A61B2018/00827

EXPANDABLE CATHETER ASSEMBLY WITH FLEXIBLE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL PATHWAYS

Provided is a flex-PCB catheter device that is configured to be inserted into a body lumen. The flex-PCB catheter comprises an elongate shaft, an expandable assembly, a flexible printed circuit board (flex-PCB) substrate, a plurality of electronic components and a plurality of communication paths. The elongate shaft comprises a proximal end and a distal end. The expandable assembly is configured to transition from a radially compact state to a radially expanded state. The plurality of electronic elements are coupled to the flex-PCB substrate and are configured to receive and/or transmit an electric signal. The plurality of communication paths are positioned on and/or within the flex-PCB substrate. The communication paths selectively couple the plurality of electronic elements to a plurality of electrical contacts configured to electrically connect to an electronic module configured to process the electrical signal. The flex-PCB substrate can have multiple layers, including one or more metallic layers. Acoustic matching elements and conductive traces can be includes in the flex-PCB substrate.

Smart blade application for reusable and disposable devices

An ultrasonic device may include an electromechanical system defined by a resonant frequency and further include an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. The device may be composed of two or more components, one of which is reusable and one of which is disposable. A method of detecting a proper installation of the components may include determining a spectroscopy signature of the blade coupled to the transducer, comparing the signature to a reference signature, determining an installation state of the components based on the comparison, and controlling a delivery of power to the transducer based on the comparison. The method may include enabling an operation of the device when the installation state of components is proper. The method may further include disabling the device when the installation state is not proper and generating a warning. The warning may be visible, audible, or tactile.

High-voltage analog circuit pulser

A sub-microsecond pulsed electric field generator is disclosed. The field generator includes a controller, which generates a power supply control signal and generates a pulse generator control signal, and a power supply, which receives the power supply control signal and generates one or more power voltages based on the received power supply control signal. The field generator also includes a pulse generator which receives the power voltages and the pulse generator control signal, and generates one or more pulses based on the power voltages and based on the pulse generator control signal. In some embodiments, the controller receives feedback signals representing a value of a characteristic of or a result of the pulses and generates at least one of the power supply control signal and the pulse generator control signal based on the received feedback signals.

Surgical dissectors configured to apply mechanical and electrical energy

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a surgical dissector. The surgical dissector can apply mechanical and/or electrosurgical energy to treated tissue.

Surgical instrument utilizing drive signal to power secondary function

A surgical instrument connectable to a surgical energy module that is configured to provide a first drive signal at a first frequency range for driving a first energy modality and a second drive signal at a second frequency range for driving a second energy modality is provided. The surgical instrument can comprise a surgical instrument component configured to receive power from a direct current (DC) power source, an end effector, and a circuit. The circuit can be configured to convert the first electrical signal to a DC voltage, apply the DC voltage to the surgical instrument component, and deliver the second energy modality to the end effector according to the second drive signal. Alternatively, the circuit can be disposed within a cable assembly configured to connect the surgical instrument to the surgical energy module.

Electrosurgical system

An electrosurgical system is provided and includes a bipolar electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator. The bipolar electrosurgical instrument is arranged to seal and cut tissue captured between jaws of the bipolar electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical generator is arranged to supply RF energy through the bipolar electrosurgical instrument, monitor the supplied RF energy, and adjust or terminate the supplied RF energy to optimally seal the tissue.

Articulatable surgical instrument

A surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector that is articulatable relative to a proximal shaft segment of the surgical instrument. The surgical end effector is attached to the proximal shaft segment by an articulation joint that comprises a plurality of movably interconnected links that interface with a centrally disposed drive member to apply articulation motions thereto and which serve to provide improved lateral stability to the articulation joint.

Estimating a temperature during ablation

A method for use with an intra-body probe, a distal end of which includes an ablation electrode and a temperature sensor, is described. While (i) the ablation electrode is driving an ablating current into tissue of a subject, and (ii) fluid is passed from the distal end of the intra-body probe at a fluid-flow rate, a processor receives a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. The processor estimates a temperature of the tissue, based at least on the sensed temperature and at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of: the fluid-flow rate, and a parameter of the ablating current. The processor generates an output in response to the estimated temperature. Other embodiments are also described.

ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATOR HAVING AN EXTENDED MEASUREMENT RANGE

An electrosurgical generator for supplying power, including an inverter for high voltage, which is led to an output to the connector of an electrosurgical instrument, a measurement system with at least one measurement monitor for a physical parameter at the output or at the electrosurgical instrument, and an operation controller which controls the inverter on the basis of at least one predefined operating sequence. The measurement monitor for the physical parameter is switchable between a plurality of different configurations which differ in the measurement range. The operation controller interacts with the measurement system so one of the different configurations of the measurement monitor is switched in each case, under control by the operating sequence. By switching the configuration, the suitable measurement range is always set during operation. Apparently contrariwise requirements in relation to a reliable measurement even at high amplitudes are linked with great measurement accuracy even at low amplitudes.

Robotic surgical system with safety and cooperative sensing control

A system for controlling a robotic end-effector is disclosed. The system includes a robotic arm, a surgical tool including an end-effector with articulatable arm and a clamp jaw. A tool driver is coupled to the surgical tool and a motor is coupled to the tool driver and is configured to drive the surgical tool. A sensor is configured to sense external forces applied to the end-effector. A central control circuit is configured to control the tool driver. The central control circuit is configured to receive a sensed parameter from the sensor, receive a sensed motor current (I) from the motor, and control the tool driver based on the sensed parameter and the motor current (I).