Surgical instruments
An ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed including an ultrasonic blade, an ultrasonic transducer operably coupled to the ultrasonic blade, and a control circuit. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the ultrasonic blade based on a drive signal. The control circuit is configured to provide the drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer, monitor a vibration frequency of the drive signal, and modify the drive signal based on a change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
an ultrasonic blade;
an ultrasonic transducer operably coupled to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the ultrasonic blade based on a drive signal; and
a control circuit configured to:
provide the drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer;
monitor a vibration frequency of the drive signal; and
modify the drive signal based on a change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
2. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal comprises a reduction in a rate of decrease of the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
3. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal corresponds to an onset of tissue coagulation.
4. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal is a first change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal, wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect a second change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal after the first change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
5. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the second change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal comprises an increase in the rate of decrease of the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
6. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the second change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal corresponds to an onset of tissue desiccation.
7. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal comprises an increase in a rate of decrease of the vibration frequency of the drive signal, and wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal corresponds to an onset of tissue desiccation.
8. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein modifying the drive signal comprises changing a characteristic of the drive signal.
9. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the vibration frequency of the drive signal is based on a vibration frequency of the ultrasonic blade.
10. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer;
an end effector, comprising:
a clamp arm; and
an ultrasonic blade operably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the clamp arm is movable relative to the ultrasonic blade to capture tissue; and
a control circuit configured to:
provide a drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer to cause the ultrasonic transducer to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the ultrasonic blade;
monitor a vibration frequency of the drive signal; and
modify the drive signal based on a change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
11. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal comprises a reduction in a rate of decrease of the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
12. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal corresponds to an onset of tissue coagulation.
13. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal is a first change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal, wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect a second change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal after the first change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
14. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 13 , wherein the second change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal comprises an increase in the rate of decrease of the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
15. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the second change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal corresponds to an onset of tissue desiccation.
16. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal comprises an increase in a rate of decrease of the vibration frequency of the drive signal, and wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal corresponds to an onset of tissue desiccation.
17. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein modifying the drive signal comprises changing a characteristic of the drive signal.
18. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 10 , wherein the vibration frequency of the drive signal is based on a vibration frequency of the ultrasonic blade.
19. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer;
an ultrasonic blade operably coupled to the ultrasonic transducer;
means for providing a drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer to cause the ultrasonic transducer to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the ultrasonic blade;
means for monitoring a vibration frequency of the drive signal; and
means for modifying the drive signal based on a change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
20. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 19 , wherein the means for modifying the drive signal comprises changing a characteristic of the drive signal.
21. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
an ultrasonic transducer for use with an ultrasonic blade, wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the ultrasonic blade based on a drive signal; and
a control circuit configured to:
provide the drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer;
determine a vibration frequency of the drive signal; and
update the drive signal based on a change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
22. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 21 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal comprises a reduction in a rate of decrease of the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
23. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 22 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal corresponds to an onset of tissue coagulation.
24. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 23 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal is a first change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal, wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect a second change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal after the first change in the vibration frequency of the ultrasonic blade.
25. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 24 , wherein the second change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal comprises an increase in the rate of decrease of the vibration frequency of the drive signal.
26. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 25 , wherein the second change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal corresponds to an onset of tissue desiccation.
27. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 21 , wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal comprises an increase in a rate of decrease of the vibration frequency of the drive signal, and wherein the change in the vibration frequency of the drive signal corresponds to an onset of tissue desiccation.
28. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 21 , wherein updating the drive signal comprises changing a characteristic of the drive signal.
29. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 21 , wherein the vibration frequency of the drive signal is based on a vibration frequency of the ultrasonic blade.