to the ultrasonic blade;
a sensor configured to transmit sensor signals indicative of the closure stages of the end effector; and
a control circuit configured to:
receive the sensor signals; and
select an operational mode from operational modes delivering different ultrasonic energy outputs from the transducer based on the received sensor signals.
2 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the operational modes comprise:
a low energy operational mode configured to cause tissue separation but not tissue coagulation; and
a high energy operational mode configured to cause the tissue coagulation.
3 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the closure stages comprise an initial closure stage spanning an initial portion of the clamp arm range of motion up to a predetermined threshold.
4 . The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the control circuit is configured to select a first operational mode delivering a first ultrasonic energy output in the initial closure stage.
5 . The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the control circuit is configured to switch to a second operational mode delivering a second ultrasonic energy output greater than the first ultrasonic energy output beyond the predetermined threshold.
6 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the selection between operational modes is further based on at least one situational parameter.
7 . The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the at least one situational parameter comprises type of the tissue.
8 . The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the at least one situational parameter comprises anatomical location of the tissue.
9 . The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the at least one situational parameter comprises composition of the tissue.
10 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein each of the closure stages is defined by a range of angular distances between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade.
11 . The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a drive member configured to motivate the clamp member to move through the closure stages, and wherein each of closure stages is defined by a range of positions of the drive member.
12 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
an end effector, comprising:
an ultrasonic blade; and
a clamp arm movable relative to the ultrasonic blade to transition the end effector through different closure stages between an open configuration and a closed configuration to clamp tissue between the ultrasonic blade and the clamp arm, wherein the closure stages comprise:
a first closure stage; and
a second closure stage after the first closure stage;
a transducer configured to generate an ultrasonic energy output;
a waveguide configured to transmit the ultrasonic energy output to the ultrasonic blade;
a sensor circuit configured to transmit a sensor signal indicative of detecting an initial contact of the clamp arm with the tissue; and
a control circuit configured to:
receive the sensor signal;
cause the transducer to generate a first ultrasonic energy output in response to receiving the sensor signal in the first closure stage; and
cause the transducer to generate a second ultrasonic energy output greater than the first ultrasonic output in response to receiving the sensor signal in the second closure stage.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the transducer to switch from the first ultrasonic energy output to the second ultrasonic energy output in response to a transition from the first closure stage to the second closure stage.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the first ultrasonic energy output is configured to cause tissue separation but not tissue coagulation, and wherein the second ultrasonic energy output is configured to cause the tissue coagulation.
15 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the first closure stage spans a first portion of the clamp arm range of motion up to a predetermined threshold.
16 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the second closure stage spans a second portion of the clamp arm range of motion beyond the predetermined threshold.
17 . The surgical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the transducer to switch from the first ultrasonic energy output to the second ultrasonic energy output in response to a transition of the clamp arm beyond the predetermined threshold.
18 . The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first ultrasonic energy output and the second ultrasonic energy output is further determined by at least one situational parameter.
19 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the at least one situational parameter comprises type of the tissue.
20 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the at least one situational parameter comprises anatomical location of the tissue.
21 . The surgical instrument of claim 18 , wherein the at least one situational parameter comprises composition of the tissue.