Modular battery powered handheld surgical instrument with selective application of energy based on button displacement, intensity, or local tissue characterization
A surgical instrument comprises a controller configured to control application of RF or ultrasonic energy at a low level when displacement or intensity of a button is above a first threshold but below a second threshold higher than the first threshold, and control application of RF or ultrasonic energy at a high level when the displacement or intensity exceeds the second threshold. In another aspect, a surgical instrument comprises a first sensor configured to measure a tissue characteristic at a first location, a second sensor configured to measure the tissue characteristic at a second location, and a controller configured to, based at least in part on the measured tissue characteristic at the first location and the second location, control application of RF or ultrasonic energy.
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
a shaft assembly comprising a shaft and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw configured for pivotal movement between a closed position and an open position;
a handle assembly coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, the handle assembly comprising a button configured to be displaced when pressed by a user;
a battery assembly coupled to the handle assembly;
a sensor configured to measure a displacement or intensity of the button;
a radio frequency (RF) energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply RF energy to a tissue;
an ultrasonic energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the tissue; and
a controller configured to:
control the RF energy output to apply RF energy or control the ultrasonic energy output to apply ultrasonic energy when the displacement or intensity measured by the sensor is above a first threshold but below a second threshold higher than the first threshold, and
control the RF energy output to apply RF energy and control the ultrasonic energy output to apply ultrasonic energy when the displacement or intensity measured by the sensor is above the second threshold.
2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a Hall sensor.
3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to be calibrated after the surgical instrument is manufactured, such that an output of the sensor is substantially proportional to the displacement or intensity of the button.
4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is configured to be calibrated if the output of the sensor reaches maximum when the displacement or intensity of the button has not reached maximum.
5. The surgical instrument of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is configured to be calibrated if the displacement or intensity of the button reaches maximum when the output of the sensor has not reached maximum.
6. A surgical instrument comprising:
a shaft assembly comprising a shaft and an end effector coupled to a distal end of the shaft, the end effector comprising a first jaw and a second jaw configured for pivotal movement between a closed position and an open position;
a handle assembly coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, the handle assembly comprising a button configured to be displaced when pressed by a user;
a battery assembly coupled to the handle assembly;
a sensor configured to measure a displacement or intensity of the button;
a radio frequency (RF) energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply RF energy to a tissue;
an ultrasonic energy output powered by the battery assembly and configured to apply ultrasonic energy to the tissue; and
a controller configured to:
control the RF energy output to apply RF energy or control the ultrasonic energy output to apply ultrasonic energy at a low level when the displacement or intensity measured by the sensor is above a first threshold but below a second threshold higher than the first threshold;
control the RF energy output to apply RF energy or control the ultrasonic energy output to apply ultrasonic energy at a high level when the displacement or intensity measured by the sensor is above the second threshold;
apply zero RF energy output and zero ultrasonic energy output when the displacement or intensity measured by the sensor is greater than zero but below the first threshold; and
control the RF energy output to apply RF energy or control the ultrasonic energy output to apply ultrasonic energy as a function of the displacement or intensity measured by the sensor according to a non-linear curve, such that a small change in the displacement or intensity results in a disproportionately large change in energy output within a first range of the non-linear curve, and a large change in the displacement or intensity results in a disproportionately small change in energy output within a second range of the non-linear curve.
7. The surgical instrument of claim 6 , wherein the first range occurs above the first threshold but below the second threshold, and the second range occurs above the second threshold.