RF output stage switching mechanism

• US 10,405,915 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Smith, Jesse A., Hubelbank, David, Marion, Duane
• Primary Examiner(s): Hupczey, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/927,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20160120589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00648 using more than one sensed parameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00767 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1286 having a specific transformer

Abstract

An electrosurgical unit including a radio frequency generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy. The radio frequency generator includes a first receptacle configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver bipolar radiofrequency energy. A second receptacle is included and configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy. The radiofrequency generator includes a relay circuit configured to allow simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces in the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical unit, comprising:

a radiofrequency generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy;

the radiofrequency generator including;

a first receptacle configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver bipolar radiofrequency energy, the first receptacle being electrically couplable to at least one from the group consisting of an active bipolar radiofrequency output, a return bipolar radiofrequency output, and an active monopolar radiofrequency output;

a second receptacle configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy, the second receptacle being electrically couplable to at least one from the group consisting of the active bipolar radiofrequency output, the return bipolar radiofrequency output, and the active monopolar radiofrequency output; and

the radiofrequency generator including a relay circuit configured to allow simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces in the first receptacle and the second receptacle, the relay circuit including;

a first relay and a second relay disposed between the return bipolar radiofrequency output and the first receptacle;

a third relay disposed between the first receptacle and the active bipolar radiofrequency output; and

a fourth relay disposed between the second receptacle and the active monopolar radiofrequency output.

2. The electrosurgical unit of claim 1, wherein during simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces, the first relay is open and the second relay is closed.

3. The electrosurgical unit of claim 2, a wherein during simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces, the third relay is closed.

4. The electrosurgical unit of claim 3, wherein the relay circuit further includes a fifth relay disposed between the second receptacle and the active monopolar radiofrequency output, and wherein during simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces, the fourth relay is open and the fifth relay is closed.

5. The electrosurgical unit of claim 4, wherein the fourth relay is disposed between the third relay and the fifth relay.

6. The electrosurgical unit of claim 5, wherein the fifth relay is disposed between the fourth relay and the active monopolar radiofrequency output.

7. The electrosurgical unit of claim 6, wherein the active bipolar radiofrequency output is disposed between the third relay and the fourth relay.

8. An electrosurgical unit, comprising:

a radiofrequency generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy, the radiofrequency generator including;

a first receptacle configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver bipolar radiofrequency energy, the first receptacle being electrically couplable to an active bipolar radiofrequency output, a return bipolar radiofrequency output, and an active monopolar radiofrequency output;

a second receptacle configured to electrically couple with an electrosurgical hand piece configured to deliver monopolar radiofrequency energy, the second receptacle being electrically couplable to the active bipolar radiofrequency output, the return bipolar radiofrequency output, and the active monopolar radiofrequency output;

the radiofrequency generator including a relay circuit configured to allow simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces in the first receptacle and the second receptacle, the relay circuit including;

a first relay and a second relay disposed between the return bipolar radiofrequency output and the first receptacle, wherein during simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces, the first relay is open and the second relay is closed;

a third relay disposed between the first receptacle and the active bipolar radiofrequency output, wherein during simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces, the third relay is closed; and

a fourth relay and a fifth relay disposed between the second receptacle and the active monopolar radiofrequency output, wherein during simultaneous radiofrequency energy delivery to the electrosurgical hand pieces, the fourth relay is open and the fifth relay is closed.