WO2025038559A1 - Ultrasonic surgical tool system with auxiliary power - Google Patents

Abstract

An ultrasonic tool system includes an ultrasonic instrument, a powered auxiliary assembly removably coupled to the ultrasonic instrument and configured to provide an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and a control console coupled to the ultrasonic instrument. The control console is configured to source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument, the AC drive signal including a first component at a first frequency for vibrating a tip of the ultrasonic instrument and a second component at a second frequency greater than the first frequency for powering the auxiliary assembly. The ultrasonic instrument is configured to vibrate the tip with the first component of the AC drive signal, and power the auxiliary assembly with the second component of the AC drive signal.

Description

ULTRASONIC SURGICAL TOOL SYSTEM WITH AUXILIARY POWER

BACKGROUND

[0001] Handheld surgical tools such as ultrasonic aspirators are often designed with ergonomics and operational capacity in mind, such as to reduce surgeon fatigue and limit interruptions in the usual flow of certain surgical procedures to replace a battery or other pail of the tool. It would be desirable to provide auxiliary assemblies that are coupleable to such tools and enable auxiliary functions relative to the tools’ primary functions in a manner that supports these objectives.

SUMMARY

[0002] In an aspect, an ultrasonic surgical tool system includes an ultrasonic instrument with 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 also includes a powered auxiliary assembly removably coupled to or integral with the ultrasonic instrument and configured to provide an auxiliary function relating operation of the ultrasonic instrument. The system also includes a control console coupled to the ultrasonic instrument and configured to source the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument such that the AC drive signal includes a first component at a first frequency for driving the at least one driver to vibrate the tip and a second component at a second frequency greater than the first frequency for operating and/or powering the auxiliary assembly. The ultrasonic instrument is configured to vibrate the tip with the first component of the AC drive signal and operate and/or power the auxiliary assembly with the second component of the AC drive signal.

[0003] In another aspect, an ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a tip having a distal region for treating patient tissue. The instrument also includes a handpiece including at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, where the handpiece is configured to wirelessly operate and/or power an auxiliary assembly removably coupleable to the handpiece using the AC drive signal for providing an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument. [0004] In another aspect, an ultrasonic surgical tool system includes an ultrasonic instrument with a tip having a distal region for treating patient tissue, a handpiece including 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 sleeve disposed over the tip and removably coupled to the handpiece. The system also includes a temperature sensor coupled to an outer wall of the sleeve and operated and/or powered by the AC drive signal. The system also includes a control console coupled to the ultrasonic instrument and configured to source the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument such that the AC drive signal includes a first component at a first frequency for driving the at least one driver and a second component at a second frequency for operating and/or powering the temperature sensor. The control console is further configured to measure a characteristic of the AC drive signal such as voltage, and determine a temperature of the sleeve detected by the temperature sensor based on the measured voltage.

[0005] In another aspect, an adapter is configured to receive an AC drive signal from a control console and to provide the AC drive signal to an ultrasonic surgical instrument to vibrate a tip of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. The adapter includes a first connector configured to couple to the control console for receiving the AC drive signal from the control console. The adapter also includes a second connector configured to couple to an auxiliary power source for receiving an auxiliary power signal from the auxiliary power source, the auxiliary power signal for operating and/or powering an auxiliary assembly removably couplable to the ultrasonic instrument and configured to provide an auxiliary function relating operation of the ultrasonic instrument. The adapter also includes a receptacle configured to receive a connector of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and provide the AC drive signal and an auxiliary drive signal based on the auxiliary power signal to the ultrasonic surgical instrument through the connector to vibrate the tip of the ultrasonic instrument and power the auxiliary assembly respectively.

[0006] In another aspect, a sleeve for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the ultrasonic instrument including a tip and a handpiece having at least one driver to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, includes a body having open proximal and distal ends and a conduit for flowing irrigating fluid down the sleeve and out the open distal end during operation of the ultrasonic tool to vibrate the tip. The body is adapted to be disposed around the tip and coupled to a distal region the handpiece such that the tip extends through the sleeve out the open distal end. The sleeve also includes an auxiliary assembly coupled to the body and configured to provide an auxiliary function relating operation of the ultrasonic tool. The auxiliary assembly includes a receive coil disposed in a proximal region of the body, the receive coil being configured to cooperate with a transmit coil disposed in the distal region of the handpiece to operate and/or power the auxiliary assembly when the sleeve body is coupled to the handpiece.

[0007] In an aspect, an auxiliary assembly for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the instrument including a tip and a handpiece having at least one driver to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, includes a clip adapted to be coupled to the handpiece. The auxiliary assembly also includes an auxiliary component configured to be coupled to the ultrasonic instrument and provide an auxiliary function relating operation of the ultrasonic instrument. The auxiliary assembly also includes a receive coil disposed in the clip and coupled to the auxiliary component, the receive coil being configured to cooperate with a transmit coil disposed in the handpiece to operate and/or power the auxiliary component.

[0008] In another aspect, a control console for sourcing an AC drive signal to an ultrasonic surgical instrument to vibrate a tip of the ultrasonic instrument includes a power supply configured to generate the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument. The console also includes at least one processor coupled to the power supply for regulating the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument, the at least one processor being configured to: responsive to receiving a first user input, operate the power supply to generate an AC drive signal including a first component at a first frequency for vibrating the tip and a second component at a second frequency greater than the first frequency for powering an auxiliary assembly removably coupled to the ultrasonic instrument, the auxiliary assembly being configured to provide an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument; and responsive to receiving a second user input, operate the power supply to generate an AC drive signal including the first component for vibrating the tip and omitting the second component.

[0009] Additional aspects include sub-components of any one or more of the above aspects, for example the sleeve, ultrasonic surgical instrument, or control console of any one or more of the above aspects. Additional aspects include methods corresponding to any one or more of the above aspects, which may include performing the functions of any one of more of the above aspects, and/or may include one or more of providing, configuring, connecting, or manufacturing the components of any one or more of the above aspects, such as for example to facilitate performance of the functions. Additional aspects include computer systems, devices, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices configured to implement any one or more of the contemplated methods.

[0010] It is contemplated that any two or more of the above aspects may be combined in whole or in part. For any of the above aspects, individually or in combination, any one or more of the following implementations are possible.

[0011] In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument defines a pathway for providing suction at the distal region of the tip. In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument defines a pathway for supplying irrigating fluid to the distal region of the tip.

[0012] In some implementations, the operation of the ultrasonic instrument to which the auxiliary function provided by the auxiliary assembly relates includes one or more of vibration of the tip of the ultrasonic instrument to treat patient tissue, suction provided through the ultrasonic instrument, such as through the tip of the ultrasonic instrument, or irrigation provided by the ultrasonic instrument, such as through a sleeve of the ultrasonic instrument.

[0013] In some implementations, the first frequency of the first component of the AC drive signal is a mechanical resonant frequency of the ultrasonic instrument, and the second frequency of the second component of the AC drive signal is at least 100 kHz greater than the first frequency. In some implementations, the first frequency is about 25 kHz and the second frequency is about 170 kHz.

[0014] In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument comprises a transmit coil and the auxiliary assembly comprises a receive coil across which the transmit coil induces a signal for operating and/or powering the auxiliary assembly responsive to the ultrasonic instrument receiving the AC drive signal. In some implementations, the control console includes a sensor for measuring a voltage of the AC drive signal and a sensor for measuring a current of the AC drive signal. In some implementations, the control console is configured to, based on the measured voltage and current of the AC drive signal, track a mechanical resonant frequency of the ultrasonic instrument and track an optimal power transfer frequency of the transmit and receive coils. In some implementations, the first frequency of the first component of the AC drive signal corresponds to the tracked mechanical resonant frequency, and the second frequency of the second component of the AC drive signal corresponds to the tracked optimal power transfer frequency. In some implementations, the control console is configured to track the optimal power transfer frequency by being configured to: determine a phase difference between the measured voltage of the AC drive signal and the measured current of the AC drive signal at the second frequency; and determine the optimal power transfer frequency based on the phase difference.

[0015] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a battery compartment and an adapter received in the battery compartment, the adapter including the receive coil.

[0016] in some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument includes a handpiece containing the at least one driver and includes a cable extending from the handpiece, the cable including a high side conductor and a low side conductor over which the AC drive signal is sourced to the handpiece. In some implementations, the handpiece comprises a transmit coil inline with the low side conductor, and the auxiliary assembly comprises a receive coil across which the transmit coil induces a signal for operating and/or powering the auxiliary assembly responsive to receiving the AC drive signal.

[0017] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises an event indicator, a navigation tracker, a tissue type sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, or a combination thereof.

[0018] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a sensor configured to generate data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and a load modulation circuit coupled to the sensor and configured to modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the sensor data. In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument comprises a handpiece including the at least one driver and a sleeve disposed over the tip and removably coupleable to the handpiece. In some implementations, the sleeve defines a pathway for providing irrigating fluid to the distal region of the tip. In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly includes a temperature sensor disposed on an outer wall of the sleeve. In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a clip configured to mate with the handpiece to couple the auxiliary assembly to the ultrasonic instrument. In some implementations, the clip supports the load modulation circuit. In some implementations, a heat shrink is disposed around the sleeve and a sensor of the auxiliary assembly for coupling the sensor to the sleeve.

[0019] In some implementations, the control console is configured to: determine from the modulated second component of the AC drive signal the temperature of the ultrasonic instrument indicated by the sensor data; and trigger a cooling protocol for the ultrasonic instrument based on the determined temperature of the ultrasonic instrument. In some implementations, the control console is configured to trigger the cooling protocol by being configured to perform one or more of reducing the first component of the AC drive signal, increasing the suction provided through the suction pathway, or increasing the irrigating fluid provided through the irrigation pathway.

[0020] In some implementations, a sensor of the auxiliary assembly is defined as a first sensor configured to generate first data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and the auxiliary assembly comprises a second sensor configured to generate second data relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument. In some implementations, the load modulation circuit is configured to modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the first data using a first frequency, and modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the second data using a second frequency that differs from the first frequency. In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data associating the first frequency with the first data and associating the second frequency with the second data. In some implementations, the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and determine the first data and the second data from the second component of the AC drive signal based on the read data.

[0021] In some implementation, the auxiliary assembly comprises a first auxiliary component configured to provide a first function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument and a second auxiliary component configured to provide a second function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument. In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly is configured to operate and/or power the first auxiliary component when the second component of the AC drive signal comprises a frequency associated with the first auxiliary component, and operate and/or power the second auxiliary component when the second component comprises a frequency associated with the second auxiliary component that differs from the first auxiliary component frequency. In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data indicating the first auxiliary component frequency in association with the first auxiliary component and indicating the second auxiliary component frequency in association with the second auxiliary component. In some implementations, the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and set one or more frequencies of the second component of the AC drive signal based on the read data.

[0022] In some implementations, the first auxiliary component is defined as a sensor configured to generate data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and the second auxiliary component is defined as an event indicator. In some implementations, the control console is configured to: set the second component of the AC drive signal to include the first auxiliary component frequency; determine the data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument generated by the sensor responsive to setting the second component of the AC drive signal to include the first auxiliary component frequency; and set the second component of the AC drive signal to include the second auxiliary component frequency based on the determined data.

[0023] In some implementations, the first auxiliary component is defined as a first sensor configured to generate first data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and the second auxiliary component is defined as a second sensor configured to generate second data relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument. In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a load modulation circuit coupled to the first and second sensors and configured to modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the first data responsive to the second component of the AC drive signal being set to include the first auxiliary component frequency, and modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the second data responsive to the second component of the AC drive signal being set to include the second auxiliary component frequency.

[0024] In some implementations, the first sensor comprises a temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument, and the second sensor comprises a sensor configured to generate data indicative of whether irrigating fluid is flowing through the ultrasonic instrument. In some implementations, the first sensor comprises a first temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a first temperature of the ultrasonic instrument at a first location, and the second sensor comprises a second temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a second temperature of the ultrasonic instrument at a second location different from the first location. In some implementations, the first sensor comprises a temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument, and the second sensor comprises a tissue type sensor configured to generate data indicative of a type of tissue adjacent the distal region of the tip.

[0025] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a first auxiliary component realized as a sensor configured to generate data relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and a second auxiliary component configured to provide an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument. In some implementations, the control console is configured to measure a characteristic of the AC drive signal such as current, voltage, or resistance, isolate the second component from the measured characteristic of the AC drive signal, subtract a steady state value associated with the second auxiliary component from the isolated second component, and determine the sensor data based on the subtraction. In some implementations, the second auxiliary component comprises a navigation tracker or an event indicator. In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data indicating the steady state value associated with the second auxiliary component. In some implementations, the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and determine the steady state value based on the read data.

[0026] In some implementations, the control console is configured to source an AC drive signal comprising the first component and omitting the second component responsive to receiving a first user input, and source the AC drive signal comprising the first component and the second component responsive to receiving a second user input different from the first user input. In some implementations, the control console is configured to source the AC drive signal comprising the first component and omitting the second component responsive to receiving the first user input while sourcing the AC drive signal comprising the first component and the second component responsive to receiving the second user input.

[0027] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a clip configured to cooperate with a housing of the ultrasonic instrument to couple the auxiliary assembly to the ultrasonic instrument.

[0028] In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data indicative of whether the ultrasonic instrument is functional with the auxiliary assembly. In some implementations, the control console is configured to: read the data from the memoiy when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and source the AC drive signal comprising the first component and the second component based on the read data.

[0029] In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memoiy storing data indicative of a voltage and/or frequency for the second component of the AC drive signal. In some implementations, the control console is configured to: read the data from the memoiy when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to the control console; and set the voltage and/or frequency of the second component of the AC drive signal based on the read data.

[0030] In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memoiy storing data indicative of one or more operating conditions of the ultrasonic instrument detectable by the auxiliary assembly and at least one characteristic of the second component of the AC drive signal associated with each of the operating conditions, hi some implementations, the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and determine an operating condition of the ultrasonic instrument based on the read data.

[0031] In some implementations, the ultrasonic instrument comprises a sleeve disposed over the tip and having a proximal region removably coupled to a distal region of the handpiece, the sleeve defining a second pathway between an inner wall of the sleeve and the tip for providing irrigating fluid to the distal region of the tip. In some implementations, a transmit coil is disposed in the distal region of the handpiece for wirelessly operating and/or powering the auxiliary assembly, and a receive coil is disposed in the proximal region of the sleeve, across which the transmit coil induces a signal for operating and/or powering the auxiliary assembly responsive to receiving the AC drive signal. In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a sensor disposed on or within the sleeve and that is configured to generate data related to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a load modulation circuit within the sleeve, the load modulation circuit coupled between the sensor and the receive coil and configured to modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the sensor data.

[0032] In some implementations, the control console is configured to: filter out the first frequency from the measured voltage of the AC drive signal; detect an envelope of the filtered measured voltage; and determine the temperature of the sleeve based on a frequency of the envelope.

[0033] In some implementations, the auxiliary power signal received by the adapter is an AC signal comprising the auxiliary drive signal. In other implementations, the auxiliary power signal is a DC signal, and the adapter comprises a receiving circuit configured to generate the auxiliary drive signal from the auxiliary power signal.

[0034] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a sensor for generating data relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and the sleeve comprises a load modulation circuit disposed in the body and configured to modulate the AC drive signal based on the sensor data. In some implementations, the sleeve includes a tip memory disposed in the body and storing data indicative of whether the sleeve includes the auxiliary assembly. In some implementations, the sleeve comprises a tip memory disposed in the body and storing data indicative of a voltage and/or frequency for the AC drive signal for operating and/or powering the auxiliary assembly, and/or data indicative of one or more operating conditions of the ultrasonic surgical instrument detectable by the auxiliary assembly and at least one load modulation frequency associated with each of the operating conditions. In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly includes a first sensor configured to generate first data related to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and a second sensor configured to generate second data related to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. In some implementations, the sleeve comprises a tip memory disposed in the body and storing data indicative of at least one load modulation frequency associated with the first sensor and at least one load modulation frequency associated with the second sensor.

[0035] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly includes a first auxiliary component configured to provide a first function relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and a second auxiliary component configured to provide a second function relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. In some implementations, the sleeve comprises a tip memory disposed in the body and storing data indicative of at least one AC drive signal frequency for triggering operation of the first auxiliary component and at least one AC drive signal frequency for triggering operation of the second auxiliary component.

[0036] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly comprises a first auxiliary component realized as a sensor configured to generate data indicative of an operating condition of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and a second auxiliary component configured to provide an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. In some implementations, the sleeve comprises a tip memory storing data indicating a steady state value associated with the second auxiliary component for determining the sensor data generated by the first auxiliary component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic surgical tool system including a control console, an ultrasonic instrument, and an auxiliary assembly realized as a navigation tracker wirelessly powered through the ultrasonic instrument.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic instrument that illustrates components that may be internal to the ultrasonic instrument. [0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an adapter that may be used with an auxiliary assembly realized as a navigation tracker and wirelessly powered through the ultrasonic instrument.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ultrasonic instrument and an auxiliary assembly realized as a navigation tracker wirelessly powered through the ultrasonic instrument.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of components that may be incorporated into the control console.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of components that may be incorporated into the ultrasonic instrument and an auxiliary assembly wirelessly powered through the ultrasonic instrument.

[0043] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a circuit that may be implemented by the ultrasonic surgical tool system to wirelessly power an auxiliary assembly realized as a navigation tracker coupled to the ultrasonic instrument.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a side view of the ultrasonic instrument and an auxiliary assembly realized as a temperature sensing assembly wirelessly powered through the ultrasonic instrument when in a disassembled state.

[0045] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the ultrasonic instrument and the temperature sensing assembly when in an assembled state.

[0046] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a circuit that may be implemented by the ultrasonic surgical tool system to wirelessly power the temperature sensing assembly.

[0047] FIGS. 11A-11D are graphs illustrating a process for determining a temperature of an ultrasonic instrument that may be implemented by the control console in cooperation with the temperature sensing assembly.

[0048] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic instrument that may be incorporated into the ultrasonic surgical tool system, the ultrasonic instrument including an irrigation sleeve and an auxiliary assembly wirelessly powered through the irrigation sleeve.

[0049] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an ultrasonic surgical tool system including a control console, an ultrasonic instrument, an auxiliary assembly realized as a navigation tracker wirelessly powered through the ultrasonic instrument, and an adapter coupled between the control console and ultrasonic instrument for powering the ultrasonic instrument and the auxiliary assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] An ultrasonic surgical tool system including an ultrasonic instrument and an auxiliary assembly powered through the ultrasonic instrument is described herein. The ultrasonic instrument may include a tip that is configured to rapidly vibrate and thereby resect patient tissue responsive to the ultrasonic instrument receiving an AC drive signal. The ultrasonic instrument may also include a wireless power transfer (WPT) circuit for powering the auxiliary assembly from the received AC drive signal. In other words, the WPT circuit, or more particularly the auxiliary assembly, may be powered using the same power lines that are used for driving the tip of the ultrasonic instrument, and no additional wires may be needed. The auxiliary assembly may generally be configured to provide an auxiliary function complimenting primary function(s) of the ultrasonic instrument, such as use of the ultrasonic instrument to resect, irrigate, and/or suction patient tissue. For example and without limitation, the auxiliary assembly may be realized as a navigation tracker, a temperature sensor, a tissue sensor, an event indicator, an irrigation sensor, a remote control, or a combination thereof.

[0051] Several advantages are realized by the implementations described herein. For instance, the AC drive signal received by the ultrasonic instrument may include both an ultrasonic component for driving the tip of the ultrasonic instrument and an auxiliary component for powering the auxiliary assembly. The ultrasonic surgical tool system, or more particularly the ultrasonic instrument, may include circuitry designed to keep the ultrasonic component and auxiliary component relatively independent, thereby enabling the auxiliary assembly to be separately turned on/off independently of the vibration of the ultrasonic instrument tip, and while having minimal to no effect on the resonant and displacement tracking of the ultrasonic tip, as described in more detail below.

[0052] An auxiliary assembly could add significant weight, bulk, and resistive torque to the handling of a surgical tool, especially when powered by a battery or a separate power cable extending from the auxiliary assembly to provide the auxiliary function. Battery powered auxiliary assemblies also have the disadvantage of having a limited power supply, which may result in periodic interruption in the usual flow of certain surgical procedures to replace the battery or auxiliary assembly as needed. As an auxiliary assembly described herein may be configured to receive power through the ultrasonic instrument, which in turn may be powered from mains electricity via a power cable of the ultrasonic instrument, the auxiliary assembly may be made with a relatively small footprint, and may be operated without concern for remaining battery life or battery replacement. Moreover, by utilizing a WPT circuit to power the auxiliary assembly, exposed electrical contacts between the ultrasonic instrument and auxiliary assembly may be omitted, which may enhance the sterilizability of at least the auxiliary assembly. For instance, the auxiliary assembly may be realized as a sealed navigation tracker suitable for steam sterilization.

[0053] In some implementations, the ultrasonic surgical tool system may also enable the auxiliary assembly to communicate data relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument through the ultrasonic instrument, or more particularly the WPT circuit, such as to inform a control console configured to source the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument. For instance, the auxiliary assembly may be configured to modulate the AC drive signal with such data, which may be detectable by the control console over the same power lines that are used for driving the tip of the ultrasonic instrument. The control console may then be configured to adjust operational parameters of the ultrasonic instrument based on the received data. As one example, the auxiliary assembly may be realized as or include a temperature sensing assembly configured to generate data indicative of a temperature at a hot spot of the ultrasonic instrument (e.g., at a vibratory node). The control console may be configured to receive such data through the ultrasonic instrument, and to determine if the temperature at the hot spot is greater than or equal to a threshold. If so, then the control console may be configured to trigger a cooling protocol for the ultrasonic instrument, such as by reducing a level of the ultrasonic component of the AC drive signal for vibrating the tip from a practitioner- set target level, and/or increasing irrigation and/or suction provided to the tip.

[0054] As a further example, the auxiliary assembly may be realized or include a tissue sensor configured to generate data indicative of a type of tissue adjacent to the distal region of the tip of the ultrasonic instrument. The control console may be configured to receive such data through the ultrasonic instrument, and to determine based on such data whether or not the adjacent tissue is of a type targeted for resection. Each tissue type detectable by the control console may be associated with a different ultrasonic energy protocol to be implemented by the control console upon detection of the tissue type. For instance, targeted tissue types may be associated with an ultrasonic energy protocol for inducing a relatively high level of ultrasonic energy, such as a target level currently set by the practitioner as described in more detail below. Conversely, tissue types not targeted for resection may be associated with an ultrasonic energy protocol for maintaining the ultrasonic energy induced in the ultrasonic instrument at a relatively low level, such as a percentage (e.g., 5%) of the target level set by the practitioner. Additionally or alternatively, non-targeted tissue types may be associated with a pulsed ultrasonic energy protocol for periodically reducing the ultrasonic energy from a relatively high level, such as the target level currently set by the practitioner, to a relatively low level, such as a percentage (e.g., 5%) of the practitioner-set target level.

[0055] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly may be realized as or include an indicator controllable by the control console, such as via the AC drive signal, to provide event notifications to a practitioner. For example and without limitation, the control console may be configured to activate the indicator responsive to determining a relatively high operating temperature of the ultrasonic instrument, to determining the tip of the instrument is adjacent a particular type of tissue (e.g., soft or hard, tumorous, targeted), and/or to determining an operation error of the auxiliary assembly or ultrasonic instrument. For instance, the control console may be configured to track a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic instrument during use to induce vibrations of the tip of a desired magnitude, and also to track a drift rate of the tracked resonant frequency, which when beyond a predefined threshold may correspond to excessive user force, low irrigation, low suction, or a tip fracture. The control console may thus be configured to monitor whether a resonant frequency drift rate of the ultrasonic instrument is greater than or equal to the predefined threshold, and if so, indicate such event via the indicator of the auxiliary assembly.

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 may include a control console 12 and an ultrasonic instrument 14 coupled to the control console 12. The ultrasonic instrument 14 may include a tip 16 with a distal region 18 configured for contacting and treating patient tissue. During operation, the control console 12 may be configured to generate and source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 that induces ultrasonic energy in ultrasonic instrument 14, and in turn causes the tip 16 to rapidly vibrate. A practitioner may then position the distal region 18 (also referred to as the tip head 18) of the vibrating tip 16 against patient tissue to ablate the contacted tissue. The frequency, amplitude, and velocity of the vibrations of the tip 16 may correspond to that of the induced ultrasonic energy, which in turn may correspond to that of the sourced AC drive signal.

[0057] The ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 may also include an auxiliary assembly 20 wirelessly powered through and removably coupled to the ultrasonic instrument 14. More particularly, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be coupled to the ultrasonic instrument 14 so as to be structurally supported by the ultrasonic instrument 14. The auxiliary assembly 20 may be configured to provide an auxiliary function relating operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14. For instance, as shown in the illustrated example, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be realized as a navigation tracker 22 for localizing a pose of the ultrasonic instrument 14 during a surgical procedure. Alternatively and without limitation, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be realized as a temperature sensing assembly for sensing a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument 14, a tissue detection assembly for determining a type of tissue adjacent the distal region 18 of the tip 16, an event indicator assembly for indicating occurrence of one or more events during a surgical procedure, or an irrigation sensing assembly for sensing the existence and/or flow rate of irrigating fluid through the ultrasonic instrument 14. As a further instance, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be realized as a combination of two or more of the above-described examples.

[0058] The control console 12 may be configured to control operation the auxiliary assembly 20 simultaneously with inducing ultrasonic energy in the ultrasonic instrument 14 to vibrate the tip 16, such as using the same AC drive signal supplied to the ultrasonic instrument 14. Specifically, the control console 12 may be configured to generate the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14 so as to include an ultrasonic component, also referred to as a main drive component, and an auxiliary component, also referred to as a secondary drive component. The main drive component may be at an ultrasonic frequency and configured for driving the tip 16 of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and the secondary drive component may be at a frequency different from the main drive component and configured for powering the auxiliary assembly 20. The ultrasonic instrument 14 may include circuitry configured to effectively separate the main drive component from the secondary drive component of a received AC drive signal, and thus drive the tip 16 using the main drive component and power the auxiliary assembly 20 using the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal.

[0059] By providing both the main drive component and the secondary drive component in a same AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14, the size of the power cable connecting the control console 12 and ultrasonic instrument 14 may be reduced relative to a cable with additional conductors to accommodate providing a signal for powering the auxiliary assembly 20 separate from the signal for driving the tip 16 of the ultrasonic instrument 14. Providing both the main drive component and the secondary drive component in the same AC drive signal also enables the ultrasonic instrument 14 to utilize a same power cable as that provided with an ultrasonic instrument lacking the functionality to power an auxiliary assembly 20.

[0060] The frequencies of the above-described components of the sourced AC drive signal may be separated so as to limit the effect each frequency has on the function of the other component of the AC drive signal. For example, the frequency of the secondary drive component may be at least 100 kHz greater than the frequency of the main drive component, and/or may be at least a decade away from the main drive component frequency. In some instances, the main drive component frequency may correspond to a mechanical resonant vibration mode of the ultrasonic instrument 14 (e.g., 25 kHz), and the secondary drive component frequency may be at a frequency that does not correspond to a mechanical resonant vibration mode of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and/or is not a harmonic of a mechanical resonant vibration mode of the ultrasonic instrument 14 (e.g., 170 kHz).

[0061] Referring now to FIG. 2, the ultrasonic instrument 14 may include a handpiece 24 for being grasped by a practitioner to maneuver the ultrasonic instrument 14 against patient tissue. The tip 16 may be removably coupled to the handpiece 24 so as to enable the handpiece 24 to be used with different interchangeable tips 16. Different tips 16 removably coupleable to the handpiece 24 may be configured for different types of procedures. For instance, some tips 16 removably coupleable to the handpiece 24 may be configured for ablating soft tissue, such as by inducing cavitation in such tissue. A tip 16 configured for ablating soft tissue may define a lumen for providing suction at the surgical site through the tip 16. Some tips 16 removably coupleable to the handpiece 24 may be configured for ablating hard tissue such as fibrous tissue and bone. A tip 16 configured for ablating hard tissue may feature a tip head 18 formed with teeth or flutes dimensioned to remove tissue via a cutting action. Tips 16 removably coupleable to the handpiece 24 may also be of different lengths for providing access to patient anatomy at different depths. Some tips 16 removably coupleable to the handpiece 24 may be designed to only vibrate longitudinally at their tip heads 18, while other tips 16 removably coupleable to the handpiece 24 may be designed to vibrate both longitudinally and torsionally and/or substantially torsionally at their tip heads 18.

[0062] The handpiece 24 may form a proximal end of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and the tip 16 coupled to the handpiece 24 may form a distal end of the ultrasonic instrument 14. “Proximal” may be understood as towards a practitioner holding the ultrasonic instrument 14 and away from the tissue to which the tip 16 is being applied, and “distal” may be understood as away from the practitioner and towards the tissue to which the tip 16 of the ultrasonic instrument 14 is being applied.

[0063] The handpiece 24 may include a housing 26 that defines a handle for the practitioner to grasp and maneuver the ultrasonic instrument 14, and may also include a transducer 28 disposed in a void defined by the housing 26. The transducer 28 may include one or more drivers 30, such as piezoelectric crystals. The drivers 30 may be disc shaped, and may be arranged within the housing 26 end to end in a stack. Each driver 30 may be formed from a material that, upon application of an alternating electrical current, undergoes momentary expansions and contractions along the longitudinal axis of the driver 30, namely, the axis that extends between the proximally and distally directed faces of the driver 30. Insulating discs may be disposed between and tightly abut adjacent drivers 30. The transducer 28 may further include a tube 32, which may extend through the collinear longitudinal axes of the drivers 30.

[0064] The handpiece 24 may also include a horn 34 at least partially disposed within the void defined by housing 26. The horn 34 may be coupled to the distal end of the transducer 28. The horn 34 may be constructed from a rigid steel alloy, titanium or similar material. In operation, as the transducer 28 expands and contracts, the horn 34 may oscillate. The horn 34 may be removably coupled to the transducer 28. For example, the proximal end of the horn 34 may include a threaded male coupler and the distal end of the transducer 28 may include a corresponding female threaded coupler. Alternatively, the transducer 28 and the horn 34 may be permanently coupled via a weld, adhesive, or similar bonding process.

[0065] The tip 16 may be removably couplable to the horn 34. More specifically, the distal end of the horn 34 may include a threaded coupler configured to engage corresponding threads on the proximal end of the tip 16. It is further contemplated that other coupling methods may be utilized to removably couple the tip 16 to the horn 34. For example, the distal end of the horn 34 may comprise features that allow snap fit engagement with the tip 16.

[0066] Referring again to FIG. 1, as mentioned above, the ultrasonic instrument 14 may be removably couplable to the control console 12 via a power cable 36, also referred to as an electrical cable 36 herein. One end the electrical cable 36 may be permanently connected to the proximal end of the housing 26 of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and the other end of the electrical cable 36 may include an adapter 38 corresponding to a socket 40 of the control console 12. The socket 40 may be shaped to receive the adapter 38, and may include electrical contacts corresponding to electrical contacts of the adapter 38 such that when the adapter 38 is fully seated in the socket 40, an electrical connection is formed between the ultrasonic instrument 14 and the control console 12.

[0067] Upon actuation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, the control console 12 may generate and source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 over the electrical cable 36. Application of the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 may induce ultrasonic energy in the ultrasonic instrument 14, and correspondingly may cause the tip 16 of the ultrasonic instrument 14 to vibrate.

[0068] More particularly, the ultrasonic instrument 14 may be designed so that the AC drive signal, or more particularity a main drive component of the AC drive signal, from the control console 12 is applied to each of the drivers 30 of the transducer 28 in parallel, which may cause the drivers 30 to simultaneously expand and contract along a longitudinal axis of the transducer 28 in accordance with the AC drive signal. The stack of drivers 30 may be between 1 and 5 cm in length. The distance, or amplitude, of movement over a single expansion/contraction cycle of the drivers 30 may be between .01 and 10 microns.

[0069] The horn 34 may be configured to amplify this movement. Consequently, the distal end of the horn 34 and, by extension, the tip 16, may each move back and forth along its longitudinal axis between a fully contracted position to a fully extended position, thereby producing a longitudinal vibrating motion. As some examples, the maximum peak-to-peak vibration of the tip head 18, representing a single movement from the fully contracted position to the fully extended position, may be 1000 microns, or 500 microns, or 300 microns. As previously described, some tips 16 removably coupleable to the handpiece 24 may be configured to vibrate both longitudinally and torsionally and/or substantially torsionally at their tip heads 18. Such a tip 16 may include a feature along its length, such as helical grooves, that is configured to convert at least a portion of the longitudinal vibrations applied to the proximal end of the tip 16 into vibrations at the tip head 18 having both a longitudinal component and a torsional component and/or having substantially only a torsional component.

[0070] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, to assist in reducing heat generation during an operation, the ultrasonic instrument 14 may define an irrigation pathway for supplying irrigating fluid to the distal region 18 of the tip 16 and the surgical site. To this end, the ultrasonic instrument 14 may include an irrigation sleeve 42 adapted to be disposed around the tip 16 and removably coupled to the handpiece 24, such as the housing 26 of the handpiece 24, for supplying irrigating fluid to at least the distal region 18 of tip 16 and the surgical site.

[0071] The irrigation sleeve 42 may include a sleeve body 44 having open proximal and distal ends and defining a lumen 46 extending between the open proximal and distal ends. The sleeve body 44 may be adapted to be coupled to the handpiece 24, such as the housing 26 of the handpiece 24, so that the tip 16 extends through the lumen 46 and out the open distal end of the sleeve body 44. For instance, the proximal end of the sleeve body 44 may be formed with a coupling feature for releasably coupling the sleeve body 44 to the distal end of the housing 26. When disposed over the tip 16 and coupled to the housing 26, the sleeve body 44 may be radially spaced from the tip 16, and may be spaced longitudinally away from the tip head 18 as described above. The components of the ultrasonic instrument 14 may be dimensioned so that during normal operation, the tip 16 does not contact the irrigation sleeve 42.

[0072] During operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, irrigating fluid may be flowed from the handpiece 24, into the gap between the tip 16 and the sleeve body 44, and then out the open distal end of the sleeve body 44. More specifically, the handpiece 24 may include an irrigation conduit 48 running through the housing 26 from the proximal end to the distal end of the handpiece 24. The proximal end of the irrigation conduit 48 may be coupled to a fitting 50 of the ultrasonic instrument 14 that extends from a proximal end of the handpiece 24 for receiving an irrigation line 52. The irrigation line 52 may be coupled to a fluid supply 54 via a cassette 56, which may be configured to be inserted into a corresponding slot 58 of the control console 12. During operation of the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10, a pump 59 of the control console 12 may operate on the cassette 56 to draw fluid from the fluid supply 54 into the irrigation line 52 and thereafter into the irrigation conduit 48.

[0073] The irrigation sleeve 42 may similarly include an irrigation conduit 60 in fluid communication with the lumen 46 defined by the sleeve body 44. The irrigation conduit 60 may extend from the proximal end of the sleeve body 44 and run adjacent the lumen 46 to an aperture 62 formed in a wall of the lumen 46. The aperture 62 may be positioned at an intermediary position between the proximal and distal ends of the lumen 46, and may be configured to supply irrigating fluid from the irrigation conduit 60 into the gap between the tip 16 and the sleeve body 44. The proximal end of the irrigation conduit 60 of the irrigation sleeve 42 may be adapted to fluidly engage the distal end of the irrigation conduit 48 of the handpiece 24 when the irrigation sleeve 42 is coupled to the handpiece 24.

[0074] Accordingly, during operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, irrigating fluid may flow from a fluid supply 54, through the irrigation line 52, fitting 50, and conduits 48, 60, and out the aperture 62 into the lumen 46. Such irrigating fluid may then run distally down the lumen 46 and out the open distal end of the sleeve body 44. In alternative examples, rather than being configured to receive irrigating fluid through the handpiece 24, the irrigation sleeve 42 may include a fitting in fluid communication with the irrigation conduit 60 and disposed on an outer surface of the sleeve body 44 for receiving the irrigation line 52 running outside of the handpiece 24. In this case, during operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, irrigating fluid may be similarly flowed through the gap between the tip 16 and the sleeve body 44 via the fitting and out the open distal end of the sleeve body 44.

[0075] The ultrasonic instrument 14 may also define an aspiration pathway for providing suction at a surgical site through the distal region 18 of the tip 16. For instance, the tube 32 of the transducer 28 may define a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the transducer 28 to create a fluid passageway through the transducer 28. The horn 34 may similarly define a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the horn 34 to create a fluid passageway through the horn 34, and the tip 16 may also define a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tip 16 to create a fluid passageway through the tip 16. Collectively, these lumens may form at least a portion of an aspiration pathway that extends from the distal region 18 of the tip 16 to the proximal end of the handpiece 24.

[0076] The ultrasonic instrument 14 may further include a fitting 64 coupled to the tube 32 and extending proximally from the proximal end of the handpiece 24 for receiving a suction line 66. During a procedure, suction may be applied to the fluid pathway defined by the tube 32, horn 34, and tip 16 via the fitting 64 and suction line 66 to draw the irrigating fluid applied to the surgical site and debris formed by a procedure that is entrained in the fluid towards and out of the proximal end of the handpiece 24. More specifically, the control console 12 may include a vacuum pump 67 in fluid communication with a waste canister 68 via the cassette 56 when inserted in the control console 12, with the waste canister 68 being separately placed in fluid communication with the fluid passageway defined by the tube 32, horn 34, and tip 16 via a fluid passageway defined by the fitting 64, suction line 66, and cassette 56 when the cassette 56 is inserted in the control console 12. In this way, the vacuum pump 67 may apply a suction to the fluid passageway defined by the tube 32, horn 34, and tip 16 via the waste canister 68, fitting 64, suction line 66, and cassette 56, thereby drawing materials from the surgical site through the aforementioned fluid passageways into the waste canister 68. The suction may also function to draw tissue towards the tip head 18, which may enhance the effectiveness of the tip 16 in treating patient tissue.

[0077] The ultrasonic instrument 14 may further include a transmit coil 70, which may be disposed or embedded in the housing 26. The auxiliary assembly 20 may likewise include a corresponding receive coil 72, which may be incorporated into or disposed on a housing 74 of the auxiliary assembly 20 such that, when the auxiliary assembly 20 is coupled to the ultrasonic instrument 14, the receive coil 72 is aligned with the transmit coil 70 so as to enable wireless power transfer therebetween. For instance, as shown in the illustrated example, the auxiliary assembly 20 may include a hand screw 73 configured to engage a corresponding threaded bore 75 (FIG. 2) of the housing 26 such that, when the hand screw 73 is tightened into the threaded bore 75, the receive coil 72 and transmit coil 70 are aligned. In addition or alternatively, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be coupleable to the housing 26 via friction fit, snap fit, or similar mechanism.

[0078] As described in more detail below, the ultrasonic instrument 14, or more particularly the handpiece 24, may include circuitry configured to effectively isolate the secondary drive component from the AC drive signal sourced from the control console 12 to transfer power from the transmit coil 70 to the receive coil 72. The auxiliary assembly 20 may be configured to utilize such power to operate electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20, and thereby provide an auxiliary function related to the primary operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14 (e.g., tissue resection, with or without irrigation/suction) For instance, in the case of the navigation tracker 22, the electrical components 76 may include active markers 78, such as LED’s, that are positioned in a known pattern and emit optical signals detectable by a camera of a navigation system to localize the navigation tracker 22. The electrical components 76 of the navigation tracker 22 may also include circuitry, described in more detail below, configured to trigger the active markers 78 to emit light using the power received via the receive coil 72. A navigation system cooperating with the navigation tracker 22 to localize the pose of the ultrasonic instrument 14 may include one or more the features and/or be configured as described in Applicant’s PCT Application No. PCT/US2023/017790, filed on April 6, 2023, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. [0079] The control console 12 may include a display 80 for presenting information to the practitioner. Non-limiting examples of presented information may include an identification of the ultrasonic instrument 14, or more particularly of the handpiece 24 and/or tip 16, currently connected to the control console 12, and an operating state of the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10. The display 80 may be a touch screen display that enables the practitioner to provide input to the control console 12, such as via on-screen control elements. A practitioner may interact with the on-screen control elements to set operational parameters of the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10, such as an ultrasonic energy level, a suction level, and an irrigation level, and/or a pulsing level for the ultrasonic instrument 14, such as described in Applicant’s PCT Publication No. WO 2022/072903 Al, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In some implementations, the control console 12 may be configured to determine a predefined maximum level for one or more of these operational parameters, such as based on data read from the ultrasonic instrument 14 when connected to the control console 12, and the settings for each such operational parameter input by the practitioner may indicate a percentage of the predefined maximum level to use for the ultrasonic instrument 14 relative to the operational parameter.

[0080] The ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 may also include one or more actuation devices coupled to the control console 12. Upon activation by the practitioner, each of the actuation devices may cause the control console 12 to generate and source the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 that induces ultrasonic energy in the ultrasonic instrument 14 to vibrate the tip 16 and/or to power the auxiliary assembly 20, such as according to the set operational parameters.

[0081] For instance, the one or more actuation devices may include a foot pedal 82. The foot pedal 82 may be wirelessly connected to the control console 12, such as via an adapter 84 connected to the control console 12. Upon being depressed, the foot pedal 82 may transition from an off position to an active position, and may communicate a corresponding signal to the control console 12 that indicates the depression. In some instances, the communicated signal may also vary with the extent to which the foot pedal 82 is depressed, such as to enable the practitioner to vary a target ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument 14 up to a maximum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument 14 via the foot pedal 82. The maximum ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument 14 may be set to a predefined level for the ultrasonic instrument 14, such as indicated by data read from the ultrasonic instrument 14, or to a practitionerset level, such as a percentage of the predefined level as described above.

[0082] Responsive to receiving the actuation signal, the control console 12 may generate and source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 that causes the tip 16 to vibrate according to the current settings of the control console 12 and/or the extent of the depression indicated by the actuation signal. In other words, the control console 12 may generate and source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 that includes the main drive component described above.

[0083] The one or more actuation devices may also include an auxiliary power switch 86 for toggling power to the auxiliary assembly 20. More specifically, a user interaction with the auxiliary power switch 86 may cause the control console 12 to selectively power the auxiliary assembly 20, such as by sourcing an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 that includes the secondary drive component described above. A subsequent user interaction with the auxiliary power switch 86 may cause the control console 12 to cease powering the auxiliary assembly 20. In other words, in the event that the power to the auxiliary assembly 20 is not currently requested via the auxiliary power switch 86 and the foot pedal 82 is depressed, the control console 12 may be configured to source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 that includes the main drive component to vibrate the tip 16 and omits the secondary drive component for powering the auxiliary assembly 20.

[0084] The ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 may also include a remote control 88 coupled to the control console 12. Similar to the display 80, the remote control 88 may provide practitioner- selectable elements for enabling practitioner input to the control console 12. For instance, the remote control 88 may include buttons for setting the operational parameters of the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10, such as the maximum ultrasonic energy level, suction level, irrigation level, and/or pulsing level for the ultrasonic instrument 14. The remote control 88 may also include a main power switch for turning on and off the control console 12. Additionally, or alternatively, the control console 12 may include a main power switch 90 for turning on and off the control console 12.

[0085] As shown in the illustrated example, the auxiliary power switch 86 may be integrated with the foot pedal 82. Additionally or alternatively, an auxiliary power switch 86 may be provided on other components of the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10, such as the remote control 88, the ultrasonic instrument 1 , or on the display 80 of the control console 12 as a virtual button.

[0086] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly 20 may also be realized as or include a remote control for setting the operational parameters of the ultrasonic instrument 14 as described above, and/or for triggering and/or ceasing power to the auxiliary assembly 20. For instance, assuming the auxiliary assembly includes a navigation tracker 22, the auxiliary assembly 20 may include a user input interface 89 that upon interaction by the user to set a given operational parameter causes the active markers 78 to illuminate in a specific pattern or manner associated with the operational parameter setting. The navigation system may be configured to detect such illumination via its navigation camera, and communicate a control signal corresponding to the operational parameter setting to the control console 12, which in turn may be configured to set the operational parameter accordingly. In some instances, the user input interface 89 may include buttons similar' to the remote control 88.

[0087] Similarly, the auxiliary assembly 20 may include a user input interface 91 (e.g., button) for triggering and/or ceasing power to the auxiliary assembly 20. For instance, the navigation camera may be configured to utilize machine vision to detect when the user input interface 91 is selected. Alternatively, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be configured to briefly illuminate the active markers 78 upon interaction with the user input interface 91 in a pattern or manner specific to the interaction and detectable by the navigation camera. In this case, the auxiliary assembly 20 may include a small battery for providing such illumination when the auxiliary assembly 20 is not currently being powered via the ultrasonic instrument 14. In any event, the navigation system may then be configured communicate a control signal corresponding to the interaction to the control console 12, which may be configured to trigger or cease power to the auxiliary assembly 20 as appropriate.

[0088] As illustrated in FIG. 3, in some implementations, an auxiliary assembly 20 wirelessly powered through the ultrasonic instrument 14 and utilized with the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 may include a battery compartment 92 configured to receive a battery for providing an alternative power source for operating the electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20. In this case, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be configured to receive a wireless power adapter 94 that adapts the auxiliary assembly 20 to receive wireless power through the ultrasonic instrument 14 as described herein. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the auxiliary assembly 20 is realized as a navigation tracker 22A.

[0089] The wireless power adapter 94 may include the receive coil 72 described above and a dummy battery adapter 95 coupled to the receive coil 72 via an electrical cable 96. The receive coil 72 may be removably couplable to a designated portion of the housing 74 of the auxiliary assembly 20, such that when the auxiliary assembly 20 is attached to the ultrasonic instrument 14, the receive coil 72 is aligned with the transmit coil 70 to enable wireless power transfer therebetween. The dummy adapter 95 may be sized for insertion into the battery compartment 92, and may be configured to provide power to the electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20 via the voltage generated across the receive coil 72. More specifically, the dummy adapter 95 may include a receiving circuit 97 and electrical contacts 98A, 98B configured to contact corresponding electrical contacts 99A, 99B of the battery compartment 92 upon the dummy adapter 95 being seated in the battery compartment 92. When the wireless power adapter 94 is coupled to the auxiliary assembly 20, the receiving circuit 97 may be configured to regulate the voltage generated across the receive coil 72 to a form usable by the electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20, which may then be supplied to the electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20 via the electrical contacts 98 A, 98B, 99A, 99B.

[0090] FIG. 4 illustrates the ultrasonic instrument 14 being used to wirelessly power an auxiliary assembly 20 realized as an alternative navigation tracker 22B. As shown in the illustrated example, the alternative navigation tracker 22B may include a hub 100 and a flex circuit 101 coupled to the hub 100. The hub 100 may include the receive coil 72, the receiving circuit 97, and a clip 102 for removably securing the hub 100 to the housing 26 of the handpiece 24 such that the receive coil 72 is aligned with the transmit coil 70 to enable wireless power transfer therebetween. The flex circuit 101 may include electrical components 76 realized as active markers 78, and may be configured to be wrapped around the housing 26 of the handpiece 24, such as via an adhesive. The flex circuit 101 may be designed as a disposable item removably coupleable to the hub 100, which conversely may be designed as a reusable item, so as to be powered via the receiving circuit 97 and receive coil 72. Upon the navigation tracker 22B being coupled to and wrapped around the handpiece 24 as described above, the active markers 78 may be wirelessly powered to emit optical signals via the ultrasonic instrument 14 for localizing the ultrasonic instrument 14 as described herein. [0091] Referring now to FIG. 5, the control console 12 may include a controller 103, console storage 104, and a drive signal power supply 105 for generating the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14, such as according to parameters set by the controller 103. Specifically, the controller 103 may be configured to assert control signals to the drive signal power supply 105 that regulates the AC drive signal output by the drive signal power supply 105 to the ultrasonic instrument 14.

[0092] The drive signal power supply 105 may include a DC power supply 108, an amplifier 110, and a transformer 112. During operation of the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10, the DC power supply 108 may output a DC signal to a center tap of a primary winding 114 of the transformer 112. The opposed ends of the transformer primary winding 114 may be tied to the amplifier 110, which may be configured to develop an AC signal across the primary winding 114 from the applied DC signal by applying varying levels of resistance to the ends of the transformer primary winding 114. The AC signal developed across the primary winding 114 may induce a proportional AC drive signal across a secondary winding 116 of the transformer 112, which may be coupled to the ultrasonic instrument 14 through electrical contacts 118. A further understanding of the assemblies of the drive signal power supply 105 can be found in PCT Publication No. WO 2016/183084 Al, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

[0093] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the electrical contacts 118 may be integral with the socket 40 of the control console 12. Corresponding electrical contacts 120 may be integral with the adapter 38 of the electrical cable 36. When the adapter 38 is fully seated in the socket 40, the electrical contacts 118, 120 may become aligned and form an electrical path over which the AC drive signal across the secondary winding 116 of the transformer 112 is sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14. This electrical path may include a high side conductor 122 and low side conductor 124. The ultrasonic surgical tool system 10, or more particularly the power supply 105, may be configured to generate the AC drive signal such that the voltage of the low side conductor 124 relative to a common reference potential (e.g., ground) is significantly lower (e.g., less than 5 volts peak) than the voltage of the high side conductor 122 relative to the common reference potential (e.g., 1200 volts peak). The transmit coil 70 for wirelessly powering an auxiliary assembly 20 may be disposed inline with the low side conductor 124 so as to minimize any impact on patient leakage current by the auxiliary assembly 20. Conversely, the drivers 30 may be connected between the high side conductor 122 and low side conductor 124 in parallel so as to foster the desired vibrations of the tip 16. In this configuration, the main drive component will pass through both the drivers 30 of the ultrasonic instrument 14 and the transmit coil 70 of the WPT circuit. The inductance of the transmit coil 70 and receive coil 72 may thus be selected to be large enough to power the auxiliary assembly 20, but not so large so as to impact tracking the resonant frequency of the ultrasonic instrument 14 at 25 kHz.

[0094] Still referring to FIG. 6, the auxiliary assembly 20 may include the receive coil 72 and a receiving circuit 97 connected between the receive coil 72 and the powered electrical components 76. In general, the receiving circuit 97 may be configured to regulate the signal induced across the receive coil 72 to a form compatible for driving the electrical components 76 of an auxiliary assembly 20. As an example, the receiving circuit 97 may include an AC/DC converter for converting the received signal induced across the receive coil 72 from AC to DC, and may also include a DC-DC regulator configured to maintain the voltage of the DC signal output from the AC/DC converter at a level compatible with the electrical components 76.

[0095] In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly 20 may also include a load modulation circuit 125 coupled to the electrical components 76 and the receive coil 72. As previously described, in some implementations, the electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20 may include one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data indicative of an operating condition of the ultrasonic instrument 14 (e.g., temperature, tissue type, irrigation flow). The load modulation circuit 125 may thus be configured to load modulate the AC drive signal, or more particularly the secondary component of the AC drive signal, sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14 with one or more frequencies associated with each sensor so as to indicate the sensor data generated by the sensor. The controller 103 may then be configured to measure at least one characteristic of the AC drive signal, such as a voltage and/or current of the AC drive signal, detect the load modulation within the measured characteristic) s), and determine the sensor data generated by each sensor based on the detected load modulation. Examples of this process is described in more detail below.

[0096] In some instances, data indicating the load modulation frequency(s) associated with each sensor may be stored in the console storage 104, or alternatively may be stored in one or more memory devices of the ultrasonic instrument 14 and read by the controller 103 upon connection of the ultrasonic instrument 14 with the control console 12 as described below. The illustrated example shows the load modulation circuit 125 as being coupled between the receiving circuit 97 and the electrical components 76. In other implementations, the load modulation circuit 125 may include one or more components incorporated in the receiving circuit 97 and/or one or more components considered as powered electrical component(s) 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20.

[0097] Referring again to FIG. 5, the controller 103 may be configured to implement the functions, features, processes, and methods of the control console 12 described herein. For instance, the controller 103 may be configured to regulate the AC signal developed across the primary winding 114 of the transformer 112 by supplying a control signal to the DC power supply 108 that sets the potential of the signal applied to the center tap of the primary winding 114, and/or by supplying a control signal to the amplifier 110 that corresponds to a target AC drive signal to be developed across the secondary winding 116. As an example, the controller 103, such as using digital signal synthesis (DDS), may be configured to generate the control signal supplied to the amplifier 110 so as to include frequency(s) of that of the target AC drive signal, and amplitude(s) proportional to that of the target AC drive signal. Responsive to receiving the control signal, the amplifier 110 may be configured to develop an AC signal across the primary winding 114 that is proportional to the target AC drive signal from the control signal and the DC signal from the DC power supply 108, which in turn may induce the target AC drive signal across the secondary winding 116 for being sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14. By regulating the AC signals developed across the primary winding 114 and secondary winding 116 of the transformer 112 in this manner, the controller 103 may be configured to control both the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations of the tip 16 and the operation of the auxiliary assembly 20.

[0098] The controller 103 may be configured to determine whether to initiate vibration of the tip 16 of the ultrasonic instrument 14, such as by monitoring the state of the foot pedal 82. Responsive to the foot pedal 82 being depressed, the controller 103 may be configured cause the drive signal power supply 105, such as via a corresponding control signal from the controller 103, to source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 that includes a main drive component configured to induce target vibrations of the tip 16 corresponding to the depression of the foot pedal 82 and/or settings of the control console 12 as described above.

[0099] During vibration of the of the tip 16, the controller 103 may also be configured to implement loops of adjusting the frequency of the main drive component according to a tracked frequency of a target vibrational mode of the ultrasonic instrument 14, such as resonance, and adjusting a voltage level of the main drive component according to a tracked vibrational amplitude of the tip 16, which may be inferred by calculating a mechanical current being induced in the ultrasonic instrument 14, as compared to a target vibrational amplitude. These processes, and other configured functions of the controller 103 to regulate the main drive component of the AC drive signal, may be implemented as described in Applicant’s PCT Publication No. WO 2015/021216 Al, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

[0100] The controller 103 may also be configured to regulate the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 1 so as to control operation of the auxiliary assembly 20. For instance, the controller 103 may be configured to monitor the state of the auxiliary power switch 86. Responsive to user interaction with the auxiliary power switch 86, the controller 103 may be configured cause the drive signal power supply 105, such as via a corresponding control signal from the controller 103, to source an AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 that includes a secondary drive component configured to wirelessly power the auxiliary assembly 20.

[0101] During operation of the auxiliary assembly 20, the controller 103 may also be configured to implement loops of adjusting the frequency of the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal according to a tracked optimal power transfer frequency for the coupling between the transmit coil 70 and the receive coil 72 so as to optimize the wireless power transfer. More specifically, although the electrical current pulled by the auxiliary assembly 20 during its operation may be expected to be substantially constant, small deviations between the alignment of the coils 70, 72 may affect the optimal frequency for WPT between the ultrasonic instrument 14 and auxiliary assembly 20. Moreover, different types of auxiliary assemblies 20 usable with the ultrasonic instrument 14 may have different frequencies for optimal power transfer. Hence, during operation of the auxiliary assembly 20, the controller 103 may be configured to measure the voltage and current of the AC drive signal as described in more detail below, and to extract the secondary drive components from the measured voltage and current. From these signals and known inductances of the coils 70, 72, the controller 103 may then be configured to determine an optimal frequency for WPT between the ultrasonic instrument 14 and the auxiliary assembly 20. For example, the controller 103 may be configured to implement a phase detector, such as a phase lock loop (PLL), configured to determine a phase difference between measured voltage and current at the secondary drive component, and set the frequency of the secondary drive component so that the phase difference is regulated to approximately zero.

[0102] The controller 103 may thus be configured to generate an AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14 that includes the main drive component, the secondary drive component, or both based on the above processes, and also to set the characteristics (e.g., frequency, voltage) of these components within the AC drive signal based on the above processes, by generating one or more corresponding control signals to the drive signal power supply 105. In some implementations, the controller 103 may be configured to utilize DDS to generate one waveform corresponding to a target waveform for the main drive component for the sourced AC drive signal, and another waveform corresponding to a target waveform for the secondary drive signal for the sourced AC drive signal. The controller 103 may then be configured to perform a summation operation of the two waveforms, and provide the result to a D/A converter to generate the control signal supplied to the drive signal power supply 105, or more particularly the amplifier 110.

[0103] The console storage 104 may store data supporting the functions, features, processes, and methods of the control console 12, or more particularly of the controller 103, described herein. For example and without limitation, the console storage 104 may store waveform data 134 and event data 135. The waveform data 134 may include one or more DDS arrays each representative of a different waveform, such as a sine waveform, and may be utilized by the controller 103 to generate control signals as described above. The event data 135 may map potential characteristics of the AC drive signal, or more particularly of the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal, to varying operating conditions of the ultrasonic instrument indicated by such characteristics.

[0104] For instance, the event data 135 may include temperature data 136 and tissue data 138. The temperature data 136 may map potential characteristics of the AC drive signal, or more particularly the secondary component of the AC drive signal, to varying temperatures of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and may thus be utilized by the controller 103 to determine a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument 14 when the auxiliary assembly 20 is realized as or includes a temperature sensing assembly, an example of which is described in more detail below. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature data 136 may indicate one or more temperature thresholds and one or more actions to be triggered by the control console 12 upon detecting a temperature greater than or equal to a given threshold, such as a defined cooling protocol and/or indication to the practitioner. The tissue data 138 may map potential characteristics of the AC drive signal, or more particularly of the secondary drive component when the auxiliary assembly 20 is realized as or includes a tissue sensing assembly, to varying types of tissue adjacent the distal region 18 of the tip 16, and may thus be utilized by the controller 103 to determine a type of tissue adjacent the distal region 18 of the tip 16. Additionally or alternatively, the tissue data 138 may indicate one or more actions to be triggered by the control console 12 upon detection of a given tissue type, such as a defined ultrasonic energy profile for the ultrasonic instrument 14 and/or an indication to the practitioner. Examples of defined ultrasonic energy profiles as a function of tissue type are described in Applicant’s PCT Application No. PCT/US2023/017790, filed on April 6, 2023, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In some instances, the event data 135 may be specific to a given ultrasonic instrument 14 or tip 16, and may be fully or partially stored in one or more of memory devices of the ultrasonic instrument 14 and read by the controller 103 upon connection of the ultrasonic instrument 14 with the control console 12 as described below.

[0105] To facilitate the configured operations of the control console 12 discussed above, the controller 103 may be configured to receive feedback data corresponding to the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14, such as via one or more sensors of the control console 12. For example, the control console 12 may include a sensor for measuring a voltage v_s of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14, which may include a tickler coil 140 integral with the transformer 112. The tickler coil 140 may be connected to a voltage measuring circuit 142 of the control console 12, which in turn may be connected to the controller 103. The signal across tickler coil 140 may have a known relationship to the voltage v_s of the AC drive signal being sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14. Based on the signal across the tickler coil 140, the voltage measuring circuit 142 may generate and communicate a signal to the controller 103 representative of the potential and phase of the voltage v_s of the AC drive signal being applied to the ultrasonic instrument 14. The controller 103 may thus be configured to measure the voltage v_s of the sourced AC drive signal via the voltage measuring circuit 142 and tickler coil 140, and to take actions based thereon.

[0106] As a further example, the control console 12 may include a sensor for measuring a current i_s of the AC drive signal being sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14, which may include a coil 144 located in close proximity to one of the conductors that extends from the secondary winding 116 of the transformer 112 to the ultrasonic instrument 14. The coil 144 may be connected to a current measuring circuit 146 of the control console 12, which in turn may be connected to the controller 103. The signal across the coil 144 may have a known relationship to the current i_s of the AC drive signal being sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14. Based on the signal across coil 144, the current measuring circuit 146 may produce and communicate to the controller 103 a signal representative of the magnitude and phase of the current i_s of the AC drive signal being applied to the ultrasonic instrument 14. The controller 103 may thus be configured to measure the current i_s of the sourced AC drive signal via the current measuring circuit 146 and coil 144, and to take action based thereon. roio7i The control console 12, or more particularly the controller 103, may be configured to determine an operating condition of the ultrasonic instrument 14 based on the measured voltage v_s and/or the measured current i_s of the sourced AC drive signal. For instance, the controller 103 may be configured to extract the main drive component from the measured voltage v_s and/or the measured current i_s based on a known frequency of the main drive component, and query the tissue data 138 based on the extracted main drive component(s) to determine an operating condition of ultrasonic instrument 14 indicated by the extracted main drive component(s). For instance and as described in more detail below, the determined operating condition may indicate whether the distal region 18 of the tip 16 is vibrating against a given type of tissue (e.g., targeted, tumorous, soft, hard), and/or may indicate whether a non-optimal ammount of force is being applied by the practitioner on the ultrasonic instrument 14.

[0108] As a further example, the controller 103 may be configured to extract the secondary drive component from the measured voltage v_s and/or the measured current i_s based on a known frequency of the secondary drive component, and query the event data 135 based on the extracted secondary drive component to determine an operating state of the ultrasonic instrument 14, or more particularly an operating condition as indicated by an auxiliary assembly 20 coupled to the ultrasonic instrument 14. For instance and as described in more detail below, the determined operating condition may indicate whether the distal region 18 is vibrating against a given type of tissue (e.g.. targeted, tumorous, soft, hard), and/or may indicate a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument 14. [0109] The control console 12 may be configured to adjust operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14 based on the determined operating condition, such as according to a predefined operating profile associated with the determined operating condition. More specifically, varying operating conditions indicated in the event data 135 may each be associated with a different predefined operating profile indicative of one or more actions to be taken by the controller 103 responsive to determining the operating condition. For instance, normal operating temperatures or targeted tissue may be associated within the event data 135 with a default operating profile, such as in which the ultrasonic instrument 14 is operated in accordance with the practitioner’s selected operational parameters settings relative to induced ultrasonic energy, irrigation, suction, and/or pulsing level.

[0110] In some instances, relatively high operating temperatures may be associated within the temperature data 136 with a cooling profile, which may be configured to effect cooling of the ultrasonic instrument 14 responsive to the controller 103 determining an operating temperature that is greater than a temperature threshold indicated by the temperature data 136. As an example, the cooling profile may indicate to reduce the level of ultrasonic energy induced in the ultrasonic instrument 14, such as by inducing a percentage of a current target ultrasonic energy level set for the ultrasonic instrument 14, or by inducing a pulsing profile in which the ultrasonic energy is periodically reduced from the target level, such as to a predefined percentage of the target level. Additionally or alternatively, the cooling protocol may indicate an increased irrigation level and/or suction level for the ultrasonic instrument 14. To this end, the controller 103 may be coupled to the vacuum pump 67 and/or irrigation pump 59 internal to the control console 12 to control operation of the same.

[0111] In some implementations, non-targeted tissues may be associated within the tissue data 138 with a non-targeted tissue profile, which may be configured to effect reduced tissue resection by the ultrasonic instrument 14. For instance, the non-targeted tissue profile may indicate to reduce the level of ultrasonic energy induced in the ultrasonic instrument 14, such as relative to one or more operating profiles associated with targeted tissue. As an example, the non-targeted tissue profile may indicate a percentage of a current target ultrasonic energy level set for the ultrasonic instrument 14 to be induced in the ultrasonic instrument 14, or may indicate a pulsing profile to be induced in the ultrasonic instrument 14 in which the ultrasonic energy is periodically reduced from the target level, such as to a predefined percentage of the target level. [0112] In some implementations, the tissue data 138 may indicate varying types of tissue, or more particularly targeted tissue, each associated within the tissue data 138 with a different tissue resection profile optimized for that type of tissue. As an example, the tissue resection profile associated with hard tissue such as bone may indicate a relatively high level of induced ultrasonic energy, irrigation, and/or suction for the ultrasonic instrument 14, and/or may indicate a relatively low pulsing level, and the tissue resection profile associated with soft tissue may indicate a relatively low level of induced ultrasonic energy, irrigation, and/or suction of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and/or may indicate a relatively high pulsing level. Such levels may be predefined administratively or set by the practitioner in advance of a given procedure.

[0113] Each operating profile associated with a given operating condition within the event data 135 may additionally or alternatively indicate a notification to trigger in response to the controller 103 determining the operating condition. For example, the notification indicated for a given operating condition may direct the controller 103 to display a notification indicating the operating condition on the display 80 of the control console 12, to operate a visual indicator (e.g., LED) integral with the auxiliary assembly 20 by including a frequency corresponding to the visual indicator in the second component of the AC drive signal, and/or to operate the ultrasonic instrument 14 in a specific manner that is audibly or tactilely distinguishable by the practitioner (e.g., inducing a predefined ultrasonic energy level or vibratory pattern via the main component of the AC drive signal).

[0114] The control console 12 may also include a memory reader 149 for communicating with one or more electronic memory storage devices integral with the ultrasonic instrument 14. The ultrasonic instrument 14 may include one or more electronic memory storage devices for storing data that identifies the ultrasonic instrument 14, or more particularly the handpiece 24 and/or tip 16, and/or identified auxiliary assembly(s) usable with the ultrasonic instrument 14. The stored data may also define operational data specific to the ultrasonic instrument 14, or more particularly the handpiece 24 and/or tip 16, and/or specific to auxiliary assembly(s) 20 usable with the ultrasonic instrument 14 as described herein. Non-limiting examples of operational data may include a maximum current for one or both components of the sourced AC drive signal, a maximum mechanical current for the main drive component of the sourced AC drive signal, a maximum voltage for one or both components of the sourced AC drive signal, minimum and maximum frequencies for one or both components of the sourced AC drive signal, PID coefficients for regulating one or more both components of the sourced AC drive signal, a capacitance of the drivers 30, and a use history. In some implementations, the operational data may also include data indicating whether the ultrasonic instrument 14, or more particularly the handpiece 24 and/or tip 16, is enabled to operate with an auxiliary assembly 20, and/or indicating the auxiliary functions in which the auxiliary assembly 20 is configured to provide. If not, then the stored operational data may omit data relating to the secondary drive component.

[0115] For instance, referring again to FIG. 6, the handpiece 24 of the ultrasonic instrument

14 may include a handpiece (HP) memory 150 disposed therein. As non-limiting examples, the HP memory 150 may be an EPROM, an EEPROM, or an RFID tag. Responsive to connecting the ultrasonic instrument 14 to the control console 12, the controller 103 may be configured to read the data stored in the HP memory 150 using the memory reader 149, and to tailor operation of the control console 12 based on the read data. More particularly, the control console 12 may include a communication interface, such as a coil 152, connected to the memory reader 149. The coil 152 may be integral with the socket 40 of the control console 12. The HP memory 150 may similarly be connected to a coil 154, which may be integral with the adapter 38 of the cable 36. When the ultrasonic instrument 14 is connected to the control console 12 via the power cable 36, the coils 152, 154 may become aligned and able to inductively exchange signals. The controller 103 may then be configured to read data from and write data to the HP memory 150 over the coils 152, 154.

[0116] More particularly, the memory reader 149 may be configured to convert signals across the coil 152 into data signals readable by the controller 103. The memory reader 149 may also be configured to receive data to be written to the HP memory 150 from the controller 103, and to generate a signal across the coil 152 that causes the data to be written to the HP memory 150. The structure of the memory reader 149 may complement that of the HP memory 150. Thus, continuing with the above non-limiting examples, the memory reader 149 may be an assembly capable of reading data from and writing data to an EPROM, EEPROM, or RFID tag.

[0117] In addition or alternatively to the HP memory 150, the ultrasonic instrument 14 may include a tip memory 156. As described above, the tip 16 may be removable from the handpiece 24 so the handpiece 24 can be used with varying interchangeable tips 16, and different tips 16 may have different structural characteristics and operational limitations. Accordingly, the HP memory 150 may store data identifying the handpiece 24 and operational parameters specific to the handpiece 24, including the capacitance of the drivers 30 and operational parameters specific to the secondary drive component of the sourced AC drive signal (which may be powered through the handpiece 24), and the tip memory 156 may store data identifying the tip 16 currently coupled to the handpiece 24 and operational parameters specific to the tip 16. Because the tip 16 and sleeve 42 may be distributed together as a single package, the tip memory 156 may be disposed in the sleeve 42. To the extent an auxiliary assembly 20 useable with the ultrasonic instrument 14 is integrated into the sleeve 42 as described below, the tip memory 156 may also store data identifying the auxiliary assembly 20 and/or data specific to the auxiliary assembly 20 as described above. The tip memory 156 may be the same type of memory as the HP memory 150 (e.g., an EPROM, an EEPROM, or an RFID tag).

[0118] Responsive to connecting the ultrasonic instrument 14 to the control console 12, the controller 103 may thus be configured to read the data stored in the HP memory 150 and the tip memory 156 using the memory reader 149, and to tailor operation of the control console 12 to the specific handpiece 24 and tip 16 combination coupled to the control console 12. In some instances, the tip memory 156 may include values for the same operational parameters as the HP memory 150. To the extent the values for a given operational parameter differ between the HP memory 150 and the tip memory 156, the controller 103 may be configured to utilize the more restrictive value to manage operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14. Additionally or alternatively, to the extent the both the HP memory 150 and the tip memory 156 include a value for a given operational parameter, the controller 103 may be configured to derive a value (e.g., max current for the main drive component of the AC drive signal) to manage operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14 based on a combination of the values stored in the memories (e.g., summing or averaging the values).

[0119] Similar to the HP memory 150, the controller 103 may read data from and write data to the tip memory 156 via the memory reader 149 and coil 152. In particular', the handpiece 24 may include two conductors 158 extending from the proximal region to the distal region of the handpiece 24. The proximal ends of the conductors 158 may be coupled to the coil 154, which may be integral with the adapter 38 of the electrical cable 36. The distal ends of the conductors 158 may be coupled to another coil 160 disposed at the distal region of the handpiece 24. A corresponding coil 162 may be disposed in a proximal region of the sleeve 42. When the sleeve 42 is disposed around the tip 16 and fitted to the handpiece 24, the coils 160, 162 may become aligned and able to inductively exchange signals. When the handpiece 24 is connected to the control console 12 via the cable 36, the coils 152, 154 may also become aligned and able to inductively exchange signals. The controller 103 may then read data from and write data to the tip memory 156 over the conductors 158 via inductive communication provided by the coils 152, 154 and the coils 160, 162.

[0120] Referring again to FIG. 5, the controller 103 may also be coupled and configured to drive the display 80 of the control console 12, and may be coupled to the remote control 88. As previously described, the controller 103 may be configured to generate information and user interface (UI) components for presentation on the display 80, and when the display 80 is a touch screen display, the controller 103 may also be configured to cause the display 80 to depict images of buttons and other user- selectable components for setting desired operating parameters for the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10. The remote control 88 may likewise include user-interactable elements for setting desired operating parameters of the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 from a position remote from the control console 12.

[0121] FIG. 7 illustrates a circuit 200 that may be implemented by the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 of FIG. 1, with the auxiliary assembly 20 being realized as any of the navigation trackers 22, 22A, 22B, and correspondingly, with the electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20 being realized as active markers 78. As shown in the illustrated example, the control console 12 may be represented by two AC voltage sources, namely, a main drive component voltage source V 1 for generating the main drive component of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14, and a secondary drive component voltage source V2 for generating the secondary drive component of the sourced AC drive signal. More specifically, the control console 12 may be configured to independently generate and control two voltage signals at different frequencies and amplitudes for the AC drive signal applied to the ultrasonic instrument 14. One voltage signal, corresponding the main drive component of the AC drive signal, may be for powering the vibration of the tip 16 ultrasonic instrument 14, and may have a frequency of about 25kHz, and/or a variable voltage level of 0 to 1200 Vpk, so as to induce a variable current level of about 0 to 0.5 Apk according to a current target ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument 14. The other voltage signal, corresponding to the secondary drive component, may be to power the auxiliary assembly 20, and may have a higher frequency such as 170kHz and/or a fixed voltage level of about 40V. [0122] The ultrasonic instrument 14 may be represented by a parallel circuit with one branch corresponding to the drivcr(s) 30 of the ultrasonic instrument 14, which may be represented by a capacitor with capacitance C_o, and another branch corresponding to mechanical components of the ultrasonic instrument 14, which may be represented by an inductor with inductance L_M , a resistor with resistance R_M , and a capacitor with capacitance C_M . The mechanical components of the ultrasonic instrument 14 may include those components that vibrate in response to the sourced AC drive signal to treat patient tissue, such as and without limitation, the drivers 30, tube 32, horn 34, tip 16, and proximal end mass described above.

[0123] When an AC drive signal is sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14 from the control console 12, the current i_s of the main drive component of the sourced AC drive signal may be broken down into two components: a current i₀ applied to the drivers 30 of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and an equivalent of current i_M applied to the mechanical components of the ultrasonic instrument 14 (also referred to herein as “mechanical current i_M”). The amplitude and frequency of the vibrations of the tip 16, and corresponding the amplitude and frequency of the ultrasonic energy induced in the ultrasonic instrument 14, may be proportional to the mechanical current i_M. Correspondingly, the controller 103 may be configured to induce target vibrations of the tip 16 at least in part by calculating the mechanical current i_M being induced in the ultrasonic instrument 14 based on main components of the AC drive signal extracted from the measured voltage v_s and the measured current i_s the AC drive signal, and setting the voltage the main drive component of the AC drive signal based on a comparison of calculated mechanical current i_M and a target mechanical current i_M corresponding to the target ultrasonic energy level, such as described in Applicant’s PCT Publication No. WO 2015/021216 Al, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

[0124] The capacitance C_o of the driver(s) 30 may remain substantially constant during operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and may thus be determined and provided to the control console 12, or more particularly the controller 103, in advance of an operation, such as upon connection of the ultrasonic instrument 14 to the control console 12, so as to tailor operation of the control console 12 to the specific handpiece 24 of the ultrasonic instrument 14. Additionally or alternatively, the control console 12, or more particularly the controller 103, may be configured to periodically measure the capacitance C_o of the driver(s) 30 during operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14 to enable even further precision. Conversely, the inductance L_M, resistance R_M, and capacitance C_M may vary with operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and at least the resistance R_M (also referred to herein as “mechanical resistance R_M”) may vary as a function of the load applied to the tip 16, such as by contacted patient tissue and/or irrigating fluid provided via the irrigation sleeve 42. In other words, the mechanical impedance Z_M, or more particularly mechanical resistance R_M, may vary based on the firmness of the tissue to which the tip 16 is applied, and may thus be indicative of the type of tissue being contacted by the distal region 18 of the tip 16.

[0125] In some implementations, the controller 103 may thus be configured to determine a type of tissue adjacent the distal region 18 of the tip 16 by calculating the mechanical impedance Z_M, or more particularly mechanical resistance R_M, based on the measured voltage v_s and the measured current i_s of the AC drive signal. More specifically, the controller 103 may be configured to extract the main drive components of these measured signals using a known frequency of the main drive component, and apply Ohm’s law to calculate the mechanical impedance Z_M, or more particularly mechanical resistance R_M, from the isolated signals, such as described in Applicant’s PCT Application No. PCT/US2023/017790, filed on April 6, 2023, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. In some implementations, such when irrigation is present, the controller 103 may be configured to adjust the calculated value based on a level of irrigation corresponding in time with the measurements. For instance, the console storage 104 of tip memory 156 may store data indicative of irrigation load values to subtract from the calculated value as a function of the set irrigation level, which may be utilized by the controller 103 to adjust the calculated value. The controller 103 may then query the tissue data 138 based on the (adjusted) calculated value to determine a type of tissue to which the distal region 18 of the tip 16 is being applied.

[0126] Still referring to FIG. 7, the transmit coil 70 may be disposed inline with the low side conductor 124. In this configuration, the main drive component will pass through both the drivers 30 of the ultrasonic instrument 14 and the transmit coil 70 of the WPT circuit. As shown in the illustrated example, the transmit coil 70 for wirelessly powering the auxiliary assembly 20 may include an inductor LI, and the receive coil 72 of the auxiliary assembly 20 may include an inductor L2 coupled to the receiving circuit 97. The inductance of the inductor LI may also be selected so that the impedance provided by the inductor LI is relatively low at the main drive component frequency and relatively high at the secondary drive component frequency. In this way, the magnetic field generated by the transmit coil 70 may be primarily attributed to the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal and not the main drive component. For instance, assuming the driver(s) 30 have a C_o of 2 nF, and the inductor LI has an inductance of 140 uH, the impedance provided by the inductor LI at a main drive component frequency of around 25 kHz may be relatively low at about 22 ohms, and the impedance provided by the inductor LI at a secondary drive component frequency of about 170 kHz may be relatively high at about 150 ohms.

[0127] The magnetic field generated by the inductor LI may induce a corresponding AC signal across the receive coil 72, in this case the inductor L2, of the auxiliary assembly 20. The receive coil 72 may be coupled the receiving circuit 97, which may include components configured to transform the AC signal induced across the receive coil 72 into a form for driving the electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20. For instance, the receiving circuit 97 may include a capacitor Cl cooperating with the receive coil 72 to form a voltage source, an AC/DC converter 202 coupled to the output of the voltage source, and a DC regulator 204 coupled to the output of the AC/DC converter 202. The AC/DC converter 202 may be configured to convert the AC voltage generated across the voltage source into a DC signal, and may be formed by a diode DI in parallel with a capacitor C2. The DC regulator 204 may be configured to regulate the DC signal to a voltage level for driving the electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 20, in this case active markers 78 of a navigation tracker 22, 22A, 22B. For instance, the DC regulator 204 may be a buck voltage regulator.

[0128] Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the auxiliary assembly 20 may additionally or alternatively be realized as a temperature sensing assembly 402 configured to generate data indicative an operating temperature of the ultrasonic instrument 14. As shown in the illustrated example, the temperature sensing assembly 402 may include a WPT clip 404 sized to be removably coupled to the housing 26 of the handpiece 24. The WPT clip 404 may include the receive coil 72 and receiving circuit 97 arranged such that, when the WPT clip 404 is coupled to the handpiece 24, the receive coil 72 becomes aligned with the transmit coil 70 of the handpiece 24 so as to enable wireless power transfer therebetween. In some implementations, the WPT clip 404 may also include an indicator 405, such as visual indicator, for indicating when the temperature sensing assembly 402 is powered and/or active, and/or may include a load modulation circuit 125 for indicating the detected temperature to the controller 103 as described in more detail below. In some implementations, the WPT clip 404 may include a pair of opposing flexible tabs 406 with inward facing features 408 configured to engage corresponding features 410 disposed on opposed sides of the housing 26. The features 408, 410 may be disposed relative to the handpiece 24 and WPT clip 404 such that upon engagement of the features 408 with the features 410, the receive coil 72 is aligned with the transmit coil 70. In some implementations, the features 408, 410 may also be uniquely shaped such that each feature 408 of the WPT clip 404 is configured to engage only one of the features 410 of the housing 26, and correspondingly, the WPT clip 404 is configured to engage the handpiece 24 in a single orientation.

[0129] The temperature sensing assembly 402 may also include an electrical component 76 realized as a thermistor 412, such as a glass-encapsulated thermistor, which may be removably coupleable to the WPT clip 404, or more particularly the receiving circuit 97, via a cable 414. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the cable 414 may be sized so that when the temperature sensing assembly 402 is assembled and coupled to the ultrasonic instrument 14, the thermistor 412 extends distally from the WPT clip 404 and down the handpiece 24 to at least an intermediate position of a longitudinal length of the sleeve 42 of the ultrasonic instrument 14. The thermistor 412 may be coupled to an outer wall of the sleeve body 44 at the intermediate position for measuring a temperature thereof, such as by a heat shrink 416 applied around the sleeve 42 and thermistor 412.

[0130] FIG. 10 illustrates a circuit 500 that may be implemented by the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 of FIG. 1, such as when the auxiliary assembly 20 is realized as the temperature sensing assembly 402 of FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in the illustrated example, the electrical components 76 of the temperature sensing assembly 402 may include a temperature sensor 412, which as shown in the illustrated example may be realized as a thermistor, and may include an indicator 405, which may be realized as an LED (e.g., D2).

[0131] Like the circuit 200, the circuit 500 may represent the control console 12 as two AC voltage sources, namely, a main drive component voltage source VI for generating the main drive component of the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14, and a secondary drive component voltage source V2 for generating the secondary drive component of the sourced AC drive signal. More specifically, the control console 12 may be configured to independently generate and control two voltage signals at different frequencies and amplitudes for the AC drive signal applied to the ultrasonic instrument 14. One voltage signal, corresponding to the main drive component of the AC drive signal, may be for powering the vibration of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and may have a frequency of about 25kHz, and/or a variable voltage level of 0 to 1200 Vpk, so as to induce a variable current level of about 0 to 0.5 Apk according to a current target ultrasonic energy level for the ultrasonic instrument 14. The other voltage signal, corresponding to the secondary drive component, may be to power the temperature sensing assembly 402, and may have a higher frequency such as 160kHz and/or a fixed voltage level of about 30 V.

[0132] The temperature sensing assembly 402 may also a load modulation circuit 125 coupled to the temperature sensor 412 and configured to modulate the load seen across the receive coil 72 as a function of the detected temperature. The load modulation circuit 125 may include a relaxation circuit coupled to the temperature sensor 412 and configured to output a pulsed waveform with a varying frequency as a function of the sensed temperature. In some instances, the relaxation circuit may be implemented by a 555-timer 502 and a capacitor C4 coupled thereto, and may be considered as an electrical component 76 of the temperature sensing assembly 402.

[0133] The 555-timer 502 may be configured as an astable vibrator, and may be configured output pulses near 50% duty cycle. The thermistor 412 may be configured to change the output frequency of the 555-timer 502 based on the temperature of the ultrasonic instrument 14, or more particularly the temperature at the position of the sleeve 42 to which the thermistor 412 is mounted, by altering the resistance for charging/discharging the capacitor C4 coupled to the 555-timer 502 based on the temperature. The load modulation circuit 125 may also include a switching circuit coupled to the output of the 555-timer 502 and configured to modulate the load seen across the receive coil 72 as a function of the received output signal, and consequently as a function of the detected temperature. Such modulation may cause a corresponding change in the load seen on the transmit coil 70 of the WPT circuit. The voltage and current of the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal may reflect such modulation, and consequently the detected temperature, which may be detected by the control console 12 using the sensors as described above.

[0134] In some implementations, the switching circuit may be incorporated into the receiving circuit 97, and may include an NMOS FET and a resistor R10. The output of the 555- timer 502 may be connected to the gate of the NMOS FET, and may thus be configured to open and close the NMOS FET as a function of the sensed temperature, which may correspondingly switch the resistor R10 on and off as a function of the sensed temperature. The NMOS FET may function to add a load across the receive coil 72 corresponding to the value of the resistor R10 when the NMOS FET is in saturation. The resistance of the resistor R10 may be small enough to produce a significant detectable change in load seen across the transmit coil 70, but also high enough for the 555-timcr 502 to provide adequate power to the switching circuit. Although shown as part of the part of electrical components 76, in other implementations, the 555-timer 502 and/or capacitor C4 may be considered as part of the load modulation circuit 125.

[0135] The use of voltage regulation and load modulation on the receiving side of the WPT circuit as described herein provides a relatively accurate and stable way to digitally communicate the temperature to the controller 103. In alternative implementations, the control console 12 may be configured to sense the analog resistance directly across the WPT circuit, such as based on the measured current i_s of the AC drive signal at the frequency of the second drive component, which may vary as a function of the analog resistance, or based on the measured current i_s and voltage v_s of the AC drive signal at the frequency of the secondary drive component, such as by applying Ohm’s law to the secondary drive component of these signals to calculate the resistance. However, compared with the load modulation configuration described above, this analog methodology may be more susceptible to noise and thus less accurate. The load modulation configuration, along with the regulation of the voltage of the secondary drive component by the controller 103 with a large input tolerance as described herein, limits the effect of inductive coupling variations occurring as a result gaps and/or misalignment between the coils 70, 72, which in turn may occur as a result of manufacturing tolerances and/or variations in placement of the auxiliary assembly 20 relative to the ultrasonic instrument 14. The design of the temperature sensing assembly 402 shown in the illustrated example enables the control console 12, or more particularly the controller 103, to sense the load modulation of the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal, and correspondingly determine the operating temperature of the ultrasonic instrument 14, during resection of both soft tissue or hard tissue with a sawing motion, and while having minimal to no impact on tracking resonance and/or displacement of the ultrasonic instrument 14, the ergonomics of holding the handpiece, the line of site of the surgical workspace, the operation of other equipment such as a microscope, the weight of ultrasonic instrument 14, or the machining/manufacturing of sleeve 42.

[0136] More specifically, during operation of the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 in accordance with the circuit 500, the controller 103 may be configured to determine a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument 14 based on the measured voltage v_s and/or the current i_s of the AC drive signal at the frequency of the secondary drive component (e.g., 160 kHz). As an example, for each iteration of sensing a temperature, the controller 103 may be configured to measure the voltage v_s of the AC drive signal by sampling the voltage v_s of the AC drive signal for a duration of at least ten times the modulation frequency of the load modulation circuit 125 (e.g., a 220 msec sample time for a 30 Hz modulation frequency). The controller 103 may then be configured to isolate the secondary drive component from the measured voltage v_s. such as by filtering out the main drive component. For instance, the controller 103 may be configured to apply a narrow high order filter to the measured voltage v_s around the frequency of the secondary drive component (e.g., 160 kHz). FIG. 11A illustrates a secondary drive component that may have been isolated from a measured voltage v_s of the AC drive signal.

[0137] The controller 103 may then be configured to extract a load modulation waveform from the isolated secondary drive component of the measured voltage v_s using envelop detection of the isolated secondary drive component. More specifically, the controller 104 may be configured to square the isolated secondary drive component, low pass filter the squared signal, and take the square root of the result to derive the envelope of the isolated secondary drive component. FIG. 1 IB illustrates an envelope waveform of the isolated secondary drive component of FIG. 11A after being squared, filtered, and taking the square root as described above. The controller 104 may then be configured to filter out the DC component from the envelope waveform to determine the load modulation waveform of the isolated second drive component. For example, FIG. 11C illustrates a load modulation waveform of the envelope waveform of FIG. 1 IB.

[0138] The controller 103 may then be configured to determine a frequency of the load modulation waveform, such as by applying an enhanced FFT algorithm to the load modulation waveform, and to determine a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument 14 at the position of the thermistor 412 based on the frequency. FIG. 11D illustrates the output of an enhanced FFT algorithm applied to the load modulation waveform of FIG. 11C.

[0139] In some instances, the temperature data 136 may indicate varying temperatures as a function of frequency, and the controller 103 may thus be configured to query the temperature data 136 based on the determined frequency to determine the corresponding temperature. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 103 may be configured to convert the determined frequency to a corresponding temperature using a predefined formula. For instance, the temperature T may be determined as follows: 1

T(°C) = 273.15

0.722 [ⁿ f - C - R₀

/?

where f is the determined frequency, /3, T_o, and R_o are constants of the thermistor 412, C is value of the capacitor used to convert temperature to frequency (e.g., FIG. 10, C4). For instance, continuing with the exmaple illustrated in FIG. 11D, assuming /?=4250 k, T_o = 25 °C, and C = lOOnF, and determining f being about 100 Hz, the temperature indicated by the above formula is about 50.3 °C.

[0140] As previously described, the controller 103 may be configured to adjust operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14 responsive to determining the ultrasonic instrument 14 is operating at a temperature greater than a predefined temperature threshold, which may likewise be defined in the temperature data 136. For instance, the controller 103 may be configured to implement a cooling protocol associated with the temperature threshold as described above.

[0141] The ability to measure an operating temperature of the ultrasonic instrument 14 and adjust operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14 based thereon enables the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10 to obtain higher resection performance of ultrasonic tips 16, specifically by allowing for higher tip displacements as long as the sensed temperature stays below the predefined threshold. Such functionality may also prolong the life of the tips 16 and/or other components of the ultrasonic instrument 14 by reducing the duration in which the ultrasonic instrument 14 is operating at a relatively high temperature, and help identify situations when insufficient irrigation is being provided, such as because of the control console 12 being set to an insufficient irrigation level setting or because irrigating fluid is not reaching the distal region 18 of the tip 16. For example, this latter condition may occur when the ultrasonic instrument 14 is oriented upwards, the practitioner is applying excessive force on a hard tissue such as bone, or the irrigation sleeve 42 is being pinched or blocked by the practitioner or surrounding tissue.

[0142] As described above, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be configured as a component distinct from and releasably mountable to a portion of the ultrasonic instrument 14, such as the handpiece 24 of the ultrasonic instrument 14, so as to be wirelessly powered through the ultrasonic instrument 14 and to provide an auxiliary function in cooperation with the primary function(s) of the ultrasonic instrument 14. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be integral with the components of the ultrasonic instrument 14. For example, FIG. 12 illustrates an ultrasonic instrument 14A in which the auxiliary assembly 20 is realized as an auxiliary assembly 602 integral with the sleeve 42A of the ultrasonic instrument 14A. The sleeve 42A may have a configuration for providing irrigation to the tip 16 of the ultrasonic instrument 14A similar to that of the sleeve 42 of the ultrasonic instrument 14 discussed above. However, the sleeve 42A may also include a receive coil 72 of the auxiliary assembly 602 disposed in a proximal portion of the sleeve body 44A such that, when the sleeve 42A is coupled to the handpiece 24 of the ultrasonic instrument 14A, the receive coil 72 is aligned with a corresponding transmit coil 70 disposed in a distal region of the handpiece 24, or more particularly of the housing 26, of the ultrasonic instrument 14A. The sleeve body 44A may also contain a receiving circuit 97 and/or load modulation circuit 125 of the auxiliary assembly 602, which may be coupled to the receive coil 72 and via one or more conductors 604 running down the sleeve body 44A to one or more electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 602 distributed along and/or within the sleeve body 44A. In general, the transmit coil 70, receive coil 72, receiving circuit 97, and load modulation circuit 125 may be configured to power and/or operate the electrical components 76 of the auxiliary assembly 602 in a manner similar to that described above.

[0143] A given auxiliary assembly 20 may be configured to provide multiple auxiliary functions relative to the primary function(s) of the ultrasonic instrument 14, 14A, and to this end, may include one or more electrical components 76 for facilitating each auxiliary function. For instance, still referring to FIG. 12, the auxiliary assembly 602 may include at least one electrical component 76 realized as the indicator 405, which may be coupled to an outer surface of the sleeve body 44A for indicating an event to a practitioner. Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary assembly 602 may include at least one electrical component 76 realized as the temperature sensor 412 incorporated into or on an outer wall of the sleeve body 44 A at an intermediate point along its length for sensing a temperature of the sleeve body 44A at an intermediate point along its longitudinal length.

[0144] Additionally or alternatively, the auxiliary assembly 602 may include at least one electrical component 76 realized as a tissue sensor 610 coupled to the outer surface of the sleeve body 44A, such as adjacent to the distal region 18 of the tip 16. The tissue sensor 610 may include at least one electrically controlled light source (e.g., LED) configured to excite tissue adjacent the distal region 18 of the tip 16 with one or more types of light (e.g., blue spectrum light). In some implementations, the tissue sensor 610 may also include at least one electric light sensor (e.g., LED photosensor) configured to generate one or more electrical signals indicative of the intensity of one or more types of fluorescence (c.g., red spectrum fluorescence) emitted from the tissue responsive to the excitation light and detected by the light sensor(s). In this case, the load modulation circuit 125 of the tracker assembly 602 may be configured to load modulate the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal based on the electrical signals, such as using a 555-timer 502 driving a switching circuit described above in reference to FIG. 10.

[0145] Alternative to an electronic light sensor, the tissue sensor 610 may instead include a detection fiber 612 running the length of the sleeve body 44A, such as an outside or within the sleeve body 44A, from its proximal end to its distal end. The detection fiber 612 may be exposed at each of the proximal end and distal end of the sleeve body 44A. The exposed distal end of the detection fiber 612 may be configured to collect the fluorescence emitted from tissue adjacent the distal region 18 of the tip 16, and the exposed proximal end of the detection fiber 612 may be configured to mate with a corresponding exposed distal end of a detection fiber 614 running the length of the handpiece 24 of the ultrasonic instrument 14A. More particularly, the detection fiber 614 may run the length of the housing 26 of the handpiece 24 from its distal end to and out its proximal end, and then extend from the ultrasonic instrument 14A to the control console 12 or a separate tissue detection console in communication with the control console 12. When the ultrasonic instrument 14A is assembled, the detection fiber 612 may adjoin the detection fiber 614, which may cooperate to communicate collected light emitted from tissue to the control console 12 or other console for spectral analysis, such as in a manner described in Applicant’s PCT Application No. PCT/IB2022/052294, filed March 14, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

[0146] In alternative examples, the proximal end of the of the detection fiber 612 may be coupled to an electrical component 76 realized as spectrometer disposed in the sleeve body 44A. The spectrometer may be configured to convert the collected light into one or more corresponding electrical signals, each corresponding to a different wavelength, which may then be load modulated onto the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal by the load modulation circuit 125 as described herein. In yet further alternative examples, rather than being disposed at the distal region 18 of the tip 16, the electrically controlled light source of the tissue sensor 610 may be disposed on or in the sleeve body 44A and coupled to the proximal end of the detection fiber 612 so as to transmit the excitation light therethrough. In other words, the detection fiber 612 may function to both excite the adjacent tissue and collect the resulting fluorescence emitted from the tissue.

[0147] It will be appreciated that the tissue sensor 610 may also be incorporated into other exemplary auxiliary assemblies 20 described herein. For instance, the tissue sensor 610 (e.g., light source, detection fiber, light sensor) may be incorporated into the auxiliary assembly 402 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 with or in place of the thermistor 412, such as by being disposed within the heat shrink 416 adjacent the distal region 18 of the tip 16, and coupled to the load modulation circuit 125 and/or a spectrometer supported on the clip 404, such as via an electrical cable running down the sleeve 42 beneath the heat shrink 416.

[0148] As described above and shown in the example illustrated in FIG. 12, a given auxiliary assembly 20 may include multiple components or assemblies each configured to provide an auxiliary function related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14. In such instance, each component or assembly may be associated with a different frequency or frequency range for operating and/or receiving data from the component or assembly. For example, an auxiliary assembly 20 may include a sensor configured to generate data of a first type related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14 (e.g., temperature, moisture, tissue type), and may include another sensor configured to generate data of a second type related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14. To enable the controller 103 to read the different data types, the auxiliary assembly 20 may also include a load modulation circuit 125 configured to load modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the data of the first type using a first frequency or first frequency range, and load modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the data of the second type using a second frequency or frequency range that differs from the first frequency or frequency range. To this end, in some implementations, the load modulation circuit 125 may include a relaxation oscillator and switching circuit for each of the sensors, each relaxation oscillator being configured to output pulses with the frequency or frequency range of the associated sensor, and each switching circuit being configured to load modulate the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal according to the frequency of the pulses output by the corresponding relaxation oscillator.

[0149] The controller 103 may thus be configured to determine data generated by each sensor by determining the load modulation envelope of the second component of the AC drive signal at the frequency or frequency range associated with sensor. The frequency or frequency range associated with each sensor may be indicated by data stored in the console storage 104, or alternatively by data stored in the HP memory 150 and/or tip memory 156 and read by the controller 103 upon connection of the ultrasonic instrument 14 with the control console 12.

[0150] Additionally or alternatively, when the auxiliary assembly 20 includes multiple components or assemblies each configured to provide a varying auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, the auxiliary assembly 20 may be configured to selectively power each components or assemblies responsive to the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal including a frequency associated with the auxiliary component or assembly, with the frequencies associated with each auxiliary component or assembly being difference. For instance, the load modulation circuit 125 of the auxiliary assembly 20 may include a bandpass filter coupled to each component or assembly that is centered on the frequency associated with the auxiliary component such that, when the second component of the AC drive signal includes the frequency, the component or assembly is operated. The frequency associated with each component or assembly may have a relationship to the frequency of the main drive component of the AC drive signal as described above.

[0151] The controller 103 may thus be configured to operate each component or assembly by setting the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal to include the frequency associated with the component or assembly. For instance, when one component or assembly is realized as a sensor configured to generate data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and another component or assembly is realized an event indicator (e.g., LED), the controller 103 may be configured to set the secondary drive component to include the frequency associated with the sensor, determine the data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument generated by the sensor responsive to setting the frequency such as by monitoring the load modulation of the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal as described above, and then indicate the operating condition indicated by the sensor data by setting set the another component or assembly to include the frequency associated with the event indicator.

[0152] As a further example, when one component or assembly is realized as a sensor configured to generate data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, and another component or assembly is also realized as a sensor configured to generate data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, a load modulation circuit 125 coupled to the sensors may be configured to load modulate the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal based on the data generated by one sensor responsive to the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal being set to include the frequency associated with the one sensor by the controller 103, and load modulate the secondary drive component of the AC drive signal based on the data generated by the another sensor responsive to the second component of the AC drive signal being set to include the frequency associated with the another sensor.

[0153] The frequency associated with each component or assembly for powering the component or assembly may be indicated by data stored in the console storage 104, or alternatively by data stored in the HP memory 150 and/or tip memory 156 and read by the controller 103 upon connection of the ultrasonic instrument 14 with the control console 12.

[0154] In some implementations in which the auxiliary assembly 20 includes multiple components or assemblies each configured to provide an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument 14, with at least one being a sensor and another having a steady state condition relative to current or power (e.g., navigation tracker 22), the controller 103 may be configured to determine the sensor data by determining an analog resistance across the WPT circuit and subtracting a steady state value corresponding to the steady state condition of the other component or assembly. More specifically, after a predefined time period that enables the other component or assembly to reach its steady state condition, the controller 103 may be configured to determine a value representative of the resistance across the WPT circuit, such as the measured current i_s of the AC drive signal at the secondary drive component frequency o or the measured voltage v_s divided by the measured current i_s of the AC drive signal at the secondary drive component frequency, and then subtracting a corresponding steady state value corresponding to the other component or assembly being in steady state. Thereafter, the controller 103 may be configured to determine an operating condition of the ultrasonic instrument 14 based on the result of the subtraction, such as by querying the event data 135 based on the result. In some implementations, the steady state value associated with the component or assembly may be stored in the HP memory 150 and/or tip memory 156, and read by the controller 103 upon connection of the ultrasonic instrument 14 with the control console 12.

[0155] As described above, the control console 12 may be configured to power the auxiliary assembly 20 over the same conductors that arc used to drive vibration the ultrasonic instrument 14, which has the added benefit of enabling the operation of auxiliary assembly 20 using the same cables 36 as ultrasonic instruments without the capability for powering an auxiliary assembly 20. In alternative implementations, the control console 12 may be configured to drive the ultrasonic instrument 14 over different conductors than those used to drive vibration of the ultrasonic instrument 14.

[0156] For example, FIG. 13 illustrates an ultrasonic surgical tool system 10A for wirelessly powering an auxiliary assembly 20 through an ultrasonic instrument 14B that includes a control console 12A, an adapter 902, and the ultrasonic instrument 14B. Several aspects of the ultrasonic instrument 14B and control console 12A may be configured similarly to that of the ultrasonic instrument 14 and control console 12 described above. However, the AC drive signal generated by the control console 12A and sourced to the ultrasonic instrument 14B via the socket 40 may omit the secondary drive component. In other words, the AC drive signal may only include the primary drive component for driving vibration the ultrasonic instrument 14.

[0157] The adapter 902 may connect between the control console 12A and the ultrasonic instrument 14B, and may be configured to supply the AC drive signal generated by the control console 12A to the ultrasonic instrument 14B. To this end, the adapter 902 may include a socket 906 configured to removably receive an electrical cable 904 extending from the socket 40 of the control console 12A. The electrical cable 904 may thus be removable from both the control console 12B and adapter 902. Alternatively, the electrical cable 904 may be permanently connected to the adapter 902. In some implementations, the cable 904 may correspond to the cable 36 described above.

[0158] The adapter 902 may also be configured to separately receive an auxiliary power signal via a cable 908. The cable 908 may extend from the adapter 902 to a source of the auxiliary power signal, such as a mains power source (e.g., wall outlet) or a separate power supply incorporated into the control console 12A (e.g., a USB port). In some implementations, the cable 908 may be permanently connected to the adapter 902. The auxiliary power signal may be configured for powering the auxiliary assembly 20. In some implementations, the auxiliary power signal may be an auxiliary drive signal including the secondary drive component and omitting the main drive component described above. Alternatively, the auxiliary power signal may include a signal (e.g., mains AC signal, DC signal, such as sourced from a USB port of the control console 12 A) from which the auxiliary drive signal including the second drive component and omitting the main drive component is derived. In this case, the adapter 902 may include a receiving circuit 910 (e.g., DC/ AC inverter, DC-DC regulator) configured to generate the auxiliary drive signal from the received auxiliary power signal.

[0159] The ultrasonic instrument 14B may be removably couplable to the adapter 902 via a power cable 36A, also referred to as an electrical cable 36A herein. One end the electrical cable 36 A may be permanently connected to the proximal end of the ultrasonic instrument 14B, and the other end of the electrical cable 36A may be removably coupleable to a corresponding socket 912 of the adapter 902. During operation of the ultrasonic surgical tool system 10A, the adapter 902 may be configured to source both the AC drive signal generated by the control console 12A and the auxiliary drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14 over the cable 36 A.

[0160] Unlike the cable 36 described above, the cable 36A may include separate conductors for communicating the auxiliary drive signal and the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument 14B. One pair of conductors, which may be referred to as main conductors of the cable 36A, may be coupled to the drivers 30 of the ultrasonic instrument 14B. The adapter 902 may be configured to source the AC drive signal over the main conductors to vibrate the tip 16 as described above. Another pair of conductors, which may be referred to as auxiliary conductors of the cable 36A, may be coupled to the transmit coil 70 of the ultrasonic instrument 14B. The adapter 902 may be configured to source the auxiliary drive signal over the auxiliary conductors to wirelessly power an auxiliary assembly 20 as described above.

[0161] An ultrasonic surgical tool system including an ultrasonic instrument and an auxiliary assembly powered through the ultrasonic instrument is described herein. In addition to a rapidly vibrating tip for resecting patient tissue, the ultrasonic instrument may include a wireless power transfer (WPT) circuit for powering an auxiliary assembly coupled to a housing of the instrument. The auxiliary assembly may generally be configured to provide an auxiliary function complimenting primary function(s) of the ultrasonic instrument, such as use of the ultrasonic instrument to resect patient tissue. For example and without limitation, the auxiliary assembly may include a navigation tracker, a temperature sensor, a tissue sensor, an event indicator, an irrigation sensor, a remote control, or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the auxiliary assembly may be powered using the same power lines that are used for driving the tip of the ultrasonic instrument, so no additional wires may be needed. As a result, adverse impact on the ergonomics of the ultrasonic instrument by the auxiliary assembly may be limited, and interrupting the usual flow of a procedure to replace a battery of the auxiliary assembly may be avoided.

[0162] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of the examples is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any example of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other examples, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described examples are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more examples with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0163] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between controllers, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including “connected,” “engaged,” “coupled,” “adjacent,” “next to,” “on top of,” “above,” “below,” and “disposed.” Unless explicitly described as being “direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, that relationship can be a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements, but can also be an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements.

[0164] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.” The term subset does not necessarily require a proper subset. In other words, a first subset of a first set may be coextensive with (equal to) the first set.

[0165] In the FIGS., the direction of an arrow, as indicated by the arrowhead, generally demonstrates the flow of information (such as data or instructions) that is of interest to the illustration. For example, when element A and element B exchange a variety of information, but information transmitted from element A to element B is relevant to the illustration, the arrow may point from element A to element B. This unidirectional arrow does not imply that no other information is transmitted from clement B to clement A. Further, for information sent from element A to element B, element B may send requests for, or receipt acknowledgements of, the information to element A.

[0166] In this application, including the definitions below, the term “controller” or “module” may be replaced with the term “circuit.” The term “controller” may refer to, be part of, or include: at least one Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); at least one programmable system on a chip (PSoC); at least one digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital discrete circuit; at least one digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital integrated circuit; at least one combinational logic circuit; at least one field programmable gate array (FPGA); at least one processor (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; at least one memory circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the at least one processor; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-chip.

[0167] The controller may include one or more interface circuits with one or more transceivers. In some examples, the interface circuit(s) may implement wired or wireless interfaces that connect to a local area network (LAN) or a wireless personal area network (WPAN). Examples of a LAN are Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 802.11-2016 (also known as the WIFI wireless networking standard) and IEEE Standard 802.3-2015 (also known as the ETHERNET wired networking standard). Examples of a WPAN are the BLUETOOTH wireless networking standard from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and IEEE Standard 802.15.4.

[0168] The controller may communicate with other controllers using the interface circuit(s). Although the controller may be depicted in the present disclosure as logically communicating directly with other controllers, in various implementations the controller may actually communicate via a communications system. The communications system may include physical and/or virtual networking equipment such as hubs, switches, routers, gateways and transceivers. In some implementations, the communications system connects to or traverses a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. For example, the communications system may include multiple LANs connected to each other over the Internet or point-to-point leased lines using technologies including Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and virtual private networks (VPNs).

[0169] In various implementations, the functionality of the controller may be distributed among multiple controllers that are connected via the communications system. For example, multiple controllers may implement the same functionality distributed by a load balancing system. In a further example, the functionality of the controller may be split between a server (also known as remote, or cloud) controller and a client (or, user) controller.

[0170] Some or all hardware features of a controller may be defined using a language for hardware description, such as IEEE Standard 1364-2005 (commonly called “Verilog”) and IEEE Standard 1076-2008 (commonly called “VHDL”). The hardware description language may be used to manufacture and/or program a hardware circuit. In some implementations, some or all features of a controller may be defined by a language, such as IEEE 1666-2005 (commonly called “SystemC”), that encompasses both code, as described below, and hardware description.

[0171] The term code, as used above, may include software, firmware, and/or microcode, and may refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, data structures, and/or objects. The term shared processor circuit encompasses a single processor circuit that executes some or all code from multiple controllers. The term group processor circuit encompasses a processor circuit that, in combination with additional processor circuits, executes some or all code from one or more controllers. References to multiple processor circuits encompass multiple processor circuits on discrete dies, multiple processor circuits on a single die, multiple cores of a single processor circuit, multiple threads of a single processor circuit, or a combination of the above. The term shared memory circuit encompasses a single memory circuit that stores some or all code from multiple controllers. The term group memory circuit encompasses a memory circuit that, in combination with additional memories, stores some or all code from one or more controllers.

[0172] The term memory circuit is a subset of the term computer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium, as used herein, does not encompass transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium may therefore be considered tangible and non-transitory. Non-limiting examples of a non-transitory computer-readable medium arc nonvolatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only memory circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).

[0173] The apparatuses and methods described in this application may be partially or fully implemented by a special purpose computer created by configuring a general purpose computer to execute one or more particular functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks and flowchart elements described above may serve as software specifications, which can be translated into the computer programs by the routine work of a skilled technician or programmer.

[0174] The computer programs may include processor-executable instructions that are stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium. The computer programs may also include or rely on stored data. The computer programs may encompass a basic input/output system (BIOS) that interacts with hardware of the special purpose computer, device drivers that interact with particular' devices of the special purpose computer, one or more operating systems, user applications, background services, background applications, etc.

[0175] The computer programs may include: (i) descriptive text to be parsed, such as HTML (hypertext markup language), XML (extensible markup language), or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), (ii) assembly code, (iii) object code generated from source code by a compiler, (iv) source code for execution by an interpreter, (v) source code for compilation and execution by a just-in-time compiler, etc. As examples only, source code may be written using syntax from languages including C, C++, C#, Objective C, Swift, Haskell, Go, SQL, R, Lisp, Java®, Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, JavaScript®, HTML5 (Hypertext Markup Language 5th revision), Ada, ASP (Active Server Pages), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Scala, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Erlang, Ruby, Flash®, Visual Basic®, Lua, MATLAB, SIMULINK, and Python®.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic tool system comprising: an ultrasonic instrument comprising: a tip having a distal region for treating patient tissue, wherein the ultrasonic instrument defines a first pathway for providing suction at the distal region of the tip and a second pathway for supplying irrigating fluid to the distal region of the tip; and at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip; a powered auxiliary assembly removably coupled to the ultrasonic instrument and configured to provide an auxiliary function relating operation of the ultrasonic instrument; and a control console coupled to the ultrasonic instrument and configured to source the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument, the AC drive signal comprising a first component at a first frequency for driving the at least one driver to vibrate the tip and a second component at a second frequency greater than the first frequency for powering the auxiliary assembly, wherein the ultrasonic instrument is configured to: vibrate the tip with the first component of the AC drive signal; and power the auxiliary assembly with the second component of the AC drive signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is a mechanical resonant frequency of the ultrasonic instrument, and the second frequency is at least 100 kHz greater than the first frequency.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first frequency is about 25 kHz and the second frequency is about 170 kHz.

4. The system of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the ultrasonic instrument comprises a transmit coil and the auxiliary assembly comprises a receive coil across which the transmit coil induces a power signal for powering the auxiliary assembly responsive to the ultrasonic instrument receiving the AC drive signal, wherein the control console comprises: a sensor for measuring a voltage of the AC drive signal; and a sensor for measuring a current of the AC drive signal, wherein the control console is configured to, based on the measured voltage and current of the AC drive signal, track a mechanical resonant frequency of the ultrasonic instrument and track an optimal power transfer frequency of the transmit and receive coils, and wherein the first frequency corresponds to the tracked mechanical resonant frequency and the second frequency corresponds to the tracked optimal power transfer frequency.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control console is configured to track the optimal power transfer frequency by being configured to: determine a phase difference between the measured voltage of the AC drive signal and the measured current of the AC drive signal at the second frequency; and determine the optimal power transfer frequency based on the phase difference.

6. The system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a battery compartment and an adapter received in the battery compartment, the adapter including the receive coil.

7. The system of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the ultrasonic instrument includes a handpiece containing the at least one driver and includes a cable extending from the handpiece, the cable including a high side conductor and a low side conductor over which the AC drive signal is sourced to the handpiece, wherein the handpiece comprises a transmit coil inline with the low side conductor, and wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a receive coil across which the transmit coil induces a power signal for powering the auxiliary assembly responsive to receiving the AC drive signal.

8. The system of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises an event indicator, a navigation tracker, a tissue type sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, or a combination thereof.

9. The system of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a sensor configured to generate data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument and a load modulation circuit coupled to the sensor and configured to modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the sensor data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic instrument comprises a handpiece including the at least one driver and a sleeve disposed over the tip and removably coupleable to the handpiece, the sleeve defining the second pathway for providing irrigating fluid to the distal region of the tip, and the temperature sensor being disposed on an outer wall of the sleeve, and wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a clip configured to mate with the handpiece to couple the auxiliary assembly to the ultrasonic instrument, the clip supporting the load modulation circuit.

12. The system of claim 11, comprising a heat shrink disposed around the sleeve and the temperature sensor for coupling the temperature sensor to the sleeve.

13. The system of any one of claims 10-12, wherein the control console is configured to: determine from the modulated second component of the AC drive signal the temperature of the ultrasonic instrument indicated by the sensor data; and trigger a cooling protocol for the ultrasonic instrument based on the determined temperature of the ultrasonic instrument.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control console is configured to trigger the cooling protocol by being configured to perform one or more of reducing the first component of the AC drive signal, increasing the suction provided through the first pathway, or increasing the irrigating fluid provided through the second pathway.

15. The system of any one of claims 9-14, wherein the sensor is defined as a first sensor configured to generate first data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, the auxiliary assembly comprises a second sensor configured to generate second data relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and the load modulation circuit is configured to modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the first data using a first frequency and modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the second data using a second frequency that differs from the first frequency.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data associating the first frequency with the first data and associating the second frequency with the second data, and the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and determine the first data and the second data from the second component of the AC drive signal based on the read data.

17. The system of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a first auxiliary component configured to provide a first function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument and a second auxiliary component configured to provide a second function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and the auxiliary assembly is configured to power the first auxiliary component when the second component of the AC drive signal comprises a frequency associated with the first auxiliary component, and power the second auxiliary component when the second component comprises a frequency associated with the second auxiliary component that differs from the first auxiliary component frequency.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data indicating the first auxiliary component frequency in association with the first auxiliary component and indicating the second auxiliary component frequency in association with the second auxiliary component, and the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and set one or more frequencies of the second component of the AC drive signal based on the read data.

19. The system of claim 17 or 18, wherein the first auxiliary component is defined as a sensor configured to generate data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, the second auxiliary component is defined as an event indicator, and the control console is configured to: set the second component of the AC drive signal to include the first auxiliary component frequency; determine the data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument generated by the sensor responsive to setting the second component of the AC drive signal to include the first auxiliary component frequency; and set the second component of the AC drive signal to include the second auxiliary component frequency based on the determined data.

20. The system of claim 17 or 18, wherein first auxiliary component is defined as a first sensor configured to generate first data related to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, the second auxiliary component is defined as a second sensor configured to generate second data relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and the auxiliary assembly comprises a load modulation circuit coupled to the first and second sensors and configured to modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the first data responsive to the second component of the AC drive signal being set to include the first auxiliary component frequency, and modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the second data responsive to the second component of the AC drive signal being set to include the second auxiliary component frequency.

21. The system of claim 15, 16, or 20, wherein the first sensor comprises a temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument, and the second sensor comprises a sensor configured to generate data indicative of whether irrigating fluid is flowing through the ultrasonic instrument.

22. The system of claim 15, 16, or 20, wherein the first sensor comprises a first temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a first temperature of the ultrasonic instrument at a first location, and the second sensor comprises a second temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a second temperature of the ultrasonic instrument at a second location different from the first location.

23. The system of claim 15, 16, or 20, wherein the first sensor comprises a temperature sensor configured to generate data indicative of a temperature of the ultrasonic instrument, and the second sensor comprises a tissue type sensor configured to generate data indicative of a type of tissue adjacent the distal region of the tip.

24. The system of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a first auxiliary component realized as a sensor configured to generate data relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument and a second auxiliary component configured to provide an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic instrument, and the control console is configured to: measure a characteristic of the AC drive signal; isolate the second component from the measured characteristic of the AC drive signal; subtract a steady state value associated with the second auxiliary component from the isolated second component; and determine the sensor data based on the subtraction.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second auxiliary component comprises a navigation tracker or an event indicator.

26. The system of claim 24 or 25, wherein the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data indicating the steady state value associated with the second auxiliary component, and the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and determine the steady state value based on the read data.

27. The system of any one of claims 1-26, wherein the control console is configured to source an AC drive signal comprising the first component and omitting the second component responsive to receiving a first user input, and source the AC drive signal comprising the first component and the second component responsive to receiving a second user input different from the first user input.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the control console is configured to source the AC drive signal comprising the first component and omitting the second component responsive to receiving the first user input while sourcing the AC drive signal comprising the first component and the second component responsive to receiving the second user input.

29. The system of any one of claims 1-28, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a clip configured to cooperate with a housing of the ultrasonic instrument to couple the auxiliary assembly to the ultrasonic instrument.

30. The system of any one of claims 1-29, wherein the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data indicative of whether the ultrasonic instrument is functional with the auxiliary assembly, and the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and source the AC drive signal comprising the first component and the second component based on the read data.

31. The system of any one of claims 1-30, wherein the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data indicative of a voltage and/or frequency for the second component of the AC drive signal, and the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to the control console; and set the voltage and/or frequency of the second component of the AC drive signal based on the read data.

32. The system of any one of claims 1-31, wherein the ultrasonic instrument comprises a memory storing data indicative of one or more operating conditions of the ultrasonic instrument detectable by the auxiliary assembly and at least one characteristic of the second component of the AC drive signal associated with each of the operating conditions, and the control console is configured to: read the data from the memory when the ultrasonic instrument is coupled to control console; and determine an operating condition of the ultrasonic instrument based on the read data.

33. An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: a tip having a distal region for treating patient tissue, wherein the tip defines a first pathway for providing suction at a distal region of the tip; and a handpiece including at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, wherein the handpiece, responsive to receiving the AC drive signal, is configured to wirelessly power an auxiliary assembly using the AC drive signal for providing an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, the auxiliary assembly being removably coupleable to the handpiece.

34. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 33, comprising: a sleeve disposed over the tip and having a proximal region removably coupled to a distal region of the handpiece, the sleeve defining a second pathway between an inner wall of the sleeve and the tip for providing irrigating fluid to the distal region of the tip; a transmit coil disposed in the distal region of the handpiece for wirelessly powering the auxiliary assembly; and a receive coil disposed in the proximal region of the sleeve and across which the transmit coil induces a power signal for powering the auxiliary assembly responsive to receiving the AC drive signal.

35. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 34, wherein the AC drive signal comprises a first component at a first frequency for driving the at least one driver and a second component at a second frequency greater than the first frequency for powering the auxiliary assembly, the handpiece is configured to drive the at least one driver with the first component of the AC drive signal and to wirelessly power the auxiliary assembly with the second component of the AC drive signal.

36. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of claim 35, comprising the auxiliary assembly, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a sensor disposed on or within the sleeve and that is configured to generate data related to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and the auxiliary assembly comprises a load modulation circuit within the sleeve, the load modulation circuit coupled between the sensor and the receive coil and configured to modulate the second component of the AC drive signal based on the sensor data.

37. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of any one of claims 34-36, comprising an electrical cable extending from the handpiece and including a high side conductor and a low side conductor over which the AC drive signal is applied to the at least one driver, wherein the transmit coil is inline with the low side conductor.

38. The ultrasonic surgical instrument of any one of claims 33-37, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises an event indicator, a navigation tracker, a tissue type sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, or a combination thereof.

39. An ultrasonic surgical tool system comprising: an ultrasonic instrument comprising: a tip having a distal region for treating patient tissue and defining a first pathway for providing suction at the distal region of the tip, a handpiece including at least one driver to which the tip is coupled and to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, a sleeve disposed over the tip and removably coupled to the handpiece, the sleeve defining a second pathway for providing irrigating fluid to the distal region of the tip, and a temperature sensor coupled to an outer wall of the sleeve; and a control console coupled to the ultrasonic instrument and configured to: source the AC drive signal to the ultrasonic instrument, the AC drive signal including a first component at a first frequency for driving the at least one driver and a second component at a second frequency for powering the temperature sensor; measure a voltage of the AC drive signal; and determine a temperature of the sleeve sensed by the temperature sensor based on the measured voltage.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the control console is configured to: filter out the first frequency from the measured voltage; detect an envelope of the filtered measured voltage; and determine the temperature of the sleeve based on a frequency of the envelope.

41. An adapter configured to receive an AC drive signal from a control console and to provide the AC drive signal to an ultrasonic surgical instrument to vibrate a tip of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, the adapter comprising: a first connector configured to couple to the control console for receiving the AC drive signal from the control console; a second connector configured to couple to an auxiliary power source for receiving an auxiliary power signal from the auxiliary power source, the auxiliary power signal for powering an auxiliary assembly removably couplable to the ultrasonic surgical instrument and configured to provide an auxiliary function relating operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument; and a receptacle configured to receive a connector of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and provide the AC drive signal and an auxiliary drive signal based on the auxiliary power signal to the ultrasonic surgical instrument through the connector to vibrate the tip of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and power the auxiliary assembly respectively.

42. The adapter of claim 41, wherein the auxiliary power signal is an AC signal comprising the auxiliary drive signal.

43. The adapter of claim 41 , wherein the auxiliary power signal is a DC signal, and the adapter comprises a receiving circuit configured to generate the auxiliary drive signal from the auxiliary power signal.

44. A sleeve for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the ultrasonic surgical instrument including a tip and a handpiece having at least one driver to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, the sleeve comprising: a body including open proximal and distal ends and a conduit for flowing irrigating fluid down the sleeve and out the open distal end during operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument to vibrate the tip, the body adapted to be disposed around the tip and coupled to a distal region the handpiece such that the tip extends through the sleeve out the open distal end; and an auxiliary assembly coupled to the body and configured to provide an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, the auxiliary assembly including a receive coil disposed in a proximal region of the body and configured to cooperate with a transmit coil disposed in the distal region of the handpiece to power the auxiliary assembly.

45. The sleeve of claim 44, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a sensor for generating data relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and the sleeve comprising a load modulation circuit disposed in the body and configured to modulate the AC drive signal based on the sensor data.

46. The sleeve of claim 44 or 45, comprising a tip memory disposed in the body and storing data indicative of whether the sleeve includes the auxiliary assembly.

47. The sleeve of any one of claims 44-46, comprising a tip memory disposed in the body and storing data indicative of a voltage and/or frequency for the AC drive signal for powering the auxiliary assembly, and/or data indicative of one or more operating conditions of the ultrasonic surgical instrument detectable by the auxiliary assembly and at least one load modulation frequency associated with each of the operating conditions.

48. The sleeve of any one of claims 44-47, wherein the auxiliary assembly includes a first sensor configured to generate first data related to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and a second sensor configured to generate second data related to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and the sleeve comprising a tip memory disposed in the body and storing data indicative of at least one load modulation frequency associated with the first sensor and at least one load modulation frequency associated with the second sensor.

49. The sleeve of any one of claims 44-48, wherein the auxiliary assembly includes a first auxiliary component configured to provide a first function relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and a second auxiliary component configured to provide a second function relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and the sleeve comprising a tip memory disposed in the body and storing data indicative of at least one AC drive signal frequency for triggering operation of the first auxiliary component and at least one AC drive signal frequency for triggering operation of the second auxiliary component.

50. The sleeve of any one of claims 44-49, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a first auxiliary component realized as a sensor configured to generate data indicative of an operating condition of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and a second auxiliary component configured to provide an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and the sleeve comprising a tip memory storing data indicating a steady state value associated with the second auxiliary component for determining the sensor data generated by the first auxiliary component.

51. An auxiliary assembly for an ultrasonic surgical instrument, the ultrasonic surgical instrument including a tip and a handpiece having at least one driver to which an AC drive signal is applied to vibrate the tip, the auxiliary assembly comprising: a clip adapted to be coupled to the handpiece; an auxiliary component configured to be coupled to the ultrasonic surgical instrument and provide an auxiliary function relating operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument; and a receive coil disposed in the clip and coupled to the auxiliary component, the receive coil being configured to cooperate with a transmit coil disposed in the handpiece to power the auxiliary component.

52. The auxiliary assembly of claim 51, wherein the auxiliary component comprises a sensor for generating data relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and the auxiliary assembly comprising a load modulation circuit supported by the clip and coupled between the auxiliary component and the receive coil, the load modulation circuit configured to modulate the AC drive signal based on the sensor data.

53. A control console for sourcing an AC drive signal to an ultrasonic surgical instrument to vibrate a tip of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, the ultrasonic surgical instrument being configured to power an auxiliary assembly removably coupled to the ultrasonic surgical instrument using the AC drive signal to provide an auxiliary function relating to operation of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, the control console comprising: a power supply configured to generate the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic surgical instrument; and at least one processor coupled to the power supply for regulating the AC drive signal sourced to the ultrasonic surgical instrument, the at least one processor being configured to: responsive to receiving a first user input, operate the power supply to generate an AC drive signal comprising a first component at a first frequency for vibrating the tip and a second component at a second frequency greater than the first frequency for powering the auxiliary assembly; and responsive to receiving a second user input, operate the power supply to generate an AC drive signal comprising the first component for vibrating the tip and omitting the second component.