Joseph A Brotz

US Patent:

7179271, Feb 20, 2007

Filed:

Dec 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/326223

Inventors:

Allan L. Friedman - Cincinnati OH, US
William T. Donofrio - Cincinnati OH, US
Eitan T. Wiener - Cincinnati OH, US
Joseph A. Brotz - Oshkosh WI, US
John E. Hein - Menasha WI, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A61B 17/32

US Classification:

606169, 606 1, 702106

Abstract:

The ability of an ultrasonic system to sweep and lock onto a resonance frequency of a blade subjected to a heavy load at startup is improved by applying a high drive voltage or a high drive current while systematically increasing the level of the applied signal. Increasing the drive signal to the hand piece results in an improved and more pronounced “impedance spectrum. ” That is, under load, the increased drive signal causes the maximum phase margin to become higher and the minimum/maximum impedance magnitude to become more pronounced. Increasing the excitation drive signal to the hand piece/blade at startup significantly alleviates the limiting factors associated with ultrasonic generators, which results in an increase of the maximum load capability at startup.

US Patent:

20030009303, Jan 9, 2003

Filed:

Sep 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/235952

Inventors:

Eitan Wiener - Cincinnati OH, US
Joseph Brotz - Oshkosh WI, US
John Hein - Menasha WI, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery

International Classification:

G06F019/00
G01R035/00

US Classification:

702/106000

Abstract:

The start up performance of an ultrasonic system under zero load conditions is improved by setting a phase set point in a frequency control loop such that, at start up under zero load conditions, the phase set point intersects a point on a phase-frequency response curve which has a low positive slope. This intersection point on the phase-frequency response curve changes as the load is increased and the system Q is decreased. The controller “seeks” a target 0 impedance phase angle. The frequency of the ultrasonic generator is set to an off-resonance frequency which is lower than the resonance of any known hand piece/blade combination. In order for the drive voltage to not exceed the physical limit of the system, the drive current is set to a low level. The drive frequency is then smoothly increased in steps until the target 0 impedance phase delta is located.

US Patent:

20110087256, Apr 14, 2011

Filed:

Oct 1, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/896360

Inventors:

Eitan T. Wiener - Cincinnati OH, US
Jeffrey L. Aldridge - Lebanon OH, US
James R. Giordano - Milford OH, US
Foster B. Stulen - Mason OH, US
Joseph A. Brotz - Oshkosh WI, US
John E. Hein - Neenah WI, US

Assignee:

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

A61B 17/32

US Classification:

606169

Abstract:

A method for determining motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic surgical device over multiple frequencies of a transducer drive signal. The method may comprise, at each of a plurality of frequencies of the transducer drive signal, oversampling a current and voltage of the transducer drive signal, receiving, by a processor, the current and voltage samples, and determining, by the processor, the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and the frequency of the transducer drive signal.

US Patent:

20210393314, Dec 23, 2021

Filed:

Jul 8, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/370128

Inventors:

- Zug, CH
Jeffrey L. Aldridge - Lebanon OH, US
Brian T. Noyes - Yonkers NY, US
Jeffrey D. Messerly - Cincinnati OH, US
James R. Giordano - Milford OH, US
Nathan J. Price - Albuquerque NM, US
Matthew C. Miller - Cincinnati OH, US
Jeffrey P. Wiley - Milford OH, US
Daniel W. Price - Loveland OH, US
Joseph A. Brotz - Oshkosh WI, US
John E. Hein - Neenah WI, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/12
A61B 17/32
H01L 41/04

Abstract:

A method for determining motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic surgical device over multiple frequencies of a transducer drive signal. The method may comprise, at each of a plurality of frequencies of the transducer drive signal, oversampling a current and voltage of the transducer drive signal, receiving, by a processor, the current and voltage samples, and determining, by the processor, the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and the frequency of the transducer drive signal.

US Patent:

20210290288, Sep 23, 2021

Filed:

Jun 10, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/344092

Inventors:

- St. Paul MN, US
James C. Baker - Woodbury MN, US
Kevin K. Ennett - Lino Lakes MN, US
John Eric Hein - Neenah WI, US
Joseph Allen Brotz - Oshkosh WI, US
Joseph William Barnier - Menasha WI, US
Raymond Vincent Froehlich - Neenah WI, US
Michael Olsen - Savage MN, US
Sukanya Varadharajan - Maplewood MN, US
Catherine A. Pipenhagen - Plymouth MN, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/08
A61B 18/12
A61B 18/14

Abstract:

Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.

US Patent:

20190282292, Sep 19, 2019

Filed:

Jan 15, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/248160

Inventors:

- Guaynabo PR, US
Jeffrey L. Aldridge - Lebanon OH, US
Brian T. Noyes - Montclair NJ, US
Jeffrey D. Messerly - Cincinnati OH, US
James R. Giordano - Milford OH, US
Nathan J. Price - Albuquerque NM, US
Matthew C. Miller - Cincinnati OH, US
Jeffrey P. Wiley - Milford OH, US
Daniel W. Price - Loveland OH, US
Joseph A. Brotz - Oshkosh WI, US
John E. Hein - Neenah WI, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/12
A61B 17/32
H01L 41/04

Abstract:

A control circuit configured to receive a control signal that defines a first phase and a second phase from a surgical generator. The control circuit may include a first resistor, a second resistor in parallel with the first resistor, and a switch in series with the second resistor. The switch may be configured to transition between an open state and a closed state corresponding to an operational mode of a surgical instrument. In the first phase of the control signal, the control circuit is configured to communicate surgical instrument information to the surgical generator. In the second phase of the control signal and in the open state of the switch, the control circuit is configured to provide a first output. In the second phase of the control signal and in the closed state of the switch, the control circuit is configured to provide a second output.

US Patent:

20180250059, Sep 6, 2018

Filed:

May 3, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/970273

Inventors:

- St. Paul MN, US
James C. Baker - Woodbury MN, US
Kevin K. Ennett - Lino Lakes MN, US
John Eric Hein - Neenah WI, US
Joseph Allen Brotz - Oshkosh WI, US
Joseph William Barnier - Menasha WI, US
Raymond Victor Froehlich - Neenah WI, US
Michael Olsen - Savage MN, US
Sukanya Varadharajan - Maplewood MN, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/08
A61B 18/12

Abstract:

Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a multi-electrode ablation system includes a power supply configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes and a controller coupled to the power supply. The controller is configured to determine a thermal gain of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes. For each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the controller sets a power limit based at least in part on said electrode's determined thermal gain. The power limit establishes a maximum power that may be dissipated through said electrode.

US Patent:

20180168714, Jun 21, 2018

Filed:

Mar 13, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/657850

Inventors:

- Cincinnati OH, US
Jeffrey L. Aldridge - Lebanon OH, US
Brian T. Noyes - Mason OH, US
Jeffrey D. Messerly - Cincinnati OH, US
James R. Giordano - Milford OH, US
Nathan J. Price - Dunlap IL, US
Matthew C. Miller - Cincinnati OH, US
Jeffrey P. Wiley - Milford OH, US
Daniel W. Price - Loveland OH, US
Robert L. Koch - Cincinnati OH, US
Joseph A. Brotz - Oshkosh WI, US
John E. Hein - Neenah WI, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/12
A61B 17/32

Abstract:

A method for determining motional branch current in an ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic surgical device over multiple frequencies of a transducer drive signal. The method may comprise, at each of a plurality of frequencies of the transducer drive signal, oversampling a current and voltage of the transducer drive signal, receiving, by a processor, the current and voltage samples, and determining, by the processor, the motional branch current based on the current and voltage samples, a static capacitance of the ultrasonic transducer and the frequency of the transducer drive signal.