Patent Description:
Examples of ultrasonic surgical devices include the HARMONIC ACE® Ultrasonic Shears, the HARMONIC WAVE® Ultrasonic Shears, the HARMONIC FOCUS® Ultrasonic Shears, and the HARMONIC SYNERGY® Ultrasonic Blades, all by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio. Further examples of such devices and related concepts are disclosed in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

Electrosurgical instruments utilize electrical energy for sealing tissue, and generally include a distally mounted end effector that can be configured for bipolar or monopolar operation. During bipolar operation, electrical current is provided through the tissue by active and return electrodes of the end effector. During monopolar operation, current is provided through the tissue by an active electrode of the end effector and a return electrode (e.g., a grounding pad) separately located on a patient's body. Heat generated by the current flowing through the tissue may form hemostatic seals within the tissue and/or between tissues, and thus may be particularly useful for sealing blood vessels, for example. The end effector of an electrosurgical device may also include a cutting member that is movable relative to the tissue and the electrodes to transect the tissue.

Electrical energy applied by an electrosurgical device can be transmitted to the instrument by a generator coupled with the instrument. The electrical energy may be in the form of radio frequency ("RF") energy, which is a form of electrical energy generally in the frequency range of approximately <NUM> kilohertz (kHz) to <NUM> megahertz (MHz). In use, an electrosurgical device can transmit lower frequency RF energy through tissue, which causes ionic agitation, or friction, in effect resistive heating, thereby increasing the temperature of the tissue. Because a sharp boundary is created between the affected tissue and the surrounding tissue, surgeons can operate with a high level of precision and control, without sacrificing un-targeted adjacent tissue. The low operating temperatures of RF energy may be useful for removing, shrinking, or sculpting soft tissue while simultaneously sealing blood vessels. RF energy works particularly well on connective tissue, which is primarily comprised of collagen and shrinks when contacted by heat.

An example of an RF electrosurgical device is the ENSEAL® Tissue Sealing Device by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. , of Cincinnati, Ohio. Further examples of electrosurgical devices and related concepts are disclosed in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>.

Additional examples of electrosurgical devices and related concepts are disclosed in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>; and <CIT>.

Some instruments may provide ultrasonic and RF energy treatment capabilities through a single surgical device. Examples of such devices and related methods and concepts are disclosed in <CIT>; <CIT>; and <CIT>.

While various types of ultrasonic surgical instruments and electrosurgical instruments, including combination ultrasonic-electrosurgical instruments, have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventor(s) has made or used the invention described in the appended claims.

As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different and obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.

For clarity of disclosure, the terms "proximal" and "distal" are defined herein relative to a surgeon, or other operator, grasping a surgical instrument having a distal surgical end effector. The term "proximal" refers to the position of an element arranged closer to the surgeon, and the term "distal" refers to the position of an element arranged closer to the surgical end effector of the surgical instrument and further away from the surgeon. Moreover, to the extent that spatial terms such as "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," or the like are used herein with reference to the drawings, it will be appreciated that such terms are used for exemplary description purposes only and are not intended to be limiting or absolute. In that regard, it will be understood that surgical instruments such as those disclosed herein may be used in a variety of orientations and positions not limited to those shown and described herein.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) including a generator (<NUM>) and a surgical instrument (<NUM>). Surgical instrument (<NUM>) is operatively coupled with the generator (<NUM>) via power cable (<NUM>). As described in greater detail below, generator (<NUM>) is operable to power surgical instrument (<NUM>) to deliver ultrasonic energy for cutting tissue, and electrosurgical bipolar RF energy (i.e., therapeutic levels of RF energy) for sealing tissue. In exemplary configurations, generator (<NUM>) is configured to power surgical instrument (<NUM>) to deliver ultrasonic energy and electrosurgical bipolar RF energy simultaneously.

Surgical instrument (<NUM>) of the present example comprises a handle assembly (<NUM>), a shaft assembly (<NUM>) extending distally from the handle assembly (<NUM>), and an end effector (<NUM>) arranged at a distal end of the shaft assembly (<NUM>). Handle assembly (<NUM>) comprises a body (<NUM>) including a pistol grip (<NUM>) and energy control buttons (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to be manipulated by a surgeon. A trigger (<NUM>) is coupled to a lower portion of body (<NUM>) and is pivotable toward and away from pistol grip (<NUM>) to selectively actuate end effector (<NUM>), as described in greater detail below. In other suitable variations of surgical instrument (<NUM>), handle assembly (<NUM>) may comprise a scissor grip configuration, for example As described in greater detail below, an ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>) is housed internally within and supported by body (<NUM>) In other configurations, ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>) may be provided externally of body (<NUM>), for example as shown in the exemplary configuration of <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, end effector (<NUM>) includes an ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) and a clamp arm (<NUM>) configured to selectively pivot toward and away from ultrasonic blade (<NUM>), for clamping tissue therebetween. Ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) is acoustically coupled with ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>), which is configured to drive (i.e., vibrate) ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) at ultrasonic frequencies for cutting and/or sealing tissue positioned in contact with ultrasonic blade (<NUM>). Clamp arm (<NUM>) is operatively coupled with trigger (<NUM>) such that clamp arm (<NUM>) is configured to pivot toward ultrasonic blade (<NUM>), to a closed position, in response to pivoting of trigger (<NUM>) toward pistol grip (<NUM>). Further, clamp arm (<NUM>) is configured to pivot away from ultrasonic blade (<NUM>), to an open position (see e.g., <FIG>), in response to pivoting of trigger (<NUM>) away from pistol grip (<NUM>). Various suitable ways in which clamp arm (<NUM>) may be coupled with trigger (<NUM>) will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings provided herein. In some versions, one or more resilient members may be incorporated to bias clamp arm (<NUM>) and/or trigger (<NUM>) toward the open position.

A clamp pad (<NUM>) is secured to and extends distally along a clamping side of clamp arm (<NUM>), facing ultrasonic blade (<NUM>). Clamp pad (<NUM>) is configured to engage and clamp tissue against a corresponding tissue treatment portion of ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) when clamp arm (<NUM>) is actuated to its closed position. At least a clamping-side of clamp arm (<NUM>) provides a first electrode (<NUM>), referred to herein as clamp arm electrode (<NUM>). Additionally, at least a clamping-side of ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) provides a second electrode (<NUM>), referred to herein as a blade electrode (<NUM>). As described in greater detail below, electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>) are configured to apply electrosurgical bipolar RF energy, provided by generator (<NUM>), to tissue electrically coupled with electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>). Clamp arm electrode (<NUM>) may serve as an active electrode while blade electrode (<NUM>) serves as a return electrode, or vice-versa. Surgical instrument (<NUM>) may be configured to apply the electrosurgical bipolar RF energy through electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>) while vibrating ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) at an ultrasonic frequency, before vibrating ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) at an ultrasonic frequency, and/or after vibrating ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) at an ultrasonic frequency.

As shown in <FIG>, shaft assembly (<NUM>) extends along a longitudinal axis and includes an outer tube (<NUM>), an inner tube (<NUM>) received within outer tube (<NUM>), and an ultrasonic waveguide (<NUM>) supported within inner tube (<NUM>). As seen best in <FIG>, clamp arm (<NUM>) is coupled to distal ends of inner and outer tubes (<NUM>, <NUM>). In particular, clamp arm (<NUM>) includes a pair of proximally extending clevis arms (<NUM>) that receive therebetween and pivotably couple to a distal end (<NUM>) of inner tube (<NUM>) with a pivot pin (<NUM>) received within through bores formed in clevis arms (<NUM>) and distal end (<NUM>) of inner tube (<NUM>). First and second clevis fingers (<NUM>) depend downwardly from clevis arms (<NUM>) and pivotably couple to a distal end (<NUM>) of outer tube (<NUM>). Specifically, each clevis finger (<NUM>) includes a protrusion (<NUM>) that is rotatably received within a corresponding opening (<NUM>) formed in a sidewall of distal end (<NUM>) of outer tube (<NUM>).

In the present example, inner tube (<NUM>) is longitudinally fixed relative to handle assembly (<NUM>), and outer tube (<NUM>) is configured to translate relative to inner tube (<NUM>) and handle assembly (<NUM>), along the longitudinal axis of shaft assembly (<NUM>). As outer tube (<NUM>) translates distally, clamp arm (<NUM>) pivots about pivot pin (<NUM>) toward its open position. As outer tube (<NUM>) translates proximally, clamp arm (<NUM>) pivots in an opposite direction toward its closed position. A proximal end of outer tube (<NUM>) is operatively coupled with trigger (<NUM>), for example via a linkage assembly, such that actuation of trigger (<NUM>) causes translation of outer tube (<NUM>) relative to inner tube (<NUM>), thereby opening or closing clamp arm (<NUM>). In other suitable configurations not shown herein, outer tube (<NUM>) may be longitudinally fixed and inner tube (<NUM>) may be configured to translate for moving clamp arm (<NUM>) between its open and closed positions.

Shaft assembly (<NUM>) and end effector (<NUM>) are configured to rotate together about the longitudinal axis, relative to handle assembly (<NUM>). A retaining pin (<NUM>), shown in <FIG>, extends transversely through proximal portions of outer tube (<NUM>), inner tube (<NUM>), and waveguide (<NUM>) to thereby couple these components rotationally relative to one another. In the present example, a rotation knob (<NUM>) is provided at a proximal end portion of shaft assembly (<NUM>) to facilitate rotation of shaft assembly (<NUM>), and end effector (<NUM>), relative to handle assembly (<NUM>). Rotation knob (<NUM>) is secured rotationally to shaft assembly (<NUM>) with retaining pin (<NUM>), which extends through a proximal collar of rotation knob (<NUM>). It will be appreciated that in other suitable configurations, rotation knob (<NUM>) may be omitted or substituted with alternative rotational actuation structures.

Ultrasonic waveguide (<NUM>) is acoustically coupled at its proximal end with ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>), for example by a threaded connection, and at its distal end with ultrasonic blade (<NUM>), as shown in <FIG>. Ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) is shown formed integrally with waveguide (<NUM>) such that blade (<NUM>) extends distally, directly from the distal end of waveguide (<NUM>). In this manner, waveguide (<NUM>) acoustically couples ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>) with ultrasonic blade (<NUM>), and functions to communicate ultrasonic mechanical vibrations from transducer (<NUM>) to blade (<NUM>). Accordingly, ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>), waveguide (<NUM>), and ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) together define acoustic assembly (<NUM>). During use, ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) may be positioned in direct contact with tissue, with or without assistive clamping force provided by clamp arm (<NUM>), to impart ultrasonic vibrational energy to the tissue and thereby cut and/or seal the tissue. For example, blade (<NUM>) may cut through tissue clamped between clamp arm (<NUM>) and a first treatment side of blade (<NUM>), or blade (<NUM>) may cut through tissue positioned in contact with an oppositely disposed second treatment side of blade (<NUM>), for example during a "back-cutting" movement. In some variations, waveguide (<NUM>) may amplify the ultrasonic vibrations delivered to blade (<NUM>). Further, waveguide (<NUM>) may include various features operable to control the gain of the vibrations, and/or features suitable to tune waveguide (<NUM>) to a selected resonant frequency. Additional exemplary features of ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) and waveguide (<NUM>) are described in greater detail below.

Waveguide (<NUM>) is supported within inner tube (<NUM>) by a plurality of nodal support elements (<NUM>) positioned along a length of waveguide (<NUM>), as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Specifically, nodal support elements (<NUM>) are positioned longitudinally along waveguide (<NUM>) at locations corresponding to acoustic nodes defined by the resonant ultrasonic vibrations communicated through waveguide (<NUM>). Nodal support elements (<NUM>) may provide structural support to waveguide (<NUM>), and acoustic isolation between waveguide (<NUM>) and inner and outer tubes (<NUM>, <NUM>) of shaft assembly (<NUM>). In exemplary variations, nodal support elements (<NUM>) may comprise o-rings. Waveguide (<NUM>) is supported at its distal-most acoustic node by a nodal support element in the form of an overmold member (<NUM>), shown in <FIG>. Waveguide (<NUM>) is secured longitudinally and rotationally within shaft assembly (<NUM>) by retaining pin (<NUM>), which passes through a transverse through-bore (<NUM>) formed at a proximally arranged acoustic node of waveguide (<NUM>), such as the proximal-most acoustic node, for example.

In the present example, a distal tip (<NUM>) of ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) is located at a position corresponding to an anti-node associated with the resonant ultrasonic vibrations communicated through waveguide (<NUM>). Such a configuration enables the acoustic assembly (<NUM>) of instrument (<NUM>) to be tuned to a preferred resonant frequency fo when ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) is not loaded by tissue. When ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>) is energized by generator (<NUM>) to transmit mechanical vibrations through waveguide (<NUM>) to blade (<NUM>), distal tip (<NUM>) of blade (<NUM>) is caused to oscillate longitudinally in the range of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> microns peak-to-peak, for example, and in some instances in the range of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> microns, at a predetermined vibratory frequency fo of approximately <NUM>, for example. When ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) is positioned in contact with tissue, the ultrasonic oscillation of blade (<NUM>) may simultaneously sever the tissue and denature the proteins in adjacent tissue cells, thereby providing a coagulative effect with minimal thermal spread.

As shown in <FIG>, distal end (<NUM>) of inner tube (<NUM>) may be offset radially outwardly relative to a remaining proximal portion of inner tube (<NUM>). This configuration enables pivot pin bore (<NUM>), which receives clamp arm pivot pin (<NUM>), to be spaced further away from the longitudinal axis of shaft assembly (<NUM>) than if distal end (<NUM>) where formed flush with the remaining proximal portion of inner tube (<NUM>). Advantageously, this provides increased clearance between proximal portions of clamp arm electrode (<NUM>) and blade electrode (<NUM>), thereby mitigating risk of undesired "shorting" between electrodes (<NUM>, <NUM>) and their corresponding active and return electrical paths, for example during back-cutting when ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) flexes toward clamp arm (<NUM>) and pivot pin (<NUM>) in response to normal force exerted on blade (<NUM>) by tissue. In other words, when ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) is used in a back-cutting operation, ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) may tend to deflect slightly away from the longitudinal axis of shaft assembly (<NUM>), toward pin (<NUM>). By having pivot pin bore (<NUM>) spaced further away from the longitudinal axis than pivot pin bore (<NUM>) otherwise would be in the absence of the radial offset provided by distal end (<NUM>) of the present example, distal end (<NUM>) provides additional lateral clearance between pivot pin (<NUM>) and ultrasonic blade (<NUM>), thereby reducing or eliminating the risk of contact between ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) and pivot pin (<NUM>) when ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) deflects laterally during back-cutting operations. In addition to preventing electrical short circuits that would otherwise result from contact between ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) and pivot pin (<NUM>) when end effector (<NUM>) is activated to apply RF electrosurgical energy, the additional clearance prevents mechanical damage that might otherwise result from contact between ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) and pivot pin (<NUM>) when ultrasonic blade (<NUM>) is vibrating ultrasonically.

<FIG> shows an exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) similar to surgical system (<NUM>) in that surgical system (<NUM>) includes a generator (<NUM>), a surgical instrument (<NUM>), and a power cable (<NUM>) configured to operatively couple surgical instrument (<NUM>) with generator (<NUM>). Surgical system (<NUM>) further includes a cable adapter (<NUM>) configured to couple power cable (<NUM>) with an output port on generator (<NUM>), which may also function as an input port. Surgical instrument (<NUM>) may be in the form of surgical instrument (<NUM>), and may incorporate any one or more of the exemplary supplemental or alternative features described above. Surgical instrument (<NUM>) includes an internally-mounted ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>), which may be in the form of ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>), described above.

Power cable (<NUM>) includes a first cable end (<NUM>) configured to couple with surgical instrument (<NUM>), and a second cable end (<NUM>) configured to couple with generator (<NUM>) via cable adapter (<NUM>). In the present example, first cable end (<NUM>) is configured to releasably couple to surgical instrument (<NUM>), and second cable end (<NUM>) is configured to releasably couple to a first adapter end (<NUM>) of cable adapter (<NUM>). A second adapter end (<NUM>) of cable adapter (<NUM>) is configured to releasably couple to a port on generator (<NUM>). The releasable couplings described above may be achieved using any suitable coupling elements known in the art. By way of example only, such coupling elements may include threaded elements, dynamic snap-fit elements, static snap-fit elements, magnetic elements, and/or friction fit elements. In alternative configurations, any one or more of the releasable couplings described above may be non-releasable. For example, first cable end (<NUM>) may be non-releasably attached to surgical instrument (<NUM>), and/or second cable end (<NUM>) may be non-releasably attached to first adapter end (<NUM>). In other configurations, any suitable combination of releasable and non-releasable couplings between surgical instrument (<NUM>), power cable (<NUM>), cable adapter (<NUM>), and generator (<NUM>) may be provided.

In the exemplary configuration shown in <FIG>. first cable end (<NUM>) of power cable (<NUM>) couples to a proximal end of handle assembly (<NUM>) of surgical instrument (<NUM>), and aligns coaxially with ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>) housed therein. It will be understood, however, that first cable end (<NUM>) may couple to handle assembly (<NUM>) at various other locations, and/or in various other orientations relative to transducer (<NUM>). For example, in one alternative configuration, first cable end (<NUM>) may couple to a proximal portion of handle assembly (<NUM>) at a location offset from the central axis of ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>). In another alternative configuration, first cable end (<NUM>) may couple to a lower end of a pistol grip (<NUM>) of handle assembly (<NUM>).

<FIG> shows another exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) similar to surgical systems (<NUM>, <NUM>) in that surgical system (<NUM>) includes a generator (<NUM>), a surgical instrument (<NUM>), and a power cable (<NUM>) configured to operatively couple surgical instrument (<NUM>) with generator (<NUM>). Surgical system (<NUM>) further includes a cable adapter (<NUM>) configured to couple power cable (<NUM>) with an output port on generator (<NUM>). Surgical instrument (<NUM>) is similar to surgical instrument (<NUM>), except that surgical instrument (<NUM>) includes an externally-mounted ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>) that releasably couples to and is supported by a handle assembly (<NUM>) of surgical instrument (<NUM>). Power cable (<NUM>) may be substantially similar to power cable (<NUM>). Furthermore, generator (<NUM>), surgical instrument (<NUM>), power cable (<NUM>), and cable adapter (<NUM>) may be configured to couple to one another in various configurations similar to those described above in connection with surgical system (<NUM>).

<FIG> shows another exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) including a generator (<NUM>), a surgical instrument (<NUM>), and filter circuitry (<NUM>). Surgical system (<NUM>) may represent any of surgical systems (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) described above. In that regard, generator (<NUM>) may represent any of generators (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and surgical instrument (<NUM>) may represent any of surgical instruments (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), for example.

Generator (<NUM>) is configured to generate and emit a single output waveform (<NUM>) (also referred to as a "drive signal") that contains an ultrasonic drive component and an RF drive component. Filter circuitry (<NUM>) is configured to receive the single output waveform (<NUM>) and separate its ultrasonic and RF drive components. More specifically, filter circuitry (<NUM>) converts the single output waveform (<NUM>) into an ultrasonic drive waveform (<NUM>) and a separate RF drive waveform (<NUM>). Ultrasonic drive waveform (<NUM>) is configured to drive an ultrasonic transducer of surgical instrument (<NUM>) to produce ultrasonic energy for cutting and/or sealing tissue; and an RF drive waveform (<NUM>) is configured to energize bipolar RF electrodes of surgical instrument (<NUM>) with electrosurgical bipolar RF energy for sealing tissue.

By way of example only, filter circuitry (<NUM>) may be constructed and function in accordance with the teachings of <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and/or <CIT>.

Ultrasonic and RF drive waveforms (<NUM>, <NUM>) may be delivered to the ultrasonic transducer and bipolar RF electrodes of surgical instrument (<NUM>) simultaneously, such that instrument (<NUM>) may treat tissue with simultaneous application of ultrasonic energy and electrosurgical bipolar RF energy. The ultrasonic and RF energies may be applied selectively, and various parameters of the applied energies may be selectively adjusted, using user input features provided on generator (<NUM>) and/or on surgical instrument (<NUM>), such as energy control buttons (<NUM>, <NUM>), for example. In various examples, surgical system (<NUM>) may be configured to deliver pre-determined levels and/or patterns of ultrasonic and/or RF energies based on energy application algorithms pre-programmed into control circuitry of surgical system (<NUM>). Such algorithms may include any one or more of the exemplary algorithms disclosed in <CIT>; <CIT>.

Filter circuitry (<NUM>) may be arranged at a variety of suitable locations within surgical system (<NUM>). <FIG> shows a first exemplary version of surgical system (<NUM>) in the form of surgical system (<NUM>), in which filter circuitry (<NUM>) is integrated into an accessory device (<NUM>), which may be in the form of a power cable or a cable adapter, such as power cables (<NUM>, <NUM>) or cable adapters (<NUM>, <NUM>) described above, for example. <FIG> shows a second exemplary version of surgical system (<NUM>) in the form of surgical system (<NUM>), in which filter circuitry (<NUM>) is integrated into generator (<NUM>). <FIG> shows a third exemplary version of surgical system (<NUM>) in the form of surgical system (<NUM>), in which filter circuitry (<NUM>) is integrated into surgical instrument (<NUM>).

<FIG> shows surgical instrument (<NUM>) having filter circuitry (<NUM>) arranged therein at various optional locations, in accordance with the general configuration of surgical system (<NUM>) of <FIG>. As shown, and by way of example only, filter circuitry (<NUM>) may be arranged within a proximal portion of handle assembly (<NUM>), proximally of internally-mounted ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>). Alternatively, filter circuitry (<NUM>) within a lower portion of pistol grip (<NUM>) of handle assembly (<NUM>).

<FIG> shows surgical instrument (<NUM>) having filter circuitry (<NUM>) arranged therein, in accordance with the general configuration of surgical system (<NUM>) of <FIG>. As shown, and by way of example only, filter circuitry (<NUM>) may be integrated into externally-mounted ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>).

It may be desirable to equip any of the exemplary surgical systems disclosed herein with at least one electrically erasable programmable read-only memory ("EEPROM"), and an application-specific integrated circuit ("ASIC"). For example, one or more EEPROMs may be provided to record and retain certain manufacturing inputs and system settings, and track usage of one or more components of the surgical system, such as the surgical instrument and/or the power cable. Such EEPROMs may be placed in communication with a generator of the surgical system so the generator may read the data collected by the EEPROMs. An ASIC may be provided to receive an analog signal emitted by a component of the surgical instrument, such as energy control buttons (<NUM>, <NUM>). In response to receiving the analog signal, the ASIC generates and emits a corresponding digital signal indicating a state of the surgical instrument, the digital signal to be received by the generator. In response to receiving the digital signal, the generator may perform one or more pre-determined actions, such as adjustment of the ultrasonic and/or RF drive components of the output waveform emitted by the generator. It will be understood that each EEPROM and ASIC of the exemplary surgical systems described below may communicate with a generator of the surgical system via a dedicated communication line, which may comprise one or more wires, for example.

<FIG> show exemplary surgical systems having a surgical instrument (<NUM>) and an accessory device (<NUM>), which may be in the form of a power cable or a cable adapter. Each surgical system includes one or more EEPROMs (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>). As described below, EEPROMs (<NUM>) and ASIC (<NUM>) may be arranged in various configurations relative to surgical instrument (<NUM>) and accessory device (<NUM>). It will be appreciated that any of the exemplary surgical systems described below may represent any of the surgical systems described above. For instance, surgical instrument (<NUM>) may represent any of surgical instruments (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and accessory device (<NUM>) may represent any one or more of power cables (<NUM>, <NUM>) and cable adapters (<NUM>, <NUM>). Further, any of the exemplary surgical systems described below may incorporate a generator similar to any of generators (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) described above.

<FIG> shows a first exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) in which an EEPROM (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>) are both integrated into surgical instrument (<NUM>).

<FIG> shows a second exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) in which an EEPROM (<NUM>) is integrated into surgical instrument (<NUM>), and an ASIC (<NUM>) is integrated into accessory device (<NUM>), such as a power cable or a cable adapter of system (<NUM>).

<FIG> shows a third exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) in which a first EEPROM (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>) are integrated into surgical instrument (<NUM>), and a second EEPROM (<NUM>) is integrated into accessory device (<NUM>), such as a power cable or a cable adapter of system (<NUM>). In such cases, the power cable and cable adapter may be releasably separable or non-separable from one another.

<FIG> shows a fourth exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) in which a first EEPROM (<NUM>) is integrated into surgical instrument (<NUM>), and a second EEPROM (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>) are integrated into accessory device (<NUM>). For instance, in one example, second EEPROM (<NUM>) and ASIC (<NUM>) may both be integrated into a power cable or a cable adapter of system (<NUM>). In another example, second EEPROM (<NUM>) may be integrated into one of the power cable or the cable adapter, and ASIC (<NUM>) may be integrated into the other of the power cable or the cable adapter. In such examples, the power cable and cable adapter may be releasably separable or non-separable from one another.

<FIG> shows a fifth exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) in which a first EEPROM (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>) are integrated into surgical instrument (<NUM>), and second and third EEPROMs (<NUM>) are integrated into accessory device (<NUM>). For instance, system (<NUM>) may include a power cable and a cable adapter that are releasably separable from one another, where the second EEPROM (<NUM>) is integrated into the power cable and the third EEPROM (<NUM>) is integrated into the cable adapter.

<FIG> shows a sixth exemplary surgical system (<NUM>) in which a first EEPROM (<NUM>) is integrated into surgical instrument (<NUM>), and second and third EEPROMs (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>) are integrated into accessory device (<NUM>). For instance, system (<NUM>) may include a power cable and a cable adapter that are releasably separable from one another, where the second EEPROM (<NUM>) is integrated into the power cable and the third EEPROM (<NUM>) and ASIC (<NUM>) are integrated into the cable adapter. In another example, the second EEPROM (<NUM>) and ASIC (<NUM>) may be integrated into the power cable, and the third EEPROM (<NUM>) may be integrated into the cable adapter.

Each surgical system (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) described above includes an EEPROM (<NUM>) integrated into surgical instrument (<NUM>). This instrument EEPROM (<NUM>) functions to, among other tasks, track usage of surgical instrument (<NUM>), thereby enabling a user to track the number of surgical procedures in which surgical instrument (<NUM>) has been used. Surgical systems (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) each include at least one additional EEPROM (<NUM>) integrated into a power cable and/or a cable adapter (i.e., an "accessory device") of system (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>). In accordance with the present invention, each of these additional accessory EEPROMs (<NUM>) tracks usage of the corresponding power cable or cable adapter with which the accessory EEPROM is integrated, thereby enabling a user to monitor usage of the power cable and/or cable adapter separately from usage of surgical instrument (<NUM>).

In accordance with the present invention, the surgical systems (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), accessory device (<NUM>) are configured to be releasably coupled with surgical instrument (<NUM>) so as to be reusable for multiple surgical procedures, for example with multiple surgical instruments (<NUM>). The releasable coupling may be in the form of any of those described above in connection with surgical system (<NUM>). Alternatively, accessory device (<NUM>) may be non-releasably coupled with surgical instrument (<NUM>), so as to be non-reusable and discarded along with used surgical instrument (<NUM>) after one or more surgical procedures performed on a single patient, for example. For instance, accessory device (<NUM>) may be non-releasably coupled with surgical instrument (<NUM>) in surgical systems in which ASIC (<NUM>) is integrated into accessory device (<NUM>), such as surgical systems (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).

<FIG> schematically illustrate exemplary surgical instruments having a handle assembly (<NUM>) and an externally-mounted ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>) releasably coupled to and supported by handle assembly (<NUM>). In that regard, the surgical instruments described below may represent various exemplary configurations of surgical instrument (<NUM>) shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Each surgical instrument includes at least one EEPROM (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>), which may be similar in function to EEPROMs (<NUM>) and ASICs (<NUM>) described above. Some versions of externally-mounted ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>) may be configured as reusable components. In addition, or in the alternative, some versions of handle assembly (<NUM>) may be configured as reusable components.

<FIG> shows a first exemplary surgical instrument (<NUM>) in which a first EEPROM (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>) are integrated into handle assembly (<NUM>), and a second EEPROM (<NUM>) is integrated into externally-mounted ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>). First EEPROM (<NUM>) is configured to track usage of handle assembly (<NUM>), while second EEPROM (<NUM>) is configured to track usage of external transducer (<NUM>) separately from usage of handle assembly (<NUM>).

<FIG> shows a second exemplary surgical instrument (<NUM>) in which a first EEPROM (<NUM>) is integrated into handle assembly (<NUM>), and a second EEPROM (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>) are integrated into externally-mounted ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>). First and second EEPROMS (<NUM>) are configured to function similarly to those of surgical instrument (<NUM>) described above.

<FIG> shows a third exemplary surgical instrument (<NUM>) having a single EEPROM (<NUM>) and an ASIC (<NUM>), both of which are integrated into handle assembly (<NUM>). In the present example, EEPROM (<NUM>) is configured to track usage of handle assembly (<NUM>), which may differ from usage of externally-mounted ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>), for example if transducer (<NUM>) has been used previously in combination with a different handle assembly (<NUM>).

Similarly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various teachings herein may be readily combined with various teachings of any of the following: <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>, the disclosure of which is; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and/or <CIT>.

Claim 1:
A surgical system (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
(a) a surgical instrument (<NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
(i) a body (<NUM>, <NUM>),
(ii) an ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>, <NUM>) supported by the body,
(iii) a shaft (<NUM>) extending distally from the body, and
(iv) an end effector (<NUM>) arranged at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the end effector is operable to treat tissue with ultrasonic energy;
(b) an accessory device (<NUM>) configured to releasably couple with the surgical instrument and operatively couple the surgical instrument with a generator (<NUM>), wherein the generator is operable to power the surgical instrument to provide ultrasonic energy;
(c) a primary electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) (<NUM>, <NUM>) provided within the body of the surgical instrument, wherein the primary EEPROM is operable to track usage of the body; and
(d) at least one of
(i) an accessory EEPROM (<NUM>) integrated into the accessory device, wherein the accessory EEPROM is operable to track usage of the accessory device independent of the primary EEPROM operable to track usage of the body, or
(ii) a transducer EEPROM (<NUM>) integrated into the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the transducer EEPROM is operable to track usage of the ultrasonic transducer independent of the primary EEPROM operable to track usage of the body.