Surgical instrument and method facilitating testing jaw force of the surgical instrument
A method of testing a jaw force of an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes securing a blade of an end effector of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, clamping a jaw member of the end effector against the blade such that a sensor is received within a notch of the jaw member of the end effector, and measuring the jaw force of the end effector using the sensor.
1. A method of testing a jaw force of an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the method comprising:
securing a blade of an end effector of the ultrasonic surgical instrument;
clamping a jaw member of the end effector against the blade such that a sensor is received within a notch of the jaw member of the end effector; and
measuring the jaw force of the end effector using the sensor.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining a distance of the sensor from a jaw pivot point of the end effector.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein securing the blade includes inserting the blade into a fixture configured to hold the blade in place.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a force sensor.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a load cell.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measured jaw force is the manufactured clamping force of the end effector.
7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising determining if the manufactured clamping force of the end effector is within a predetermined range.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the jaw member includes a support base and a jaw liner, wherein the notch is defined within the support base, and wherein the jaw liner is configured to clamp against the blade.
9. An ultrasonic system, comprising:
an ultrasonic surgical instrument having an end effector configured to treat tissue between a jaw member and a blade of the end effector;
a sensor configured for insertion into a notch of the jaw member for measurement of the jaw force of the end effector between the jaw member and the blade; and
a fixture configured to secure the blade of the end effector.
10. The ultrasonic system according to claim 9 , wherein the sensor is further configured to determine a distance from the sensor to a jaw pivot point of the end effector.
11. The ultrasonic system according to claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a force sensor.
12. The ultrasonic system according to claim 9 , wherein the sensor is a load cell.
13. The ultrasonic system according to claim 9 , wherein the measured jaw force is the manufactured clamping force of the end effector.
14. The ultrasonic system according to claim 1 , wherein the jaw member includes a support base and a jaw liner, wherein the notch is defined within the support base, and wherein the jaw liner is configured to clamp against the blade.