Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses an ultrasonic surgical tool system for actuating a handpiece with a tip. The frequency of the drive signal applied to the handpiece drivers is a function of the equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the handpiece and tip and the frequency responsiveness of these components.

<CIT> discloses a medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, a feedback system monitors electromechanical properties of a control signal of the device and automatically modifies control based thereon, e.g., electrical power to the reciprocating actuator is automatically terminated.

<CIT> discloses a surgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue that includes an elongate sheath and an ultrasonic blade. An ultrasonic blade may be positioned within a sheath such that movement of the sheath relative to the blade results in the dissection and/or coagulation of tissue therebetween. Alternatively, an ultrasonic blade may be positioned within a sheath such that movement of the blade relative to the sheath results in the dissection and/or coagulation of tissue therebetween. The size and shape of distal ends of the blade and sheath determine the size and shape of the tissue being cut and/or removed from a body.

This summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, and does not necessarily identify each and every key or essential feature of the claimed subject matter.

According to the invention, an ultrasonic tool system and a computer program product are provided according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are recited in the dependent claims.

In a first example, an ultrasonic tool system for operating an ultrasonic handpiece to probe patient tissue is provided, with the ultrasonic handpiece including a tip having a distal region for treating patient tissue and at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip. The system includes a control console configured to be coupled to the ultrasonic handpiece and to generate the AC drive signal applied to the at least one driver of the ultrasonic handpiece for vibrating the tip of the ultrasonic handpiece. The control console is further configured to: source the AC drive signal to the at least one driver of the ultrasonic handpiece, the AC drive signal including a first component at a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece and a second component at a probing frequency less than the resonant frequency; measure the voltage and current of the AC drive signal, calculate a resistance associated with the ultrasonic handpiece based on the measured voltage and the measured current; and provide at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile based on the calculated resistance.

In a first aspect, an ultrasonic tool system for operating an ultrasonic handpiece to probe patient tissue is provided, with the ultrasonic handpiece including a tip having a distal region for treating patient tissue and at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip. The system includes a control console configured to be coupled to the ultrasonic handpiece and to generate the AC drive signal applied to the at least one driver of the ultrasonic handpiece for vibrating the tip of the ultrasonic handpiece. The control console is further configured to: source the AC drive signal to the at least one driver of the ultrasonic handpiece, the AC drive signal being configured to induce vibrations at the distal region of the tip that are insufficient to ablate the patient tissue; measure the voltage and current of the AC drive signal; and provide at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the measured voltage and current.

In a second example, an ultrasonic tool system for operating an ultrasonic handpiece to probe patient tissue is provided, with the ultrasonic handpiece including a tip having a distal region for treating patient tissue and at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip. The system comprises a control console configured to be coupled to the ultrasonic handpiece and to generate the AC drive signal applied to the at least one driver of the ultrasonic handpiece for vibrating the tip of the ultrasonic handpiece, and a switch coupled to the control console, the switch having a first setting and a second setting. Responsive to the switch being set to the first setting, the control console is configured to operate the ultrasonic handpiece in a probing mode, and responsive to the switch being set to the second setting, the control console is configured to operate the ultrasonic handpiece in an ablation mode.

In a third example, a method for probing patient tissue using an ultrasonic tool system including an ultrasonic handpiece is provided, the ultrasonic handpiece having a tip for treating patient tissue and at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip. The method comprises: sourcing the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece, the AC drive signal including a first component at a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece and a second component at a probing frequency less than the resonant frequency; measuring a voltage and current of the AC drive signal; calculating a resistance associated with the ultrasonic handpiece based on the measured voltage and the measured current; and providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the calculated resistance.

In a fourth example, a method for probing patient tissue using an ultrasonic tool system including an ultrasonic handpiece is provided, the ultrasonic handpiece having a tip for treating patient tissue and at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip. The method comprises: sourcing the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece, the AC drive signal inducing vibrations at the distal region of the tip that are insufficient to ablate the patient tissue; measuring a voltage and a current of the AC drive signal; and providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the measured voltage and current.

In a fifth example, a method for operating an ultrasonic tool system for probing patient tissue is provided, with the ultrasonic tool system including an ultrasonic handpiece having a tip for treating patient tissue and at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, and a switch having a first setting and a second setting. The method comprises: sourcing the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece for vibrating the tip of the ultrasonic handpiece; monitoring a state of the switch to determine whether the switch is set to the first setting or the second setting; determining that the switch is set to the first setting; responsive to determining that the switch is set to the first setting, operating the ultrasonic handpiece in a probing mode; determining that the switch is set to the second setting; and responsive to determining that the switch is set to the second setting, operating the ultrasonic handpiece in an ablation mode.

Any of the above aspects may be combined in whole or in part.

Any of the above aspects may be utilized with any one or more of the following implementations, whether utilized individually or in combinatior.

Some implementations comprise the ultrasonic handpiece coupled to the control console. Some implementations comprise the ultrasonic handpiece defining a first pathway for providing suction at the distal region of the tip and a second pathway for supplying fluid to the distal region of the tip. Some implementations comprise supplying fluid to a distal region of the tip through at least a portion of the ultrasonic handpiece, and providing suction at the distal region of the tip through at least a portion of the ultrasonic handpiece.

Some implementations comprise the control console including a first sensor for measuring a voltage of the AC drive signal, a second sensor for measuring a current of the AC drive signal, and a processor coupled to the first and second sensors and configured to perform the configured functions of the of the control console. For instance, some implementations comprise the processor being configured to source the AC drive signal to the at least one driver of the ultrasonic handpiece, the AC drive signal including a first component at a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece and a second component at a probing frequency less than the resonant frequency; measure the voltage and current of the AC drive signal using the first and second sensors while the distal region of the tip is contacting the patient tissue; calculate a resistance associated with the ultrasonic handpiece based on the measured voltage and the measured current; and provide at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the calculated resistance.

Some implementations comprise, such as by a computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the calculated resistance by identifying a property of the patient tissue based on the calculated resistance; and providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication of the identified property. Some implementations comprise the identified property being a health of the patient tissue, such as whether the patient tissue is tumorous.

Some implementations comprise the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece being defined by a base signal at the resonant frequency that is amplitude modulated according to the probing frequency. Some implementations comprise the resonant frequency being approximately <NUM>, and the probing frequency being approximately <NUM>. The AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece is configured to induce vibrations of the tip that are insufficient to ablate the patient tissue. Some implementations comprise the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece being configured to induce vibrations of the tip that are insufficient to ablate the patient tissue by being configured to induce vibrations at the distal region of the tip that have a peak-to-peak displacement of less than or equal to <NUM> micrometres.

Some implementations comprise the AC drive signal being defined as a first AC drive signal, and also comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, determining whether the ultrasonic tool system is set to operate in a probing mode or an ablation mode; responsive to determining that the ultrasonic tool system is set to operate in the probing mode, sourcing the first AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece; and responsive to determining that the ultrasonic tool system is set to operate in the ablation mode, sourcing a second AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece that is configured to induce vibrations of the tip sufficient to ablate the patient tissue. Some implementations comprise the second AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece being configured to induce vibrations of the tip that are sufficient to ablate the patient tissue by being configured to induce vibrations at the distal region of the tip that have a peak-to-peak displacement of greater than <NUM> micrometres and less than or equal to <NUM> micrometres.

Some implementations comprise a switch communicatively coupled to the processor and/or control console, the switch having a first setting and a second setting, and also comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, responsive to the switch being set to the first setting, determining that the ultrasonic tool system is set to operate in the probing mode; and responsive to the switch being set to the second setting, determining that the ultrasonic tool system is set to operate in the ablation mode.

Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, responsive to determining that the ultrasonic tool system is set to operate in the ablation mode, providing the suction at the distal region of the tip through the first pathway defined by the ultrasonic handpiece; and supplying the fluid to the distal region of the tip through the second pathway defined by the ultrasonic handpiece.

Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, calculating the resistance associated the ultrasonic handpiece based on the measured voltage and the measured current by calculating an equivalent of current through mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece based on the measured voltage and the measured current; and calculating the resistance associated with the ultrasonic handpiece based on the calculated equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece. Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, calculating the resistance associated with the ultrasonic handpiece based on the calculated equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece by calculating a first amplitude of the measured voltage at the probing frequency, a second amplitude of the calculated equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece at the probing frequency, and a phase difference between the measured voltage and the calculated equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece at the probing frequency; and calculating a real part of an impedance of the ultrasonic handpiece based on the calculated first amplitude, the calculated second amplitude, and the calculated phase difference.

Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the calculated resistance by calculating a difference between the calculated resistance and a no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece; and providing the at least one of the audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the calculated difference. Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, providing the at least one of the audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the calculated difference by identifying a property of the patient tissue based on the calculated difference; and providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication of the identified property.

Some implementations comprise, such as in the control console, a memory storing tissue property data coupled to the processor, the tissue property data indicating potential tissue properties and, for each of the potential tissue properties, one or more values specific to the potential tissue property. Some implementations also comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, identifying, as a property of the patient tissue, one of the potential tissue properties indicated by the tissue property data based on the one or more values specific to the potential tissue property and the calculated resistance; and providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication of the identified property of the patient tissue.

Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, identifying one of the potential tissue properties indicated by the tissue property data based on the one or more values specific to the potential tissue property and the calculated resistance by calculating a difference between the calculated resistance and a no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece; and identifying the one of the potential tissue properties indicated by the tissue property data based on the one or more values specific to the potential tissue property and the calculated difference.

Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, determining the no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece by, responsive to the ultrasonic handpiece being connected to the control console: sourcing the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece while the ultrasonic handpiece is in an unloaded state; measuring a second voltage and a second current of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece, such as using the first and second sensors, while the ultrasonic handpiece is in the unloaded state; and calculating the no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece based on the measured second voltage and the measured second current of the AC drive signal. Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, determining the no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece by, responsive to the ultrasonic handpiece being connected to the control console, reading data indicating the no load resistance from a memory integral with the ultrasonic handpiece.

Some implementations comprise, such as by the processor and/or controller, providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the measured voltage and current by identifying a property of the patient tissue based on the measured voltage and current; and providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication of the identified property.

Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, identifying a property of the patient tissue based on the measured voltage and current by calculating an equivalent of current through mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece based on the measured voltage and the measured current; and identifying the property of the patient tissue based on the calculated equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece.

Some implementations comprise the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece including a first component at a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece and a second component at a probing frequency less than the resonant frequency, and also comprises, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, identifying the property of the patient tissue based on the calculated equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece by calculating a first amplitude of the measured voltage at the probing frequency, a second amplitude of the calculated equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece at the probing frequency, and a phase difference between the measured voltage and the calculated equivalent of current through the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece at the probing frequency; and identifying the property of the patient tissue based on the calculated first amplitude, the calculated second amplitude, and the calculated phase difference.

Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the measured voltage and current by identifying a property of the patient tissue based on the measured voltage, the measured current, and a no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece; and providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication of the identified property.

Some implementations comprise, such as in the control console, a memory storing tissue property data, the tissue property data indicating potential tissue properties and, for each of the potential tissue properties, one or more values specific to the potential tissue property, and also comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the measured voltage and current by identifying, as a property of the patient tissue, one of the potential tissue properties indicated by the tissue property data based on the one or more values specific to the potential tissue property and the measured voltage and current; and providing at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication of the identified property of the patient tissue. Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, identifying the one of the potential tissue properties indicated by the tissue property data based on the one or more values specific to the potential tissue property, the measured voltage and current, and a no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece.

Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, determining the no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece by, responsive to the ultrasonic handpiece being connected to the control console: sourcing the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece while the ultrasonic handpiece is in an unloaded state; measuring a second voltage and a second current of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece, such as using the first and second sensors, while the ultrasonic handpiece is in an unloaded state; and calculating the no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece based on the measured second voltage and the measured second current of the AC drive signal. Some implementations comprise, such as by the computer program product when executed by the processor and/or control console, determining the no load resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece by, responsive to the ultrasonic handpiece being connected to the control console, reading data indicating the no load resistance from a memory integral with the ultrasonic handpiece.

<FIG> illustrates an ultrasonic tool system <NUM> for probing and ablating patient tissue. The ultrasonic tool system <NUM> may include a control console <NUM> and an ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. The ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may include a tip <NUM>. During operation of the ultrasonic tool system <NUM>, the control console <NUM> may source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that causes the tip <NUM> to vibrate. A practitioner may then position the vibrating tip <NUM> against patient tissue to probe or ablate the contacted tissue.

A practitioner using the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> may desire to remove some types of patient tissue while leaving other types of patient tissue intact. For instance, the practitioner may desire to remove unhealthy tissue (e.g., tumorous tissue) while keeping adjacent healthy tissue intact, or to remove some kinds of patient tissue (e.g., dura mater, muscle tissue) without damaging adjacent patient tissue of a different kind (e.g., pia mater, blood vessel wall). Distinguishing between different types of patient tissue can be difficult, especially when the practitioner's view of the tissue is obstructed, or when identification of one tissue type from another tissue type is difficult to ascertain from a visual inspection. Accordingly, the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> may be configured to probe contacted tissue to detect and indicate the type tissue being contacted without causing tissue damage.

Specifically, the control console <NUM> may be configured to source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that causes the tip <NUM> to vibrate in a manner insufficient to ablate contacted tissue. The control console <NUM> may also be configured to slowly vary the displacement amplitude of the tip <NUM> caused by the vibrations, and to monitor a response of the tissue as it is pushed and pulled by the vibrating tip <NUM>. In particular, the vibrations may be longitudinal vibrations that push and pull the tissue as the displacement amplitude is varied. As the displacement amplitude of the tip <NUM> is increased, stiffer tissue may be harder to push and pull than relatively softer tissue. In other words, stiffer tissue may place more resistance on the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> than softer tissue as the displacement amplitude of the tip <NUM> is increased. The control console <NUM> may thus be configured to track the stiffness of contacted tissue by determining a mechanical resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> as a function of the varied displacement amplitude of the tip <NUM>, and to identify a tissue property based thereon. The tissue property may indicate the type of tissue being contacted by the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, such as whether the tissue is healthy or unhealthy, or the kind of tissue being contacted (e.g., blood vessel wall, dura). The control console <NUM> may then be configured to indicate the tissue property to the user, such as via an audible, visual, and/or tactile indication.

The above-described operation of the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> may occur when the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to operate in a probing mode. Responsive to receiving the indication of the tissue property while the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is operating in the probing mode, the practitioner may determine whether the tip <NUM> is in contact with tissue desired to be removed. If so, then the practitioner may activate an ablation mode in which the control console <NUM> sources an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> configured to cause vibrations of the tip <NUM> sufficient to ablate the contacted tissue.

In addition to the tip <NUM>, the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may include a body <NUM> and sleeve <NUM>. The body <NUM> may define a handle for the practitioner to grasp and maneuver the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. The tip <NUM> may be removably coupled to the body <NUM> so as to enable the body <NUM> to be used with different interchangeable tips <NUM>. The body <NUM> may form a proximal end of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, and the tip <NUM> coupled to the body <NUM> may form a distal end of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. "Proximal" may be understood as towards a practitioner holding the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and away from the tissue to which the tip <NUM> is being applied, and "distal" may be understood as away from the practitioner and towards the tissue to which the tip <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is being applied.

The ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be removably coupled to the control console <NUM> through an electrical cable <NUM>. One end the electrical cable <NUM> may be permanently connected to the proximal end of the body <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, and the other end of the electrical cable <NUM> may include an adapter <NUM> corresponding to a socket <NUM> of the control console <NUM>. The socket <NUM> may be shaped to receive the adapter <NUM>, and may include electrical contacts corresponding to electrical contacts of the adapter <NUM> such that when the adapter <NUM> is fully seated in the socket <NUM>, an electrical connection is formed between the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and control console <NUM>.

Upon actuation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, the control console <NUM> may generate and source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> over the electrical cable <NUM>. Application of the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may cause the tip <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to vibrate. More particularly, the body <NUM> may define a cavity including one or more drivers <NUM> (three shown), such as piezoelectric drivers. Each driver <NUM> may be formed from a material that, upon application of an alternating electric current, undergoes a momentary expansion or contraction. The expansions and contractions of each driver <NUM> may be along the longitudinal axis of the driver <NUM>, namely, the axis that extends between proximally and distally directed faces of the driver <NUM>. The drivers <NUM> may be disc shaped, and may be arranged within the body <NUM> end to end in a stack. Insulating discs may be disposed between and tightly abut adjacent drivers <NUM>.

The ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be designed so that the AC drive signal received from the control console <NUM> is applied to each of the drivers <NUM>, which may cause the drivers <NUM> to expand and contract in accordance with the AC drive signal. The drivers <NUM> may be coupled to the tip <NUM> such that the expansions and contractions of the drivers <NUM> induce a vibrating motion in the tip <NUM>. Specifically, the expansions and contractions of the drivers <NUM> may induce back and forth vibrations along the longitudinal axis of the tip <NUM> that correspond to the AC drive signal sourced from the control console <NUM>. These vibrations may cause a distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM> to vibrate. The distal region <NUM> may be the portion of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> applied to patient tissue to probe and/or ablate the patient tissue. The distal region <NUM> may include a tip head <NUM> (e.g., <FIG>), which may be formed with teeth or flutes dimensioned to remove tissue by a cutting action.

The sleeve <NUM> may be disposed around the tip <NUM>, and may be formed of plastic. The proximal end of the sleeve <NUM> may be formed with a coupling feature for releasably coupling of the sleeve <NUM> to the distal end of the body <NUM>. When disposed over the tip <NUM> and coupled to the body <NUM>, the sleeve <NUM> may be radially spaced from the tip <NUM>, and may be spaced longitudinally away from the distal region of the tip <NUM>. The components of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may thus be dimensioned so that during normal operation, the tip <NUM> does not contact the sleeve <NUM>.

The ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may define a pathway that extends at least partially through the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> for supplying irrigating fluid to the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM>. For example, the sleeve <NUM> may include a fitting <NUM> for receiving an irrigation line. During operation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, irrigating fluid may be flowed through the gap between the tip <NUM> and the sleeve <NUM> via the fitting <NUM>, and out the open distal end of the sleeve <NUM>. The sleeve <NUM> may thus facilitate supplying irrigating fluid to tissue being contacted and treated by the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. In an alternative example, the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may include an irrigation line that extends from the proximal end of the body <NUM> for receiving irrigating fluid from an irrigation source, and may define a pathway extending through the body <NUM> and the sleeve <NUM> between the irrigation line and the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM>. During operation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, irrigating fluid may thus be flowed through the length of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> (e.g., through the irrigation line, body <NUM>, and sleeve <NUM>) and out the open distal end of the sleeve <NUM>.

The ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may also define a pathway that extends at least partially through the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> for providing suction at the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM>. For instance, the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may define a lumen <NUM> extending from the proximal end of the body <NUM> through the tip <NUM> and to an open distal end of the tip <NUM>. During a procedure, suction may be provided to the lumen <NUM> in the proximal direction. The suction may draw the irrigating fluid applied to a surgical site and debris formed by a procedure that is entrained in the fluid. The suction may also draw tissue towards the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM>, which may enhance the effectiveness of the tip <NUM> in contacting and treating tissue.

The control console <NUM> may include a display <NUM> for presenting information to a practitioner. Non-limiting examples of presented information may include an identification of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and/or tip <NUM> currently connected to the control console <NUM>, an operating state of the ultrasonic tool system <NUM>, and a property of tissue being contacted by the tip <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> as described herein. The display <NUM> may also be a touch screen display that enables the practitioner to provide user input to the control console <NUM>, such as via on-screen controls. A practitioner may interact with the on-screen controls to set operational parameters for the ultrasonic tool system <NUM>, such as a maximum tip <NUM> displacement level, a suction level, and an irrigation level for the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>.

The ultrasonic tool system <NUM> may also include one or more actuation devices coupled to the control console <NUM>. Upon activation by the practitioner, each of the actuation devices may cause the control console <NUM> to source the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that causes the tip <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to vibrate. For instance, the one or more actuation devices may include a foot pedal <NUM>. The foot pedal <NUM> may be wirelessly connected to the control console <NUM>, such as via an adapter <NUM> connected to the control console <NUM>. Upon being depressed, the foot pedal <NUM> may communicate an actuation signal to the control console <NUM> that indicates the depression. In some instances, the communicated actuation signal may vary with the extent to which the foot pedal <NUM> is depressed. Responsive to receiving the actuation signal, the control console <NUM> may source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that causes the tip <NUM> to vibrate according to the current settings of the control console <NUM>.

The ultrasonic tool system <NUM> may further include a remote control <NUM> coupled to the control console <NUM>. Similar to the touch screen display <NUM>, the remote control <NUM> may include user-selectable buttons for providing user input to the control console <NUM>. For instance, the remote control <NUM> may include buttons for setting operational parameters of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, such as a maximum tip <NUM> displacement level, a suction level, and an irrigation level for the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. The remote control <NUM> may also include a power button for turning on and off the control console <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, the control console <NUM> may include an integrated power button <NUM> for turning on and off the control console <NUM>.

The ultrasonic tool system <NUM> may also include a mode setting switch coupled to the control console <NUM>, the switch having a probing mode setting and an ablation mode setting. A practitioner may interact with the mode setting switch to selectively set the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> to operate in the probing mode or the ablation mode. The control console <NUM> may thus be configured to monitor a state of the mode setting switch to determine whether the mode setting switch is set to the probing mode setting or the ablation mode setting. Responsive to the mode setting switch being set to the probing mode setting, the control console <NUM> may be configured to determine that the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to operate in the probing mode, and to operate the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the probing mode as described in more detail below. Conversely, responsive to the mode setting switch being set to the probing mode setting, the controller console <NUM> may be configured to determine that the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to operate in the ablation mode, and to operate the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the ablation mode as described in more detail below.

In some implementations, the mode setting switch may be a switch <NUM> integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and coupled to the control console <NUM> via the electrical cable <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> may include a mode setting switch integral with the foot pedal <NUM> and/or the remote <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the control console <NUM> may be configured to display a virtual mode setting switch on the display <NUM>, and a practitioner may set the mode setting switch to the ablation mode setting or the probing mode setting by interacting with the virtual mode setting switch via the touch screen interface of the display <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate circuits representing operation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> responsive to receiving an AC drive signal from the control console <NUM>. The current iS of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be broken down into two components: a current iO applied to the drivers <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and an equivalent of current iM applied to the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> (also referred to herein as "mechanical current iM"). The mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may include those components that vibrate to apply force on tissue, such as the drivers <NUM> and tip <NUM>.

The impedance ZO provided by the drivers <NUM> relative to the current iO may be primarily capacitive. Accordingly, the drivers <NUM> may be represented by a capacitor with capacitance CO. The impedance ZM provided by the mechanical components of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may include an inductive component, a resistive component, and a capacitive component. Accordingly, the mechanical components may be represented by an inductor with inductance LM, a resistor with resistance RM, and a capacitor with capacitance CM. The inductance LM, resistance RM, capacitance CM may vary with operation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, and at least the resistance RM may vary as a function of the tissue to which the tip <NUM> is applied.

The vibrations of the tip <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be proportional to the mechanical current iM. For instance, the frequency of the vibrations at the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM> may be equal to the frequency of the mechanical current iM, and when the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is operating at resonance, the peak-to-peak displacement of the distal region <NUM> in micrometres may be approximately double the amplitude of the mechanical current iM in milliamps. As an example, a mechanical current iM with an amplitude of one hundred fifty milliamps may induce the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM> to vibrate back and forth along a path of travel that is approximately <NUM> micrometres. The control console <NUM> may thus induce vibrations at the distal region <NUM> with a given frequency and displacement by sourcing an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that induces a mechanical current iM with the given frequency and an amplitude corresponding to the given displacement. By Ohm's law, the mechanical current iM may be determined using the following Equation:
<MAT>
where iS is the current of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, f is the frequency of the AC drive signal, Co is the capacitance of the drivers <NUM>, which may be considered constant for the purposes of Equation (<NUM>) and read from a memory integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, and vs is the voltage of the AC drive signal. An explanation for Equation (<NUM>) can be found in Applicant's <CIT>. Assuming the frequency f of the AC drive signal has been previously set to achieve a desired vibratory characteristic of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> (e.g., resonance), the control console <NUM> may thus induce desired vibrations at the distal region <NUM> by setting the voltage vs of the AC drive signal so that Equation (<NUM>) results in a mechanical current in corresponding to the desired vibrations.

A characteristic integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is the mechanical resonant frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. The mechanical resonant frequency is the frequency at which the distal region of the tip <NUM> undergoes vibratory motions of a peak range. In other words, at the resonant frequency the tip <NUM> undergoes a motion that is larger in magnitude than a motion that would occur if the drivers <NUM> were vibrated at a frequency less than or greater than the resonant frequency. For a tip <NUM> that vibrates longitudinally, the peak range may be the largest back and forth distance.

The Applicant's <CIT> discloses a means for tracking the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, which may vary during operation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. In particular, the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be operating at resonance when the real part of the ratio of the current iO applied to the drivers <NUM> to the mechanical current iM is substantially equal to zero. In other words, the frequency f of the AC drive signal may correspond to the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> when the following Equation is true:
<MAT>
where iS is the current of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, Co is the capacitance of the drivers <NUM>, which may be considered constant for the purposes of Equation (<NUM>) and read from a memory integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, and vs is the voltage of the AC drive signal. To induce desired vibrations at the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM> during operation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, the control console <NUM> may thus be configured to repeatably alternate between determining f such that Equation (<NUM>) is true and setting the voltage vs of the AC drive signal so that Equation (<NUM>) results in the mechanical current iM corresponding to the desired vibrations.

<FIG> illustrates components that may be present in the control console <NUM>. The control console <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a power supply <NUM>, a signal generator <NUM>, a transformer <NUM>, and console memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include one or more devices selected from microprocessors, micro-controllers, digital signal processors, microcomputers, central processing units, field programmable gate arrays, programmable logic devices, state machines, logic circuits, analog circuits, digital circuits, and/or any other devices that manipulate signals (analog or digital) based on operational instructions stored in the console memory <NUM>. The console memory <NUM> may include a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices including, but not limited to, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), flash memory, cache memory, and/or any other device capable of storing information. The console memory <NUM> may also include one or more persistent data storage devices such as a hard drive, optical drive, tape drive, non-volatile solid state device, and/or any other device capable of persistently storing information.

The processor <NUM> may be configured to implement the functions, features, processes, and methods of the control console <NUM> described herein. In particular, the processor <NUM> may operate under control of software embodied by computer-executable instructions residing in the console memory <NUM>. The computer-executable instructions may be compiled or interpreted from a variety of programming languages and/or technologies, including, without limitation, and either alone or in combination, Java, C, C++, C#, Objective C, Fortran, Pascal, Java Script, Python, Perl, and PL/SQL, and may then be configured, upon execution of the processor <NUM>, to cause the processor <NUM> to implement the functions, features, processes, and methods of the processor <NUM> described herein.

During operation of the ultrasonic tool system <NUM>, the power supply <NUM> may output a constant voltage signal, typically between <NUM> and <NUM> VDC, to the signal generator <NUM>. In some implementations, the maximum potential of the voltage output by the power supply <NUM> may be <NUM> VDC or less. The processor <NUM> may be configured to output a control signal (also referred to herein as a "waveform_set signal") corresponding to a desired AC drive signal to the signal generator <NUM>. The signal generator <NUM>, which may include an internal processor and/or amplifier, may be configured to generate an AC signal from the constant voltage signal and the waveform_set signal, such as using direct digital synthesis (DDS). More specifically, the signal generator <NUM> may be configured to output an AC signal having a frequency and amplitude corresponding to the waveform_set signal from the processor <NUM>.

In some implementations, the signal generator <NUM> may be an amplifier, such as a Class A amplifier or the amplifier disclosed in Applicant's <CIT>. In this case, the processor <NUM> may be configured to generate a waveform_set signal with an amplitude and frequency proportional to a desired AC drive signal, such as using DDS. The amplifier may then be configured to output a signal having an amplitude and frequency based on that of the waveform_set signal.

The output of the signal generator <NUM> may be proportional to the desired AC drive signal indicated by the waveform_set signal, and may be applied across a primary winding <NUM> of the transformer <NUM>. The AC signal from the signal generator <NUM> may induce the desired AC drive signal across a secondary winding <NUM> of the transformer <NUM>. The secondary winding <NUM> may be coupled to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> through electrical contacts <NUM>, which may be integral with the socket <NUM> of the control console <NUM>, and electrical contacts <NUM> (<FIG>), which may be integral with the adapter <NUM> coupled to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. Hence, the AC drive signal developed across the secondary winding <NUM> may be sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and cause the vibration of the tip <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may thus be configured to source and selectively set the amplitude and frequency of the waveform of the AC drive signal applied to the drivers <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, and correspondingly to control the vibrations of the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, via the waveform_set signal provided to the signal generator <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> is configured to receive feedback data corresponding to the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, for example via one or more sensors of the control console <NUM>. For example, the control console <NUM> may include a sensor for measuring a voltage vs of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, which may include a tickler coil <NUM> integral with the transformer <NUM>. The tickler coil <NUM> may be connected to a voltage measuring circuit <NUM> of the control console <NUM>, which in turn may be connected to the processor <NUM>. The signal across tickler coil <NUM> may have a known relationship to the voltage vs of the AC drive signal being sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. Based on the signal across the tickler coil <NUM>, the voltage measuring circuit <NUM> may generate and communicate a signal to the processor <NUM> representative of the potential and phase of the voltage vs of the AC drive signal being applied to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may thus be configured to measure the voltage vs of the AC drive signal via the voltage measuring circuit <NUM> and tickler coil <NUM>, and to make decisions based thereon.

As a further example, the control console <NUM> may include a sensor for measuring a current is of the AC drive signal being sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, which may include a coil <NUM> located in close proximity to one of the conductors that extends from the secondary winding <NUM> of the transformer <NUM> to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. The coil <NUM> may be connected to a current measuring circuit <NUM> of the control console <NUM>, which in turn may be connected to the processor <NUM>. The signal across the coil <NUM> may have a known relationship to the current is of the AC drive signal being sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. Based on the signal across coil <NUM>, the current measuring circuit <NUM> may produce and communicate to the processor <NUM> a signal representative of the magnitude and phase of the current is of the AC drive signal being applied to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may thus be configured to measure the current is of the AC drive signal via the current measuring circuit <NUM> and coil <NUM>, and to make decisions based thereon.

In addition to software embodied by computer-executable instructions, the console memory <NUM> may include data supporting the functions, features, processes, and methods of the control console <NUM>, or more particularly the processor <NUM>, described herein. For instance, the console memory <NUM> may store waveform control data correlating various waveform_set signals to various AC drive signals sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may thus be configured to access this data to induce desired AC drive signals. As a further example, the console memory <NUM> may store tissue property data <NUM> correlating potential operating characteristics of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, such as potential modulation mechanical resistances described in more detail below, with various tissue properties. The processor <NUM> may thus be configured to access this data to determine a property of tissue being contacted by the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> based on a determined operating characteristic of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>.

The control console <NUM> may also include a memory reader <NUM> for communicating with one or more electronic memory storage devices integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may include one or more electronic memory storage devices for storing data that identifies the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and/or tip <NUM>, and defines operational parameters specific to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and/or tip <NUM>. Non-limiting examples of operational parameters may include a maximum drive current for the AC drive signal, a maximum current for the mechanical current iM, a maximum drive voltage for the AC drive signal, a maximum frequency for the AC drive signal, a minimum drive frequency for the AC drive signal, a capacitance CO of the drivers <NUM>, PID coefficients, and a use history.

For instance, the body <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may include a handpiece (HP) memory <NUM> disposed therein. As non-limiting examples, the HP memory <NUM> may be an EPROM, an EEPROM, or an RFID tag. Responsive to connecting the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to the control console <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may be configured to read the data stored in the HP memory <NUM> using the memory reader <NUM>, and to tailor operation of the control console <NUM> based on the data. More particularly, the control console <NUM> may include a communication interface, such as a coil <NUM>, connected to the memory reader <NUM>. The coil <NUM> may be integral with the socket <NUM> of the control console <NUM>. The HP memory <NUM> may similarly be connected to a coil <NUM>, which may be integral with the adapter <NUM> of the cable <NUM>. When the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is connected to the control console <NUM> via the cable <NUM>, the coils <NUM>, <NUM> may become aligned and able to inductively exchange signals. The processor <NUM> may then be configured to read data from and write data to the HP memory <NUM> over the coils <NUM>, <NUM>.

More particularly, the memory reader <NUM> may be configured to convert signals across the coil <NUM> into data signals readable by the processor <NUM>. The memory reader <NUM> may also be configured to receive data to be written to the HP memory <NUM> from the processor <NUM>, and to generate a signal across the coil <NUM> that causes the data to be written to the HP memory <NUM>. The structure of the memory reader <NUM> may complement that of the HP memory <NUM>. Thus, continuing with the above non-limiting examples, the memory reader <NUM> may be an assembly capable of reading data from and writing data to an EPROM, EEPROM, or RFID tag.

In addition or alternatively to the HP memory <NUM>, the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may include a tip memory <NUM>. As described above, the tip <NUM> may be removable from the body <NUM> so the body <NUM> can be used with varying interchangeable tips <NUM>, and different tips <NUM> may have different structural characteristics and operational limitations. Accordingly, the HP memory <NUM> may store data identifying the body <NUM> and operational parameters specific to the body <NUM>, including the capacitance CO of the drivers <NUM>, and the tip memory <NUM> may store data identifying the tip <NUM> currently coupled to the body <NUM> and operational parameters specific to the tip <NUM>. Because the tip <NUM> and sleeve <NUM> may be distributed together as a single package, the tip memory <NUM> may be disposed in the sleeve <NUM>. The tip memory <NUM> may be the same type of memory as the HP memory <NUM> (e.g., an EPROM, an EEPROM, or an RFID tag).

Responsive to connecting the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to the control console <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may be configured to read the data stored in the HP memory <NUM> and the tip memory <NUM> using the memory reader <NUM>, and to tailor operation of the control console <NUM> to the specific body <NUM> and tip <NUM> combination coupled to the control console <NUM>. The tip memory <NUM> may include values for the same operational parameters as the HP memory <NUM>. To the extent the values for a given operational parameter differ between the HP memory <NUM> and the tip memory <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may be configured to utilize the more restrictive value to manage operation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. Additionally, or alternatively, to the extent the both the HP memory <NUM> and the tip memory <NUM> include a value for a given operational parameter, the processor <NUM> may be configured to derive a value (e.g., max drive current for the AC drive signal current) to manage operation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> based on a combination of the values stored in memories (e.g., summing the values).

Similar to the HP memory <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may read data from and write data to the tip memory <NUM> via the memory reader <NUM> and coil <NUM>. In particular, the body <NUM> may include two conductors <NUM> extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the body <NUM>. The proximal ends of the conductors <NUM> may be coupled to the coil <NUM>, which may be integral with the adapter <NUM> of the cable <NUM>. The distal ends of the conductors <NUM> may be coupled to another coil <NUM> disposed at the distal end of the body <NUM>. A corresponding coil <NUM> may be disposed in a proximal end of the sleeve <NUM>. When the sleeve <NUM> is disposed around the tip <NUM> and fitted to the body <NUM>, the coils <NUM>, <NUM> may become aligned and able to inductively exchange signals. When the body <NUM> is connected to the control console <NUM> via the cable <NUM>, the coils <NUM>, <NUM> may also become aligned and able to inductively exchange signals. The processor <NUM> may then read data from and write data to the tip memory <NUM> over the conductors <NUM> via inductive communication provided by the coils <NUM>, <NUM> and the coils <NUM>, <NUM>.

The one or more electronic memory storage devices of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may also store data for determining a property of tissue being contacted by the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> when the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is operating in the probing mode. As previously described, the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine a property of contacted tissue based on a determined operating characteristic associated with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, such as a modulation mechanical resistance described in more detail below, when the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is contacting tissue. However, a given body <NUM> may be used with different interchangeable tips <NUM>, and different combinations of a body <NUM> and tip <NUM> may exhibit different baseline operating characteristics. In other words, different ultrasonic handpieces <NUM> may exhibit different operating characteristics when operating in an unloaded state, that is, vibrating in air and not contacting any tissue. As an example, the operating characteristics of one ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> when operating in an unloaded state may be about three hundred ohms, and the no load modulation mechanical resistances of other ultrasonic handpieces <NUM> may range between six hundred and eight hundred ohms, inclusive. The significance of a determined operating characteristic of an ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, such as the modulation mechanical resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, relative to the property of contacted tissue may thus differ depending on the specific ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> being used to contact the tissue.

Accordingly, the one or more electronic memory storage devices of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may store normalization data specific to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> for normalizing an operating characteristic of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> determined when the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is contacting patient tissue, such as data indicating a no load modulation mechanical resistance specific to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. For instance, the HP memory <NUM> may store a no load modulation mechanical resistance specific to the body <NUM>, and/or the tip memory <NUM> may store a no load modulation mechanical resistance specific to the tip <NUM>. As described in more detail below, this data may be determined through testing of the components of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> during production. When the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is operating to probe patient tissue, the processor <NUM> may be configured to read this data from HP memory <NUM> and/or tip memory <NUM>, and to normalize an operating characteristic determined for contacted patient tissue based thereon.

The processor <NUM> may also be coupled and configured to drive the display <NUM> of the control console <NUM>. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may be configured to generate information and user interface (UI) components for presentation on the display <NUM>. Such information depicted on display <NUM> may include information identifying the body <NUM> and the tip <NUM>, information describing the operating state of the ultrasonic tool system <NUM>, and information identifying a property of patient tissue being contacted by the tip <NUM> when the control console <NUM> is operating in the probing mode. When the display <NUM> is a touch screen display, the processor <NUM> may also be configured to cause the display <NUM> to depict images of buttons and other user-selectable components, such as the virtual mode setting switch described above. By interacting with the buttons and other user-selectable components, the practitioner may set desired operating parameters for the ultrasonic tool system <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may also be coupled to the foot pedal <NUM>, remote <NUM> and a mode setting switch of the ultrasonic tool system <NUM>, such as the switch <NUM> integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, to receive user inputs from such devices and process such inputs accordingly. For example, when the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is coupled to the control console <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may become communicatively coupled to the switch <NUM> integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> via one or more electrical contacts <NUM> integral with the socket <NUM> of the control console <NUM> and one or more electrical contacts <NUM> integral with the adapter <NUM> coupled to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may then be configured to monitor the state of the switch <NUM> to determine whether the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to operate in the probing mode or ablation mode.

The processor <NUM> may also be coupled and configured to a drive a speaker <NUM> of the control console <NUM>. For instance, responsive to determining a property of patient tissue being contacted by the tip <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may be configured to play a distinct sound via the speaker <NUM> to indicate to the tissue property to the practitioner.

<FIG> illustrates a method <NUM> for probing patient tissue with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to determine a property of the tissue, such as a property indicating whether the tissue is healthy or unhealthy. The method <NUM> may be performed by the control console <NUM>, such as at the direction of the processor <NUM>. More specifically, the processor <NUM> may be configured, such as via software stored in the console memory <NUM>, to cause the control console <NUM> to perform the method <NUM>.

In block <NUM>, a determination may be made of whether the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to a probing mode or an ablation mode. In the ablation mode, the control console <NUM>, or more particularly the processor <NUM>, may be configured to generate and source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that causes vibrations of the tip <NUM> sufficient for ablating contacted tissue. In the probing mode, the control console <NUM>, or more particularly the processor <NUM>, may be configured to generate and source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that causes vibrations of the tip <NUM> that are insufficient to ablate contacted tissue. In this latter mode, the vibrations of the tip <NUM> may push and pull the contacted tissue without causing damage.

The processor <NUM> may be configured to make the determination of block <NUM> based on user input selecting one of these operational modes. More particularly, the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine whether the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to the probing mode or the ablation mode by monitoring the status of a mode setting switch, which may be integral with at least one of the touch screen display <NUM>, foot pedal <NUM>, remote control <NUM>, or ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> (e.g., switch <NUM>). Specifically, a user may interact with one of these devices to indicate one of the operational modes to the processor <NUM>.

For example, the touch screen display <NUM> may illustrate an on-screen interactive element (e.g., button) for selecting between the operational modes, and the remote control <NUM> may likewise include an interactive control element for making the selection. The foot pedal <NUM> may enable user selection of one of the operational modes by the processor <NUM> being configured to determine whether a depression of the foot pedal <NUM> corresponds to the probing mode or the ablation mode. For instance, responsive to the signal received by the processor <NUM> from the foot pedal <NUM> indicating a depression less than a set threshold, the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine that the user desires to operate the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> in the probing mode. Responsive to the signal received by the processor <NUM> from the foot pedal <NUM> indicating a depression greater than or equal to the set threshold, the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine that the user desires to operate the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> in the ablation mode. Alternatively, the foot pedal <NUM> may have separate depressible elements for operating the ultrasonic tool system <NUM>, one for operating the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> in the ablation mode, and the other for operating the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> in the probing mode. The switch <NUM> integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be configured such that depressing the switch <NUM> selects the probing mode and releasing the switch <NUM> selects the ablation mode.

Responsive to determining that the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to operate in the ablation mode ("Ablation" branch of block <NUM>), in block <NUM>, the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be operated in the ablation mode. In particular, the processor <NUM> may be configured to cause the control console <NUM> to source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that induces vibrations of tip <NUM> for ablating patient tissue. The AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the ablation mode may induce vibrations at the distal region of the tip <NUM> having vibratory cycles with a relatively high peak-to-peak displacement, such as between one hundred and three hundred micrometres, inclusive. In other words, the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the ablation mode may cause displacement of the distal region of the tip <NUM> back and forth along a path of travel that is between one hundred and three hundred micrometres, inclusive. Equivalently, the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the ablation mode may induce a relatively high mechanical current iM, such as a mechanical current in with an amplitude between fifty and one hundred fifty milliamps, inclusive. Generation of the AC drive signal by the control console <NUM> in the ablation mode may be performed as described in Applicant's <CIT>.

In some implementations, operating the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the ablation mode in block <NUM> may also include providing the suction at the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM> through the corresponding pathway defined by the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, and supplying the fluid to the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM> through the corresponding pathway defined by the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. In other words, responsive to determining that the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to operate in the ablation mode, the control console <NUM> may be configured to initiate the supply of suction and irrigating fluid to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. Conversely, when the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to operate in the probing mode, the control console <NUM> may be configured to maintain the suction and irrigation features in an inactive state.

Responsive to determining that the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is set to operate in the probing mode ("Probing" branch of block <NUM>), in block <NUM>, an AC drive signal may be sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that induces vibrations of the tip <NUM> for probing patient tissue, such as while the distal region of the tip <NUM> is contacting the patient tissue. <FIG> illustrates an example of an AC drive signal <NUM> that may be sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the probing mode. As shown in the illustrated example, the AC drive signal <NUM> may include a component at a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and a component at a probing frequency. The probing frequency may be significantly less than the resonate frequency. For instance, the resonant frequency may be approximately <NUM> (e.g., ± <NUM>), and the probing frequency may be approximately <NUM> (e.g., ± <NUM>). More particularly, the AC drive signal <NUM> may include a base signal, such as a sinusoidal signal, at the resonant frequency with an amplitude that varies according to the probing frequency. The AC drive signal <NUM> sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the probing mode may thus be an amplitude modulated signal.

The AC drive signal is configured to induce vibrations of the tip <NUM> that are insufficient to ablate patient tissue, and instead push and pull the patient tissue without causing damage. In particular, the AC drive signal may induce vibrations of the distal region of the tip <NUM> that are less in magnitude and velocity than those induced when the control console <NUM> is operating in the ablation mode so that the induced vibrations push and pull but do not ablate tissue. For instance, the AC drive signal sourced in the probing mode may induce vibrations at the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM> having vibratory cycles with a relatively low peak-to-peak displacement, such as less than or equal to <NUM> micrometres. In other words, while operating in probing mode, the tip <NUM> may vibrate back and forth along a varying path of travel that is at most <NUM> micrometres. Equivalently, the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the ablation mode may induce a relatively low mechanical current iM, such as a mechanical current in with a varying amplitude that is less than or equal to fifty milliamps. As an example, the AC drive signal may be configured to induce a mechanical current in with an amplitude that varies between fifty milliamps and twenty-five milliamps, or varies between ten milliamps and five milliamps, according to the probing frequency.

The processor <NUM> may be configured to cause the control console <NUM> to generate the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the probing mode. In particular, the processor <NUM> may be configured to track the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, such as by sweeping the AC drive signal between the minimum and maximum frequencies read from the electronic memory storage devices of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and determining which frequency results in a greatest mechanical current iM, or by determining a frequency f such that Equation (<NUM>) is satisfied.

Thereafter, the processor <NUM> may be configured to generate and communicate a waveform_set signal to the signal generator <NUM> that causes the signal generator <NUM> to develop an AC signal across the primary winding <NUM> of the transformer <NUM> proportional to the desired AC drive signal, such as using DDS. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may communicate a waveform-set signal that causes the signal generator <NUM> to produce a sinusoidal base sinusoidal waveform at the resonant frequency with an amplitude that would induce a mechanical current in with an amplitude equal to the desired maximum amplitude for the mechanical current iM (e.g., fifty milliamps, ten milliamps), to generate a sinusoidal modulation waveform at the probing frequency that varies between one and a value between zero and one (e.g., a half), and to multiply this modulation waveform by the base signal to generate the proportional AC signal across the primary winding <NUM>.

In alternative examples, such as when the signal generator <NUM> is an amplifier, the processor <NUM> may be configured to generate a waveform-set signal that is proportional to the desired AC drive signal, such as using DDS. In particular, the processor <NUM> may be configured to generate a sinusoidal base signal at the tracked resonant frequency with an amplitude that would induce a mechanical current iM with an amplitude equal to the desired maximum amplitude for the mechanical current iM, a sinusoidal modulation waveform at the probing frequency, and to multiply these signals to generate an amplitude modulated signal proportional to the desired AC drive signal. The processor <NUM> may then be configured to communicate this signal to the signal generator <NUM> as the waveform-set signal, which may amplify the signal to generate the desired AC drive signal across the secondary winding <NUM> of the transformer <NUM>.

In block <NUM>, a voltage vs and a current is of the sourced AC drive signal may be measured while the distal region <NUM> of the tip <NUM> is contacting the patient tissue. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may be configured to measure the voltage vs across the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> using a voltage sensor, such as the tickler coil <NUM> and voltage measuring circuit <NUM>, and may be configured to measure the current is applied to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> using a current sensor, such as the coil <NUM> and the current measuring circuit <NUM>. Thereafter, in block <NUM>, the mechanical current iM may be calculated based on the measured voltage vs and current is of the AC drive signal. Specifically, the processor <NUM> may be configured to calculate the mechanical current iM by applying the measured voltage vs and current is to Equation (<NUM>) above. <FIG> illustrates a voltage waveform <NUM> and a mechanical current waveform <NUM> corresponding to a measured voltage vs and a calculated mechanical current iM, respectively.

During operation of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the probing mode, the processor <NUM> may be configured to continuously check that the mechanical current iM is at the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> and has a magnitude equal to a target for the mechanical current iM (e.g., an amplitude varying between five and ten milliamps, varying between twenty five and fifty milliamps). For example, the processor <NUM> may be configured to perform cycles of determining whether the result of Equation (<NUM>) substantially equals the target for the mechanical current iM and then whether Equation (<NUM>) is substantially true. If the result of Equation (<NUM>) does not substantially equal the target for the mechanical current iM, then the processor <NUM> may be configured to adjust the voltage vs of the AC drive signal so that the difference between the result of Equation (<NUM>) and the target for the mechanical current iM is reduced, such as by adjusting the amplitude of the waveform_set signal. Further, if Equation (<NUM>) is not substantially true, then the processor <NUM> may be configured to adjust the frequency of the AC drive signal so that the relationship of Equation (<NUM>) becomes substantially true, such as by adjusting the frequency of the waveform_set signal.

Referring again to the method <NUM>, responsive to measuring the voltage vs and current is of the sourced AC drive signal and calculating the mechanical current iM, the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine an operating characteristic associated with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to determine a property of the patient tissue being contacted by the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. In particular, the processor <NUM> may be configured to calculate the resistive component of the mechanical impedance ZM of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> at the probing frequency, also referred to herein as the modulation mechanical resistance RZmod. Specifically, as the tip <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> contacts patient tissues having varied stiffness levels while the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is operating in the probing mode, the reactive components of the mechanical impedance ZM at the probing frequency may remain generally constant, while the modulation mechanical resistance RZmod may vary as a function of the stiffness of the tissue. Accordingly, the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine the modulation mechanical resistance RZmod to identify a property particular to the tissue being contacted by the tip <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>.

More particularly, in block <NUM>, an amplitude of each of the voltage vs and mechanical current iM and a phase difference between the voltage vs and mechanical current iM at the probing frequency may be determined. The processor <NUM> may be configured to determine the amplitudes and phase difference by detecting an envelope of each of the voltage vs and mechanical current iM, which may correspond to the probing frequency. For instance, the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine the upper envelopes of these signals by implementing a direct Fourier transform (DFT) algorithm that squares and low pass filters the signals or applies a Hilbert transform filter to the signals. <FIG> illustrates a voltage envelope waveform <NUM> corresponding to the upper envelope of the voltage waveform <NUM>, and a mechanical current envelope waveform <NUM> corresponding to the upper envelope of the mechanical current waveform <NUM>. As shown in the illustrated example, each of the voltage envelope waveform <NUM> and mechanical current envelope waveform <NUM> may be a sinusoidal wave at the probing frequency.

Thereafter, the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine the amplitudes and phase difference at the probing frequency by determining the amplitude of each envelope and the phase difference between the envelopes. The processor <NUM> may be configured to determine the amplitude of each envelope by executing a peak finding algorithm that determines a maximum and minimum value of the envelope, subtracting the minimum value from the maximum value, and dividing the result of the subtraction by two. The processor <NUM> may be configured to determine the phase difference between the envelopes by subtracting a time index corresponding to a maximum value in one envelope from the next greater time index that corresponds a maximum value in the other envelope, and dividing the result of the subtraction by the period of the envelopes (e.g., the reciprocal of the probing frequency).

In block <NUM>, the modulation mechanical resistance RZmod associated with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be calculated based on the amplitude of each of the voltage vs and mechanical current iM at the probing frequency and the phase difference. In particular, the modulation mechanical resistance RZmod of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be equal to the real part of the mechanical impedance ZM of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> at the probing frequency. Accordingly, the processor <NUM> may be configured to calculate the modulation mechanical resistance RZmod by dividing the amplitude of the mechanical current envelope into the amplitude of the voltage envelope and multiplying the result by the cosine of the determined phase difference.

In block <NUM>, a property of the contacted tissue may be identified based on the modulation mechanical resistance RZmod. The identified property may indicate a type of tissue being contacted. For instance, the identified property may indicate whether the contacted tissue is healthy soft tissue or unhealthy stiff tissue, or may indicate a kind of tissue being contacted (e.g., dura, pia, blood vessel wall).

The processor <NUM> may be configured to identify the property of the contacted tissue by applying the modulation mechanical resistance RZmod to the tissue property data <NUM> stored in the console memory <NUM>. The tissue property data <NUM> may indicate varying potential tissue properties (e.g., healthy, unhealthy, dura, pia) and, for each of the potential tissue properties, one or more values (e.g., potential modulation mechanical resistances) specific to the potential tissue property. For instance, the tissue property data <NUM> may define a look-up table that associates various potential modulation mechanical resistances RZmod with varying tissue health ratings. The greater the potential modulation mechanical resistance RZmod, the poorer tissue health rating that may be associated with the potential modulation mechanical resistance RZmod. As a further example, the tissue property data <NUM> may define a threshold such that potential modulation mechanical resistances RZmod less than the threshold are associated with healthy tissue or one kind of tissue and potential modulation mechanical resistances RZmod greater than the threshold are associated with unhealthy tissue or another kind of tissue.

In some instances, the practitioner may be able to define the tissue property data <NUM> used to determine tissue properties in the probing mode. For example, the practitioner may interact with the control console <NUM> via the touch screen display <NUM> to specify a tissue type desired to be removed or detected and/or a tissue type desired to be left intact. The console memory <NUM> may include tissue property data <NUM> for each possible tissue type available for user selection, and the processor <NUM> may be configured to retrieve and use the tissue property data <NUM> corresponding to the practitioner's selections to determine whether the tissue being contacted by the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> has a property corresponding to a tissue type selected for removal or a tissue type selected to be left intact. The practitioner may also be able to define the thresholds and/or lookup tables directly.

In some instances, determining a tissue property based on the calculated modulation mechanical resistance RZmod may include normalizing the modulation mechanical resistance RZmod based on the specific ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> coupled to the control console <NUM> and contacting the tissue, and applying the normalized modulation mechanical resistance to the tissue property data <NUM> as described above. As previously described, a given body <NUM> may be configured to be utilized with a variety of interchangeable tips <NUM>, and different combinations of a body <NUM> and tip <NUM> may exhibit different mechanical resistances at the probing frequency when operating in an unloaded condition, that is, vibrating while not contacting any tissue, also referred to herein as a no load modulation mechanical resistance. Correspondingly, different combinations of a body <NUM> and tip <NUM> may exhibit a different modulation mechanical resistance RZmod when contacting the same tissue. The significance of a given modulation mechanical resistance RZmod relative to a property of contacted tissue may therefore differ depending on the specific ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, or more particularly the specific body <NUM> and/or tip <NUM>, being used to contact the tissue.

The processor <NUM> may thus be configured to identify a property of the contacted tissue based on the calculated modulation mechanical resistance RZmod by identifying a no load modulation mechanical resistance specific to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> being used to contact the tissue, subtracting the no load modulation mechanical resistance from the calculated modulation mechanical resistance RZmod, and applying this normalized modulation mechanical resistance to the tissue property data <NUM> to determine a corresponding tissue property as described above. The processor <NUM> may be configured to determine the no load mechanical resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> by running a test of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> when the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is initially connected to the control console <NUM> and operating in an unloaded state (e.g., vibrating while not contacting any patient tissue). In particular, responsive to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> being connected to the control console <NUM> and to the control console <NUM> being powered on, before the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> is contacting any tissue, the processor <NUM> may be configured to implement blocks <NUM> to <NUM> of the method <NUM> to calculate a modulation mechanical resistance that is assumed to correspond to the no load condition.

Alternatively, the no load modulation mechanical resistance specific to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be determined from data previously stored in and read from one or more electronic memory storage devices integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, such as the HP memory <NUM> and/or the tip memory <NUM>. The variation of no load modulation mechanical resistances among different ultrasonic handpieces <NUM> may be primarily due to the utilization of different tips <NUM> in the ultrasonic handpieces <NUM>. Accordingly, data for identifying a no load modulation mechanical resistance for an ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may be stored in the tip memory <NUM> distributed with the tip <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. For instance, during production of a tip <NUM>, a no load modulation mechanical resistance for the tip <NUM> may be determined by coupling the tip <NUM> to a body <NUM> to form an ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, coupling this ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to a control console <NUM>, and causing this control console <NUM> to implement blocks <NUM> to <NUM> when the tip <NUM> is not contacting any tissue to determine a no load modulation mechanical resistance for the tip <NUM>. This no load modulation resistance may then be stored in the tip memory <NUM> distributed with the tip <NUM>. Thereafter, responsive to an ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> with the tip <NUM> being connected to the control console <NUM> and to the control console <NUM> being powered on in preparation for an operation, the processor <NUM> may be configured to read the no load mechanical resistance from the tip memory <NUM>, and to use this value as the normalizing no load modulation mechanical resistance for the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>.

Alternatively, both the HP memory <NUM> and tip memory <NUM> of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> may store data for determining the no load modulation mechanical resistance for the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. Specifically, the HP memory <NUM> of the body <NUM> may store data indicating a no load modulation mechanical resistance for the body <NUM>, and the tip memory <NUM> distributed with the tip <NUM> may store data indicating a no load modulation mechanical resistance for the tip <NUM>. The no load modulation mechanical resistance for the body <NUM> may be determined during production by coupling the body <NUM> to a control console <NUM> without a tip <NUM> and causing the control console <NUM> to implement blocks <NUM> to <NUM> without contacting any tissue with the body <NUM>. The no load modulation mechanical resistance for the tip <NUM> may be determined during production by coupling the tip <NUM> to a body <NUM> to form an ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, coupling this ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to a control console <NUM>, causing the control console <NUM> to implement blocks <NUM> to <NUM> without the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> contacting any tissue to determine a no load modulation mechanical resistance of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, and subtracting a previously determined no load modulation mechanical resistance for the body <NUM> from this no load modulation mechanical resistance to determine the no load modulation mechanical resistance for the tip <NUM>. Thereafter, responsive to an ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> with the body <NUM> and tip <NUM> being connected to the control console <NUM> and to the control console <NUM> being powered on in preparation for an operation, the processor <NUM> may be configured to determine the no load modulation mechanical resistance for the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> by reading the no load mechanical resistance specific to the body <NUM> from the HP memory <NUM>, reading the no load mechanical resistance specific to the tip <NUM> from the tip memory <NUM>, and determining a no load mechanical resistance specific to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> based on the read data (e.g., summing the read no load modulated mechanical resistances).

Automatically running a test of an ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> upon its connection to the control console <NUM> for an operation or storing data indicating the no load resistance specific to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> in the HP memory <NUM> and/or tip memory <NUM> integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> enables the control console <NUM> to accurately probe patient tissue with different ultrasonic handpieces <NUM>, or more particularly different combinations of a body <NUM> and tip <NUM>, by normalizing the calculated modulation mechanical resistance RZmod of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to the specific ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> being used. During the time in which the processor <NUM> is determining the no load modulation mechanical resistance for a connected ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, such as by running a test of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> or reading previously stored data from the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may be configured to cause the display <NUM> to show a notification indicating that the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is being initialized and to not place the tip <NUM> against any tissue, and may be configured to disable user input from causing the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to operate. Responsive to determining the no load modulation mechanical resistance for the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may be configured to cause the display <NUM> to indicate that the ultrasonic tool system <NUM> is ready for use, and to enable user input to cause the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> to operate.

Referring again to <FIG>, in block <NUM>, the tissue property may be indicated to the practitioner. In particular, the processor <NUM> may be configured to provide a visual indicator corresponding to the identified tissue property, such as via the display <NUM> or a visual indicator integral with the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>, an audible indicator corresponding to the identified tissue property via the speaker <NUM>, and/or a tactile indicator corresponding to the identified tissue property via a vibration of the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. To provide the tactile indication, the processor <NUM> may be configured to source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that causes a distinct vibration pattern that is insufficient to ablate tissue and may be felt by the practitioner gripping the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may be configured to source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> that includes on pulses separated by off periods, which may induce spaced apart ultrasonic vibrations of the tip <NUM> insufficient to ablate tissue.

If the identified property indicates a tissue type corresponding to a binary tissue condition (e.g., the property indicates whether or not the contacted tissue is to be ablated, the property indicates whether or not the contacted tissue is healthy tissue, the property indicates whether or not the contacted tissue is a kind of tissue set by the practitioner), then the processor <NUM> may be configured to provide an indication of the identified property if the property corresponds to one of the states of the binary condition, and provide no indication if the property corresponds to the other state of the binary condition. For instance, if the identified property indicates that the contacted tissue is healthy, the processor <NUM> may be configured to provide no indication of the property, and if the identified property indicates that the contacted tissue is unhealthy, then the processor <NUM> may be configured to provide a visual, audible, and/or tactile indication of the property as described above. Alternatively, the processor <NUM> may be configured to provide an indication of the property regardless of the state represented by the property.

If the identified property indicates a tissue type corresponding to a tissue condition of varying severity (e.g., varying levels of unhealthy tissue), then the processor <NUM> may be configured to provide an indication of the identified property that is varied in accordance with the severity indicated by the property. For instance, if one identified property indicates that contacted tissue has a poor health rating, then the processor <NUM> may be configured to provide one audible, visual, and/or tactile indication, and if another identified property indicates that contacted tissue has a poorer health rating, then the processor <NUM> may be configured to provide a different audible, visual, and/or tactile indication indicative of the poorer health rating relative to the former health rating. As some non-limiting examples, the processor <NUM> may be configured to indicate the poorer health rating by displaying an indication having a larger magnitude on the display <NUM> than that for the former health rating, sounding the speaker <NUM> at a louder volume or with beeps at a greater frequency than that for the former health rating, and/or vibrating the ultrasonic handpiece <NUM> such that the on pulses occur at a greater frequency than that for the former health rating.

An ultrasonic tool system and method for probing and/or ablating patient tissue are described herein. Distinguishing between different types of patient tissue during a medical procedure can be difficult, especially when the practitioner's view of the tissue is obstructed, or when identification of one tissue type from another tissue type is difficult to ascertain from a visual inspection. Accordingly, examples are described herein that provide for identifying a property of patient tissue using an ultrasonic handpiece without damaging the tissue. The identified tissue property may be indicated to the practitioner, who may then decide whether to ablate the tissue using the ultrasonic tool system or to leave the tissue intact based on the indication.

The computer-executable program code described herein is capable of being individually or collectively distributed as a program product in a variety of different forms. In particular, the program code may be distributed using a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out any of the steps executable by a processor as described herein.

Computer-readable storage media, which is inherently non-transitory, may include volatile and non-volatile, and removable and non-removable tangible media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer-readable storage media may further include RAM, ROM, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other solid state memory technology, portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and which can be read by a computer. A computer-readable storage medium should not be construed as transitory signals per se (e.g., radio waves or other propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a transmission media such as a waveguide, or electrical signals transmitted through a wire). Computer-readable program instructions may be downloaded to a computer, another type of programmable data processing apparatus, or another device from a computer-readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network.

Computer-readable program instructions stored in a computer-readable medium may be used to direct a computer, other types of programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions that implement the functions, acts, and/or operations specified in the flow-charts, sequence diagrams, and/or block diagrams. The computer program instructions may be provided to one or more processors of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the one or more processors, cause a series of computations to be performed to implement the functions, acts, and/or operations specified in the flow-charts, sequence diagrams, and/or block diagrams.

In certain alternative examples, the functions, acts, and/or operations specified in the flow-charts, sequence diagrams, and/or block diagrams may be reordered, processed serially, and/or processed concurrently consistent with computer program product embodiments of the invention. Moreover, any of the flow-charts, sequence diagrams, and/or block diagrams may include more or fewer blocks than those illustrated consistent with computer program product embodiments of the invention.

Claim 1:
An ultrasonic tool system (<NUM>) for probing patient tissue, the system (<NUM>) comprising:
an ultrasonic handpiece (<NUM>) comprising a tip (<NUM>) having a distal region (<NUM>) for treating patient tissue and at least one driver (<NUM>) to which the tip (<NUM>) is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip (<NUM>), the ultrasonic handpiece (<NUM>) defining a first pathway for providing suction at the distal region (<NUM>) of the tip (<NUM>) and a second pathway for supplying fluid to the distal region (<NUM>) of the tip (<NUM>); and
a control console (<NUM>) coupled to the ultrasonic handpiece (<NUM>) and configured to generate the AC drive signal applied to the at least one driver (<NUM>) of the ultrasonic handpiece (<NUM>) for vibrating the tip (<NUM>) of the ultrasonic handpiece (<NUM>), the control console (<NUM>) comprising:
a first sensor for measuring a voltage of the AC drive signal;
a second sensor for measuring a current of the AC drive signal; and
a processor (<NUM>) coupled to the first and second sensors and configured to:
source (<NUM>) the AC drive signal to the at least one driver (<NUM>) of the ultrasonic handpiece (<NUM>), the AC drive signal inducing vibrations at the distal region (<NUM>) of the tip (<NUM>) that are insufficient to ablate the patient tissue;
measure (<NUM>) the voltage and current of the AC drive signal using the first and second sensors; and
provide at least one of an audible, visual, or tactile indication based on the measured voltage and current.