US 12,251,124 B2
Surgical instrument with staged application of electrosurgical and ultrasonic energy
Kevin L. Houser, Springboro, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/508,073.
Application 17/508,073 is a continuation of application No. 16/549,834, filed on Aug. 23, 2019, granted, now 11,246,622.
Application 16/549,834 is a continuation of application No. 14/983,634, filed on Dec. 30, 2015, granted, now 10,470,791, issued on Nov. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0104846 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/320092 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1445 (2013.01); A61B 18/1447 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00389 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2946 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320094 (2017.08); A61B 2017/320095 (2017.08); A61B 2018/00202 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00404 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00595 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00601 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00607 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00619 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00654 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00666 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00708 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00815 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00922 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00994 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1455 (2013.01); A61B 18/1492 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector, including:
(i) an ultrasonic blade configured to connect to an acoustic waveguide for acoustic communication of an ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade for applying to a tissue,
(ii) a first electrode configured to receive a radiofrequency (RF) electrosurgical energy for applying to the tissue, and
(iii) a sensor configured to sense a first condition of the tissue; and
(b) a control module operatively connected to the ultrasonic blade, the first electrode and the sensor, wherein the control module has a control logic with a first predetermined tissue condition level residing thereon, wherein the control logic is configured to receive the first condition of the tissue from the sensor and determine when the first condition has reached the first predetermined condition level such that the control module adjusts activation of at least one of the ultrasonic or RF electrosurgical energies from the ultrasonic blade or first electrode, respectively, in response to the first condition reaching the first predetermined condition level,
wherein the control module is configured to activate the end effector to apply only RF electrosurgical energy prior to the control module determining that the tissue has reached the first predetermined condition level for pre-heating the tissue with the RF electrosurgical energy.