US6679899B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for detecting transverse vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece
Assignee: Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
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Filing: 2001-09-14
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Granted: 2004-01-20
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Expires: 2021-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A method for detecting transverse mode vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece/blade is achieved by monitoring the power delivered to the hand piece/blade to determine whether it increases as expected when power levels applied to the hand piece/blade are changed. While the blade is being held in midair, the power delivered to the hand piece/blade and/or the impedance of the hand piece/blade is measured at a first power level. Using the value obtained at the first power level, the expected power at a second power level is calculated and used to set a pass/fail threshold level for an actual measured power. Alternatively, the threshold is set for the impedance is set. Next, the actual power delivered to the hand piece/blade and/or the impedance of the hand piece/blade is measured at a level 5 power setting. A determination is made whether the hand piece/blade exhibits transverse mode behavior based on whether the actual measured power exceeds the established pass/fail threshold level. If this is the case, operation of the generator is inhibited, a “Transverse Mode Vibrations Present in Hand Piece/Blade” error code is stored in the generator, and a “Bad Hand Piece” message is displayed on a liquid crystal display on the generator. In addition, a method for detecting transverse mode vibration in an ultrasonic hand piece/blade is achieved by monitoring power delivered to the hand piece/blade to determine if the an extraordinary power increase occurs as the drive frequency is shifted downward and/or upward from a primary intended resonance operating frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 Eitan T. Wiener
- 👤 William T. Donofrio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/0003; A61B2017/00115; A61B2017/00119; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/320069; A61B2017/320071; A61B2017/320089
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for detecting transverse vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece, comprising the steps of: applying a drive signal to an ultrasonic hand piece using an ultrasonic generator; measuring an electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece/blade at a first electrical characteristic level while the hand piece/blade is held in midair; calculating an expected electrical characteristic using the first electrical characteristic level; setting a pass/fail threshold level for an actual measured electrical characteristic based on the expected electrical characteristic; measuring the actual electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece/blade; comparing the measured actual electrical characteristic to the pass/fail threshold; if the measured actual electrical characteristic is less than the pass/fail threshold, displaying a first message on a liquid crystal display of the generator; and if the measured actual electrical characteristic is greater than the pass/fail threshold, displaying a second message on a liquid crystal display of the generator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for detecting transverse vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece, comprising the steps of: applying a drive signal to an ultrasonic hand piece using an ultrasonic generator; measuring an electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece/blade at a first electrical characteristic level while the hand piece/blade is held in midair; calculating an expected electrical characteristic using the first electrical characteristic level; setting a pass/fail threshold level for an actual measured electrical characteristic based on the expected electrical characteristic; measuring the actual electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece/blade; comparing the measured actual electrical characteristic to the pass/fail threshold; if the measured actual electrical characteristic is less than the pass/fail threshold, displaying a first message on a liquid crystal display of the generator; and if the measured actual electrical characteristic is greater than the pass/fail threshold, displaying a second message on a liquid crystal display of the generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message is a “Hand Piece/Blade Passed” message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical characteristic level is a power level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein said calculating step comprises the step of: calculating the expected electrical characteristic for a level five setting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the electrical characteristic is power.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the level 5 setting is approximately 425 ma RMS.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the power level is approximately 100 ma RMS.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of displaying a second message comprises the step of: storing a “Transverse Mode Vibrations Present in Hand Piece/Blade” error code in the generator; and displaying a “Bad Hand Piece” message on the liquid crystal display of the generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the drive signal has a frequency of approximately 20 Khz to 70 KHz.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the pass/fail threshold is approximately 10 percent of the expected electrical characteristic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the electrical characteristic is power.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for detecting transverse vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece, comprising the steps of: sweeping a drive signal having a voltage and current applied to an ultrasonic hand piece/blade using an ultrasonic generator; monitoring and storing parameters applied to the hand piece/blade in non-volatile memory located in the ultrasonic generator; calculating an electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece based on the stored voltages and stored currents; generating response curves based on the stored parameters; performing an extrapolation using the response curve to determine whether the hand piece/blade exhibits transverse modes; if the hand piece/blade exhibits transverse modes, displaying a message on a liquid crystal display of the generator.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for detecting transverse vibrations in an ultrasonic hand piece, comprising the steps of: sweeping a drive signal having a voltage and current applied to an ultrasonic hand piece/blade using an ultrasonic generator; monitoring and storing parameters applied to the hand piece/blade in non-volatile memory located in the ultrasonic generator; calculating an electrical characteristic delivered to the hand piece based on the stored voltages and stored currents; generating response curves based on the stored parameters; performing an extrapolation using the response curve to determine whether the hand piece/blade exhibits transverse modes; if the hand piece/blade exhibits transverse modes, displaying a message on a liquid crystal display of the generator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the message is a “Hand Piece/Blade Contains Transverse Mode Vibrations” message.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of claims 12 , wherein said applying step comprises the step of: applying the drive signal from a minimum drive current level to a maximum drive current level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the minimum drive current level is approximately 100 ma RMS and the maximum drive current level is approximately 425 ma RMS.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the response curves are at least one of a Power-Delivered vs. Drive Current Level curve and a Hand Piece/Blade impedance vs. Drive Current level curve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the extrapolation comprises the step of: checking the generated response curves to determine whether any curve represents at least one of a straight line and a relationship which is quadratic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical characteristic is power.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the parameters are voltages and currents.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-01-19 | 2007-07-21 | 2008-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-01-19 | 2011-07-21 | 2012-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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