Patent classifications
A61B2018/1273
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.
Consolidated user interface for modular energy system
A modular energy system including a header module configured to removably connect to an energy module. The energy module can comprise a port configured to deliver one or more energy modalities to a surgical instrument connected thereto. The header module can comprise a display screen configured to display a user interface. The header module can further include a control circuit configured to detect attachment of energy modules to the modular energy system and control the display of the user interface to display UI portions for each connected module and reconfigure the displayed UI portions to accommodate the new UI portions as additional energy modules are connected to the modular energy system.
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.
Controlling activation of an ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the presence of tissue
Various systems and methods for selectively controlling the activation of an ultrasonic surgical instrument according to the presence of tissue within an end effector are disclosed. A control circuit can be configured to determine whether tissue is present within the end effector and permit activation of the ultrasonic transducer at a power level according to whether tissue is present within the end effector. In some aspects, the control circuit can be configured to automatically activate the ultrasonic transducer in response to tissue being detected within the end effector.
IDENTIFICATION OF ELECTROSURGICAL ATTACHMENTS USING COLOR INDICATORS
An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical attachment having a plug with an indicator. The system may also include an electrosurgical generator having a port configured to couple to the plug. The port may include a detection circuit having: a light emitting device configured to illuminate the indicator with a light and an optical module configured to measure the light reflected by the indicator and determine a color of the indicator. The system may also include a controller configured to identify a type of the electrosurgical attachment based on the color of the indicator.
METHOD FOR OPERATING SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS
A method for adjusting the operation of a surgical instrument using machine learning in a surgical suite is disclosed.
ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATOR
An electrosurgical generator comprising two HF generator units, two output transformers, and at least four output terminals for connecting electrosurgical instruments. Together with the associated output transformer and corresponding output terminals, each HF generator unit forms an HF generator module. The electrosurgical generator comprises a control unit connected to two HF generator modules and configured to provide the following operating modes: parallel mode in which two output transformers are connected in parallel so that an electrosurgical instrument can be operated with higher output current, series mode in which two output transformers are connected in series so that, via the output terminals, an electrosurgical instrument can be operated with higher output voltage, and multi-instrument mode in which output transformers are each connected independently to pair of output terminals for respectively one electrosurgical instrument in which output terminal of generator module is electrically connected to output terminal of respective other generator module.
Control Console And Accessories For RF Nerve Ablation And Methods Of Operating The Same
Electrosurgical systems and methods are provided for RF nerve ablation, wherein a control console has multiple RF amplifiers associated with multiple channels, and multiple DC power supplies each dedicated to a corresponding one of the RF amplifiers. Each of a plurality of power supply relays are coupled between one of the DC power supplies and the dedicated corresponding one of the RF amplifiers. A controller is configured to apply switching signals to control each of the power supply relays to selectively switch on and off connections between the DC power supplies and the dedicated corresponding RF amplifiers. The controller may apply control signals to each RF amplifier sequentially, one at a time, to deliver energy separately and independently to each of the corresponding channels. The controller may be configured to apply the switching signals to self-grounding relays to selectively switch on and off connections between the channels and return relays.
Control console and accessories for RF nerve ablation and methods of operating the same
Electrosurgical systems and methods are provided for RF nerve ablation, wherein a control console is utilized with a passive or active cable accessory connecting to different of electrode attachments, such as monopolar and bipolar self-grounding types. The control console has multiple RF amplifiers that are associated with multiple channels of the control console and that are energized according to control signals non-simultaneously applied by a controller of the control console. The control console stores and processes identification data and usage data relating to cable accessories and electrode attachments that are connected or have been connected to the control console over time. The control console displays a representation of this processed data on a graphical user interface. The control console further provides components and techniques for implementing stimulation and impedance verification/calibration for situations where the stimulation signals or impedance measurement signals are provided by the control console.
METHOD FOR ENERGY DISTRIBUTION IN A SURGICAL MODULAR ENERGY SYSTEM
A method of operating a modular surgical system including a control module, a first surgical module, and a second surgical module is disclosed. The method includes detachably connecting the first surgical module to the control module by stacking the first surgical module with the control module in a stack configuration, detachably connecting the second surgical module to the first surgical module by stacking the second surgical module with the control module and the first surgical module in the stack configuration, powering up the modular surgical system, and monitoring distribution of power from a power supply of the control module to the first surgical module and the second surgical module.