IP Library Granted Patent US 12,295,639
Granted Patent B2
US 12,295,639 · App. 18/647,890 · Granted May 13, 2025

Estimating state of ultrasonic end effector and control system therefor

Inventors: Cameron R. Nott (Fairfield, OH); Foster B. Stulen (Johns Island, SC); Fergus P. Quigley (Mason, OH); John E. Brady (Cincinnati, OH); Gregory A. Trees (Loveland, OH); Amrita Singh Sawhney (Pittsburgh, PA); Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz (Mason, OH); Patrick J. Scoggins (Loveland, OH); Kristen G. Denzinger (Cincinnati, OH); Craig N. Faller (Batavia, OH); Madeleine C. Jayme (Cincinnati, OH); Alexander R. Cuti (Pittsburgh, PA); Matthew S. Schneider (Blue Ash, OH); Chad P. Boudreaux (Cincinnati, OH); Brian D. Black (Loveland, OH); Maxwell T. Rockman (Cincinnati, OH); Gregory D. Bishop (Hamilton, OH); Frederick E. Shelton, IV (Hillsboro, OH); David C. Yates (Morrow, OH)
Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
A61B18/1206A61B8/4483A61B17/320068A61B17/320092A61B18/12A61B18/14A61B34/30A61B90/37G06F1/022A61B2017/00017A61B2017/00022A61B2017/00026A61B2017/0003A61B2017/00075A61B2017/00084A61B2017/00106A61B2017/00115A61B2017/00199A61B2017/00221A61B2017/00398A61B2017/00464A61B2017/07285A61B2018/00994A61B2090/064A61B2090/066A61B2090/0809A61B2090/0811A61B2217/005A61B2217/007
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,295,639
App. No.
18/647,890
Filed
Apr 26, 2024
Granted
May 13, 2025
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3794
USPC
606/33
Abstract

Various aspects of a generator, ultrasonic device, and method for estimating a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device are disclosed. The ultrasonic device includes an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency, including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. A control circuit measures a complex impedance of an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the complex impedance is defined as Z g (t)=V g (t)/I g (t). The control circuit receives a complex impedance measurement data point and compares the complex impedance measurement data point to a data point in a reference complex impedance characteristic pattern. The control circuit then classifies the complex impedance measurement data point based on a result of the comparison analysis and assigns a state or condition of the end effector based on the result of the comparison analysis.

Claims (54)

1. A surgical system comprising:

an ultrasonic device comprising a jaw clamp and an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency,

wherein the electromechanical ultrasonic system comprises an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade via an ultrasonic waveguide;

a surgical hub system comprising a communication circuit, wherein the surgical hub system is in communication with the ultrasonic device;

a generator configured to supply power to the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the generator comprises a control circuit to:

cause a drive circuit to apply a drive signal to the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the drive signal is defined by a magnitude and a frequency;

sweep the frequency of the drive signal from below the predetermined resonant frequency to above the predetermined resonant frequency;

measure and record impedance circle variables R e and X e , and admittance circle variables G e and B e ;

compare the measured impedance circle variables R e and X e and the measured admittance circle variables Ge and Be to reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref , respectively; and

determine a state or condition of an end effector of the ultrasonic device based on the result of the comparison.

2. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and the reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref are stored in a database of the ultrasonic device.

3. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and the reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref correspond to an open and unloaded jaw clamp.

4. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and the reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref correspond to the jaw clamp fully clamped on a moist chamois.

5. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and the reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref are accessible to the surgical hub system from a cloud-based memory storage unit.

6. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the drive signal is a periodic signal.

7. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

plot real resistance values R e and imaginary impedance values X e on a two-dimensional graph; and

fit the real resistance values R e and the imaginary impedance values X e to a circle having a radius and offset values.

8. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

plot real conductance values G e and imaginary susceptance values B e on a second two-dimensional graph; and

fit the real conductance values G e and the imaginary susceptance values B e to a second circle having a second radius and second offset values.

9. The surgical system of claim 1 , wherein the generator is disposed within a generator module of the surgical hub system.

10. A surgical system comprising:

a smart surgical device;

a surgical hub system comprising a communication circuit, wherein the surgical hub system is in communication with the smart surgical device;

a generator configured to supply power to the smart surgical device, wherein the generator comprises a control circuit to:

cause a drive circuit to apply a drive signal to the smart surgical device, wherein the drive signal is defined by a magnitude and a frequency;

sweep the frequency of the drive signal from below a predetermined resonant frequency of the smart surgical device to above the predetermined resonant frequency;

measure and record impedance circle variables R e and X e , and admittance circle variables G e and B e ;

compare the measured impedance circle variables R e and X e and the measured admittance circle variables G e and B e to reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref , respectively; and

determine a state or condition of an end effector of the smart surgical device based on the result of the comparison.

11. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and the reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref are stored in a database of the ultrasonic smart surgical device instrument.

12. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and the reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref are accessible to the surgical hub system from a cloud-based memory storage unit.

13. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the drive signal is a periodic signal.

14. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

plot real resistance values R e and imaginary impedance values X e on a two-dimensional graph; and

fit the real resistance values R e and the imaginary impedance values X e to a circle having a radius and offset values.

15. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

plot real conductance values G e and imaginary susceptance values B e on a second two-dimensional graph; and

fit the real conductance values G e and the imaginary susceptance values B e to a second circle having a second radius and second offset values.

16. The surgical system of claim 10 , wherein the generator is disposed within a generator module of the surgical hub system.

17. A method of controlling a surgical system comprising:

applying, by a control circuit, a drive signal to an ultrasonic transducer of an electromechanical ultrasonic system, wherein the drive signal is defined by a magnitude and a frequency;

sweeping, by the control circuit, the frequency of the drive signal from below a predetermined resonant frequency of the electromechanical ultrasonic system to above the predetermined resonant frequency of the electromechanical ultrasonic system;

measuring and recording, by the control circuit, impedance circle variables R e and X e , and admittance circle variables G e and B e ;

obtaining, by a surgical hub system comprising a communication circuit, reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref , from a cloud-based memory storage unit;

comparing, by the control circuit, the measured impedance circle variables R e and X e and the measured admittance circle variables G e and B e to the reference impedance circle variables R ref and X ref , and the reference admittance circle variables G ref and B ref , respectively; and

determining, by the control circuit, a state or condition of an end effector of the electromechanical ultrasonic system based on the result of the comparison.

18. The method of controlling the surgical system of claim 17 , further comprising:

plotting, by the control circuit, real resistance values R e and imaginary impedance values X e on a two-dimensional graph; and

fitting, by the control circuit, the real resistance values R e and the imaginary impedance values X e to a circle having a radius and offset values.

19. The method of controlling the surgical system of claim 17 , further comprising:

plotting, by the control circuit, real conductance values G e and imaginary susceptance values B e on a second two-dimensional graph; and

fitting, by the control circuit, the real conductance values G e and the imaginary susceptance values B e to a second circle having a second radius and second offset values.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2024
From: ROCKMAN, MAXWELL
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 067999/0766 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2024
From: NOTT, CAMERON R.; STULEN, FOSTER B.; QUIGLEY, FERGUS P.; BRADY, JOHN E.; TREES, GREGORY A.; SAWHNEY, AMRITA SINGH; RUIZ ORTIZ, RAFAEL J.; SCOGGINS, PATRICK J.; DENZINGER, KRISTEN G.; FALLER, CRAIG N.; JAYME, MADELEINE C.; CUTI, ALEXANDER R.; SCHNEIDER, MATTHEW S.; BOUDREAUX, CHAD P.; BLACK, BRIAN D.; BISHOP, GREGORY D.; SHELTON, FREDERICK E., IV; YATES, DAVID C.
To: ETHICON LLC
Reel/Frame 068384/0762 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2024
From: ETHICON LLC
To: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Reel/Frame 068419/0914 →
Continuity (20)
Continuation 17962901 · Oct 10, 2022
Continuation 16115214 · Aug 28, 2018
Provisional Application 62721999 · Aug 23, 2018
Provisional Application 62721994 · Aug 23, 2018
Provisional Application 62721995 · Aug 23, 2018
Provisional Application 62721996 · Aug 23, 2018
Provisional Application 62721998 · Aug 23, 2018
Provisional Application 62692747 · Jun 30, 2018
Provisional Application 62692748 · Jun 30, 2018
Provisional Application 62692768 · Jun 30, 2018
Provisional Application 62650882 · Mar 30, 2018
Provisional Application 62650887 · Mar 30, 2018
Provisional Application 62650877 · Mar 30, 2018
Provisional Application 62650898 · Mar 30, 2018
Provisional Application 62640415 · Mar 8, 2018
Provisional Application 62640417 · Mar 8, 2018
Provisional Application 62611339 · Dec 28, 2017
Provisional Application 62611341 · Dec 28, 2017
Provisional Application 62611340 · Dec 28, 2017
Related Publication 20240358428A1 · Oct 31, 2024
References Cited (122)
US 5042460A · Sakurai et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 7982776B2 · Dunki-Jacobs et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7995045B2 · Dunki-Jacobs · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8512365B2 · Wiener et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 9017326B2 · DiNardo et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9089360B2 · Messerly et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9095367B2 · Olson et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9241731B2 · Boudreaux et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9345481B2 · Hall et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9750523B2 · Tsubuku · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9757142B2 · Shimizu · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9788851B2 · Dannaher et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9808244B2 · Leimbach et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9808246B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10034704B2 · Asher et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10098527B2 · Weisenburgh, II et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10595887B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10610286B2 · Wiener et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10624691B2 · Wiener et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10677764B2 · Ross et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10687884B2 · Wiener et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10695081B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10743872B2 · Leimbach et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10755813B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10765470B2 · Yates et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10849697B2 · Yates et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10881399B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10892899B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10898256B2 · Yates et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10898622B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10912580B2 · Green et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10932772B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10932872B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10944728B2 · Wiener et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10966791B2 · Harris et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10987178B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11013563B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11026751B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11045591B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11051876B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11058498B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11069012B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11076921B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11100631B2 · Yates et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11114195B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11129669B2 · Stulen et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11132462B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11147607B2 · Yates et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11160605B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11166772B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11179175B2 · Houser et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11179208B2 · Yates et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11202570B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11213359B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11253315B2 · Yates et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11266468B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11284936B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11291495B2 · Yates et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11304720B2 · Kimball et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11304745B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11311306B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11317937B2 · Nott et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11364075B2 · Yates et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11376002B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11410259B2 · Harris et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11419630B2 · Yates et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11432885B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11464535B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11464559B2 · Nott et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11529187B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11540855B2 · Messerly et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11559308B2 · Yates et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11571234B2 · Nott et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11602393B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11607239B2 · Swensgard et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11612408B2 · Yates et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11666331B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11672605B2 · Messerly et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11678881B2 · Yates et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11678927B2 · Brady · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 11696760B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11771487B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11786245B2 · Shelton, IV · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11844545B2 · Scoggins et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11857152B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 11864728B2 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20020049551A1 · Friedman et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030130711A1 · Pearson et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20090036794A1 · Stubhaug et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090259221A1 · Tahara et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20110306840A1 · Allen et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20130331873A1 · Ross · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130331875A1 · Ross et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140081255A1 · Johnson et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140084949A1 · Smith · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140263552A1 · Hall et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150328474A1 · Flyash et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160278841A1 · Panescu et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20190069949A1 · Vrba et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190167296A1 · Tsubuku et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190200906A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190200987A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201021A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201039A1 · Widenhouse et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201042A1 · Nott et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201087A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201090A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201112A1 · Wiener et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201113A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201115A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201118A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201139A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201140A1 · Yates et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201142A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201146A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190205567A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190206555A1 · Morgan et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190206561A1 · Shelton, IV et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
CN 206097107U · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003061975A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
IEEE Std No. 177, “Standard Definitions and Methods of Measurement for Piezoelectric Vibrators,” published May 1966, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., New York, N.Y. [cited by applicant]
CRC Press, “The Measurement, Instrumentation and Sensors Handbook,” 1999, Section VII, Chapter 41, Peter O'Shea, “Phase Measurement,” pp. 1303-1321, ISBN 0-8493-2145-X. [cited by applicant]