System and method for performing an electrosurgical procedure

• US 20060041253A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Encision Inc.
• Original Assignee: Encision Inc.
• Inventors: Newton, David W., Odell, Roger C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,422,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety

Abstract

A system and method for performing an electrosurgical procedure are disclosed. The method includes obtaining information indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the patient and generating a reference voltage that is derived, at least in part, from the information. The reference voltage is coupled to a body of the electrosurgical apparatus, and the reference voltage is generated to a level so as to limit any difference between a voltage of the patient and a voltage of the body of the electrosurgical apparatus. In variations, the reference voltage is varied on an ongoing basis so as to adapt the reference voltage to one or more changing physical characteristics of the patient.

Claims

1. A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure on a patient comprising:

obtaining information indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the patient;

generating a reference voltage, wherein the reference voltage is derived, at least in part, from the information; and

coupling the reference voltage to a body of the electrosurgical apparatus wherein the reference voltage is generated to a level so as to limit any difference between a voltage of the patient and a voltage of the body of the electrosurgical apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining includes measuring the at least one physical characteristic of the patient.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the measuring includes measuring physical characteristics of the patient selected from the consisting of:

an impedance of the patient, a body fat level of the patient, and a voltage of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling includes directly coupling the reference voltage to the electrosurgical apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupling includes coupling the reference voltage to the body of the electrosurgical apparatus with a monitor, the monitor being configured to measure any current between the body of the electrosurgical apparatus and the reference voltage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference voltage is dynamically generated as a function of the at least one physical characteristic of the patient so as to change the voltage of the body of the electrosurgical apparatus as the voltage of the patient changes.

7. A system for performing an electrosurgical procedure on a patient comprising:

means for obtaining information indicative of at least one physical characteristic of the patient;

means for generating a reference voltage, wherein the reference voltage is derived, at least in part, from the information; and

means for coupling the reference voltage to a body of the electrosurgical apparatus wherein the reference voltage is generated to a level so as to limit any difference between a voltage of the patient and a voltage of the body of the electrosurgical apparatus.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the means for obtaining includes means for measuring the at least one physical characteristic of the patient.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for measuring includes means for measuring the at least one physical characteristic of the patient selected from the group consisting of:

means for measuring an impedance of the patient, means for measuring a body fat level of the patient and means for measuring a voltage of the patient.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the means for coupling includes means for directly coupling the reference voltage to the electrosurgical apparatus.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the means for coupling includes means for coupling the reference voltage to the electrosurgical apparatus with a monitor, the monitor being configured to measure any current between the body of the electrosurgical apparatus and the reference voltage.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the means for generating includes means for dynamically generating the reference voltage as a function of the at least one physical characteristic of the patient so as to change the voltage of the body of the electrosurgical apparatus as the voltage of the patient changes.

13. An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:

a connector block configured to detachably couple with an active electrode assembly, wherein the connector block includes;

a shield contact disposed so as to be capable of detachably coupling with a shield of the active electrode assembly, wherein the shield contact is coupled to a shield lead, wherein the shield lead is disposed so as to be capable of coupling with a monitor; and

an active electrode contact disposed so as to be capable of detachably coupling with an active electrode of the active electrode assembly; and

a conductive body coupled to the connector block, wherein the conductive body is positioned relative to the connector block such that when the active electrode assembly is coupled to the connector block, a temporary, yet tolerable, conduction between the active electrode and the conductive body may occur during an electrosurgical procedure.

14. The electrosurgical apparatus of claim 13 including:

an insulating sheath surrounding at least a portion of the conductive body so as to insulate a patient from components of the electrosurgical apparatus when a tip of the active electrode is imparting a voltage to the patient.

15. The electrosurgical apparatus of claim 13, wherein the shield contact is conductively coupled to the conductive body so as to be capable of rendering a shield of the active electrode assembly the same voltage as a voltage of the conductive body.

16. The electrosurgical apparatus of claim 13, wherein the shield contact is electrically isolated from the conductive body.

17. The electrosurgical apparatus of claim 13, wherein the connector block includes a second shield contact disposed so as to be capable of detachably coupling with the shield of the active electrode assembly.

18. An active electrode assembly for use in an electrosurgical apparatus comprising:

an active electrode including;

a first end configured to impart a voltage to a region of a patient so as to be capable of carrying out an electrosurgical procedure at the region;

a second end configured to detachably couple to an active electrode contact of a connector block;

a layer of insulation surrounding portions of the active electrode between the first and second ends of the active electrode;

a shield surrounding portions of the insulation, wherein the shield is configured to detachably and conductively couple to a shield contact of the connector block.

19. The active electrode assembly of claim 18 including:

a layer of outer insulation surrounding portions of the shield.

20. The active electrode assembly of claim 18 wherein the shield is configured to detachably and conductively couple to another shield contact of the connector block.