Generator and probe adapter

• US 20030078572A1
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Sciences, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Garabedian, Robert, Pearson, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 6,685,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter

Abstract

An adapter to couple a dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe and radio frequency generator includes an adapter body having a proximal connector to be coupled to the generator, a distal connector to be coupled to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, and one or more electrical elements to emulate one or more operating parameters of a compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

Claims

1. An adapter to couple a dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe and radio frequency generator, the radio frequency generator normally used with a compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe, the adapter comprising:

an adapter body carrying a proximal connector to be coupled to the radio frequency generator, a distal connector to be coupled to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, and one or more electrical elements to emulate one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe includes impedance.

3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein the one or more electrical elements include one or more resistors to emulate the impedance of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe includes temperature.

5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein the one or more electrical elements include one or more resistors to emulate the resistance of one or more temperature sensors of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the proximal connector is adapted to be directly connected to the radio frequency generator.

7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the proximal connector is adapted to be indirectly connected to the radio frequency generator via one or more connectors.

8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the distal connector is adapted to be directly connected to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

9. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the distal connector is adapted to be indirectly connected to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe via one or more connectors.

10. A kit of adapters to couple a dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe and a variety of radio frequency generators, each radio frequency generator normally used with a compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe, the kit comprising:

a variety of different adapters to couple a dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe and a variety of radio frequency generators, each adapter including an adapter body carrying a proximal connector to be coupled to a radio frequency generator, a distal connector to be coupled to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, and one or more electrical elements to emulate one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

11. A kit to couple a dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe and a variety of radio frequency generators, each radio frequency generator normally used with a compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe, the kit comprising:

an adapter including an adapter body carrying a proximal connector to be coupled to a radio frequency generator, a distal connector to be coupled to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, and one or more electrical elements to emulate one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe; and

one or more connectors to connect the proximal connector of the adapter to one or more of a variety of radio frequency generators.

12. A method of using an adapter to couple a dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe and radio frequency generator, the radio frequency generator normally used with a compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe, the method comprising:

providing an adapter including a proximal connector to be coupled to the radio frequency generator, a distal connector to be coupled to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, and one or more electrical elements to emulate one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

coupling the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator;

coupling the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe; and

using the adapter to emulate one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe includes impedance.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more electrical elements include one or more resistors to emulate the impedance of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe includes temperature.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more electrical elements include one or more resistors to emulate the resistance of one or more temperature sensors of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein coupling the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator includes directly connecting the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein coupling the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator includes indirectly connecting the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator via one or more connectors.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more connectors include a cable.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein coupling the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe includes directly connecting the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein coupling the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe includes indirectly connecting the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe via one or more connectors.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the one or more connectors include a cable.