Limited reuse ablation needles and ablation devices for use therewith

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a reusable component and a limited-use component releasably engagable with the reusable component. The reusable component includes a detecting member and is configured to connect to a source of energy. The limited-use component is transitionable from a first state to a second state. The detecting member is configured to detect a response of the limited-use component for determining the state of the limited-use component. Energy is permitted to be supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the first state. Energy is inhibited from being supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the second state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a reusable component including a detecting member, the reusable component configured to connect to a source of energy; and   a limited-use component releasably engagable with the reusable component, the limited-use component transitionable from a first state to a second state,   wherein the detecting member is configured to detect a response of the limited-use component for determining the state of the limited-use component, wherein energy is permitted to be supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the first state, and wherein energy is inhibited from being supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the second state.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument includes an ablation device, the ablation device including a reusable handle assembly and a limited-use needle assembly releasably engagable with the handle assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the detecting member is configured to detect a natural frequency of the limited-use component, the limited-use component defining at least a first natural frequency corresponding to the first state and at least a second natural frequency corresponding to the second state. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 3 , wherein the limited-use component includes an expandable member, the expandable member configured to transition from a contracted condition, wherein the limited-use component defines the first natural frequency, to an expanded condition, wherein the limited-use component defines the second natural frequency, upon transitioning of the limited-use member from the first state to the second state. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the detecting member includes an optical sensor configured to sense at least one optical characteristic exhibited by at least a portion of the limited-use component, the at least a portion of the limited-use component exhibiting at least a first optical characteristic corresponding to the first state and at least a second optical characteristic corresponding to the second state. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least a portion of the limited-use component includes a color-change member, the color-change member configured to exhibit a first color when the limited-use component is disposed in the first state and to exhibit a second color when the limited-use component is disposed in the second state. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the limited-use component is transitioned from the first state to the second state upon at least one of: application of a fluid thereto, heating to a pre-determined temperature, application of electrical energy thereto, application of light thereto, and application of chemicals thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein the reusable component includes control circuitry including a memory, the control circuitry configured to receive a response from the detecting member and to compare the response to at least one stored response stored in the memory for determining the state of the limited-use component. 
     
     
         9 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a reusable component including a detecting member, the reusable component configured to connect to a source of energy; and   a limited-use component releasably engagable with the reusable component, the limited-use component transitionable from a first state, wherein the limited-use component defines a first natural frequency, to a second state, wherein the limited-use component defines a second natural frequency,   wherein the detecting member is configured to detect the natural frequency of the limited-use component for determining the state of the limited-use component, wherein energy is permitted to be supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the first state, and wherein energy is inhibited from being supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the second state.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the detecting member includes an acoustic transmitter and receiver, the transmitter configured to emit an excitation signal within the limited-use component and the acoustic receiver configured to receive a standing wave response from the limited-use component that corresponds to a natural frequency of the limited-use component. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the limited-use component includes an expandable member disposed therein, the expandable member expandable from a contracted condition to an expanded condition to transition the limited-use component from the first state to the second state. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 11 , wherein the expandable member is transitionable from the contracted condition to the expanded condition upon at least one of: application of a fluid thereto, heating to a pre-determined temperature, application of electrical energy thereto, and application of chemicals thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the surgical instrument includes an ablation device, the ablation device including a reusable handle assembly and a limited-use needle assembly releasably engagable with the handle assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , wherein the reusable component includes control circuitry including a memory, the control circuitry configured to receive a response from the detecting member and to compare the response to at least one stored response stored in the memory for determining the state of the limited-use component. 
     
     
         15 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a reusable component including an optical sensor, the reusable component configured to connect to a source of energy; and   a limited-use component releasably engagable with the reusable component, the limited-use component transitionable from a first state, wherein at least a portion of the limited-use component exhibits a first optical characteristic, to a second state, wherein the at least a portion of the limited-use component exhibits a second optical characteristic,   wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect the optical characteristic of the at least a portion of the limited-use component for determining the state of the limited-use component, wherein energy is permitted to be supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the first state, and wherein energy is inhibited from being supplied to the limited-use component when it is determined that the limited-use component is disposed in the second state.   
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the surgical instrument includes an ablation device, the ablation device including a reusable handle assembly and a limited-use needle assembly releasably engagable with the handle assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least a portion of the limited-use component includes a color-change member, the color-change member configured to exhibit a first color when the limited-use component is disposed in the first state and to exhibit a second color when the limited-use component is disposed in the second state. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the limited-use component is transitioned from the first state to the second state upon at least one of: application of a fluid thereto, heating to a pre-determined temperature, application of electrical energy thereto, application of light thereto, and application of chemicals thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the reusable component includes control circuitry including a memory, the control circuitry configured to receive a response from the optical sensor and to compare the response to at least one stored response stored in the memory for determining the state of the limited-use component.