Monitoring thermal conditions to vary operation of an ultrasonic needle tip of a surgical instrument

Patent Number: 9387122

Patent Date: 2016-07-12

Patent type: utility

A method and apparatus to operate a surgical instrument in response to a thermal condition being detected that warrants curtailment of further operation. When the thermal condition is reached, command signals are generated that cause a needle of the surgical instrument to either have its vibrational speed slowed, have its vibrational movement stopped, or have it withdrawn from its relative position. The detection is of infrared radiation wavelengths and is carried out with either a thermal imaging device of a thermal recognition device. A corresponding temperature of the detected infrared radiation wavelengths is compared to a critical temperature to determine whether the thermal condition has been reached.

Inventors

First Name Last Name City State Country
Richard J. Mackool - - -

IPCs

Section Class Sub Class Group Sub Group
A 61 B 6 00
A 61 F 9 007
A 61 B 17 32
A 61 B 17 00

Assignee

Organization First Name Last Name City State Country
Novartis AG - - - Arlesheim -