Method and system for continuity testing of medical electrodes

• US 20050182398A1
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Paterson, William G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/146 Scissors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity

Abstract

An electrosurgical generator is provided which includes a continuity test circuit assembly for testing electrical continuity through an electrode of an electrosurgical instrument. The continuity test circuit assembly includes a test power source providing electrical test energy to a first conductor which is in electrical communication with the electrode and the electrosurgical generator and to at least one second conductor which is coupled to the first conductor for providing a path for current to flow between the first conductor and the at least one second conductor for establishing a test path through which the test energy flows between the first conductor and at least one conductor of the at least one second conductor. The continuity test circuit assembly further includes energy detection circuitry positioned along the test path for detecting the flow of the test energy through the test path for determining electrical continuity through the electrode.

Claims

1. A continuity test circuit assembly for testing electrical continuity between an electrosurgical generator generating electrosurgical energy and an electrode of at least one electrode of an electrosurgical instrument for receiving the electrosurgical energy and delivering the electrosurgical energy to tissue, the continuity test circuit assembly comprising:

a first conductor coupling the electrode to the electrosurgical generator;

at least one second conductor in electrical communication with a test power source providing electrical test energy and with the electrode for forming a test path;

energy detection circuitry positioned along the test path for detecting the flow of the test energy through the test path for determining continuity status;

switching circuitry positioned along the test path for selectively closing the test path for enabling a flow of test energy through the test path; and

a control module for controlling the switching circuitry for controlling flow of the test energy through the test path.

2. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detector which detects at least one predetermined condition, and wherein the control module controls the switching circuitry upon detection of the at least one predetermined condition by the detector.

3. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one predetermined condition which is detected includes mounting of the electrode on the electrosurgical instrument, and wherein the control processor assembly controls the switching circuitry to close the test path upon detection of the at least one predetermined condition.

4. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one predetermined condition which is detected includes delivery of electrosurgical energy to the electrode, and wherein the control module controls the switching circuitry to open the test path upon detection of the at least one predetermined condition.

5. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 2, wherein the switching circuitry further selectively enables delivery of the electrosurgical energy to the patient, and the control module controls the switching circuitry to open the test path upon detection of the at least one predetermined condition.

6. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the energy detection circuitry provides electrical isolation to the test energy from circuitry through which electrosurgical energy flows.

7. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 1, further comprising second switching circuitry for selecting one of the at least one second conductors to be included in the test path.

8. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 2, further comprising second switching circuitry for selecting one of the at least one second conductors to be included in the test path, wherein the control module controls the second switching circuitry at least partially in accordance with detection of the predetermined condition.

9. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second conductor includes at least a pair of thermocouple wires.

10. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry is provided along at least one of the first conductor, the at least one second conductor and the test power source.

11. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the test power source, energy detection circuitry and the switching circuitry are disposed within the electrosurgical generator.

12. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the test power source derives power from a power source of the electrosurgical generator.

13. A continuity test circuit assembly according to claim 1, wherein the test energy provided by the test power source is substantially lower than the energy delivered by the electrosurgical generator.

14. An electrosurgical generator for generating electrosurgical energy which is provided to an electrosurgical instrument having at least one electrode for delivery of the electrosurgical energy to tissue, the electrosurgical generator comprising:

a continuity test circuit assembly for testing electrical continuity between the electrosurgical generator and an electrode of the at least one electrode of the electrosurgical instrument, the continuity test circuit assembly comprising;

a test power source providing electrical test energy to a first conductor which is in electrical communication with the electrode and the electrosurgical generator and to at least one second conductor which is coupled to the first conductor for providing a path for current to flow between the first conductor and the at least one second conductor for establishing a test path through which the test energy flows between the first conductor and at least one conductor of the at least one second conductor; and

energy detection circuitry positioned along the test path for detecting the flow of the test energy through the test path for determining electrical continuity through the electrode.

15. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 14, wherein the continuity test circuit assembly further comprises:

switching circuitry positioned along the test path for selectively disrupting flow of the test energy through the test path; and

a control module for controlling the switching circuitry for controlling flow of the test energy through the test path.

16. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 15, wherein the control module controls the switching circuitry upon detection of at least one predetermined condition.

17. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 16, wherein the at least one predetermined condition includes detection of mounting of the electrode on the electrosurgical instrument, and wherein the control module controls the switching circuitry to close the test path upon detection of the at least one predetermined condition.

18. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 16, wherein the at least one predetermined condition which includes detection of delivery of electrosurgical energy to the electrode, and wherein the control module controls the switching circuitry to open the test path upon detection of the at least one predetermined condition.

19. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 16, wherein the switching circuitry selectively enables delivery of the electrosurgical energy to the tissue, and the control module controls the switching circuitry to open the test path upon detection of the at least one predetermined condition.

20. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 14, wherein the energy detection circuitry provides electrical isolation to the test energy from circuitry through which electrosurgical energy flows.

21. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 14, wherein the continuity test circuit assembly further comprises second switching circuitry for selecting one of the at least one second conductors to be included in the test path.

22. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 14, wherein the continuity test circuit assembly further comprises second switching circuitry for selecting one of the at least one second conductors to be included in the test path, and the control module controls the switching circuitry at least partially in accordance with detection of the predetermined condition.

23. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 14, wherein the at least one second conductor includes at least a pair of thermocouple wires.

24. A method for testing continuity between an electrosurgical generator generating electrosurgical energy and an electrode for receiving the electrosurgical energy and delivering the electrosurgical energy to tissue comprising the steps of:

applying a test energy to a first conductor coupled between the electrosurgical generator and the electrode and at least one second conductor;

coupling the at least one second conductor to the first conductor for providing a path for current to flow between the first conductor and the at least one second conductor for establishing a test path through which the test energy flows between the first conductor and at least one of the at least one second conductor; and

detecting a flow of electrical test energy along the test path, the flow being indicative of continuity status.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of selectively opening the test path for disrupting the flow of the test energy along the test path.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of selecting a conductor of the at least one second conductor for coupling to the first conductor in accordance with a predetermined condition.