Granted Patent B2

US 12,708,427 · App. 17/734,496 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly (Cincinnati, OH); Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); David C. Yates (Morrow, OH); Jason L. Harris (Lebanon, OH); James M. Wilson (Cincinnati, OH)

Assignee: Cilag GmbH International

A61B18/1445A61B17/320068A61B17/320092A61B18/1206A61B2017/00017A61B2017/00022A61B2017/00199A61B2017/00504A61B2017/320073A61B2017/320094A61B2017/320095A61B2018/00619A61B2018/00636A61B2018/00642A61B2018/00678A61B2018/00702A61B2018/00875A61B2018/0088A61B2018/00994A61B2018/1253A61B2018/126A61B2018/1273A61B34/30A61B34/37A61B50/10A61B50/13A61B2050/185A61B2090/032A61B90/361A61B90/37A61B2090/376A61B2218/002A61B2218/008G16H40/63G16H40/67H04L67/10

Abstract

Claims (21)

1 . A surgical hub, comprising:

a control circuit, configured to:

transmit a first control signal to a surgical instrument to cause a force to be applied to a tissue by a clamp arm of the surgical instrument;

determine a focal point between the clamp arm and the tissue based on an electrical continuity feedback measurement obtained from the surgical instrument, wherein the focal point is defined as a point of contact between the clamp arm and the tissue;

detect a shift in the focal point; and

transmit a second control signal to the surgical instrument to vary the force applied by the clamp arm according to the detected shift in the focal point.

2 . The surgical hub of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the focal point based on a resonant frequency of an ultrasonic blade of the surgical instrument.

3 . The surgical hub of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect a proximal to distal shift in the focal point relative to the clamp arm.

4 . The surgical hub of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect a distal to proximal shift in the focal point relative to the clamp arm.

5 . A surgical system, comprising:

a surgical instrument comprising a clamp arm and an electrode, the electrode configured to apply energy to a tissue; and

a control circuit, configured to:

transmit a first control signal to the surgical instrument to cause the clamp arm to apply a force to the tissue;

determine a focal point between the clamp arm and the tissue based on an electrical continuity feedback measurement obtained from the electrode, wherein the focal point is defined as a point of contact between the clamp arm and the tissue;

monitor movement of the focal point; and

transmit a second control signal to the surgical instrument to vary the force applied by the clamp arm according to the monitored movement of the focal point.

6 . The surgical system of claim 5 , wherein the clamp arm comprises a tissue pad, and wherein the focal point is defined as a point of contact between the tissue pad and the tissue.

7 . The surgical system of claim 6 , wherein the tissue pad comprises axially spaced, proximally extending gripping teeth.

8 . The surgical system of claim 5 , wherein the surgical instrument comprises an ultrasonic blade, and wherein the focal point is determined based on a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic blade.

9 . The surgical system of claim 5 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect a proximal to distal shift in the focal point relative to the clamp arm.

10 . The surgical system of claim 5 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect a distal to proximal shift in the focal point relative to the clamp arm.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (16)

References Cited (400)