Electrical generator and system

• US 20060047275A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gyrus Medical Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus Medical Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Goble, Colin C.O.
• Application Number:
  US11/258,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20060047275A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• 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 2018/1273 including multiple generators in one device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe

Abstract

An electrosurgical system includes a generator for generating radio frequency power, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least three electrodes and. The generator includes a radio frequency output stage having at least a pair of RF output lines, and a power supply coupled to the output stage for supplying power to the output stage. A controller is operable to limit the radio frequency output voltage developed across the output lines to at least a first predetermined threshold value to produce a cutting RF waveform, and a second threshold value to produce a coagulating RF waveform. In a combined mode, the controller delivers both cutting and coagulating waveforms, either simultaneously or by alternating constantly between the first and second threshold values to form a blended signal. The system also includes means for feeding the waveform to the three or more electrodes such that the cutting RF waveform is delivered between a first pair of the electrodes, and the coagulating waveform is delivered between a second pair of the electrodes.

Claims

1. -20. (canceled)

21. An electrosurgical system including a generator for generating radio frequency power, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least two electrodes, the generator comprising:

(i) a radio frequency output stage having two or more output connections, each in electrical connection with a respective one of the at least two electrodes,

(ii) a power supply coupled to the output stage for supplying power to the output stage,

(iii) a controller operable to limit the radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections to at least a first predetermined threshold value for cutting or vaporisation and a second threshold value for coagulation and, in a blend mode, to alternate constantly between the first and second threshold values, and

(iv) adjustment means, operable by a user of the electrosurgical system, for varying the ratio of the blend mode so as to vary the part of the blend signal that is limited to the first threshold value for cutting or vaporisation, as compared with the part of the blend signal that is limited to the second threshold value for coagulation.

22. The electrosurgical system according to claim 21 wherein the adjustment means is carried by the electrosurgical instrument.

23. The electrosurgical system according to claim 21 wherein the adjustment means is mounted on the generator.

24. An electrosurgical system including a generator for generating radio frequency power and an electrosurgical instrument including at least two electrodes, the generator comprising:

a radio frequency output stage having a plurality of output connections, each output connections being in electrical connection with a respective one of the at least two electrodes,

a power supply coupled to the output stage for supplying radio frequency power to the output stage,

a controller operable to limit the radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections to at least a first predetermined threshold value for cutting or vaporisation and a second threshold value for coagulation and, in a blend mode, to alternate constantly between the first and second threshold values, and

a switching circuit comprising;

three or more output connections,

a switching device for feeding the radio frequency output voltage to the three or more output connections, such that, in the blend mode, the cutting RF waveforms is delivered between a first pair of the three or more electrodes, and the coagulating RF waveform is delivered between a second pair of the electrodes, and

an adjustment device for adjusting the timing of the switching device to alter the ratio between a first part of the blended RF signal that is a cutting signal and a second part of the blended RF signal that is a coagulating signal.

25. The electrosurgical system according to claim 24, wherein the adjustment device is operable by a user of the system.

26. The electrosurgical system according to claim 24, wherein the three or more output connections are comprised of a first output connection connected to a cutting electrode of the electrosurgical instrument and second and third output connections connected to coagulation electrodes of the electrosurgical instrument, and wherein the switching device is connected between the first and second output connections so that the radio frequency cutting signal is supplied between cutting electrode and one of the coagulating electrodes when the switching device is open, and so that the radio frequency coagulating voltage is supplied between the two coagulation electrodes when the switching device is closed.

27. An electrosurgical system including a generator for generating radio frequency power and an electrosurgical instrument including a cutting g electrode and first and second coagulation electrodes, the generator comprising:

an output stage having first, second and third output connections, the first output connection being connected to the cutting electrode of the electrosurgical instrument, and the second and third output connections being connected to the first and second coagulation electrodes of the electrosurgical instrument,

a power supply coupled to the output stage for supplying radio frequency power to the output stage,

a controller operable to limit radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections to a first predetermined threshold value for cutting or vaporisation and a second threshold value for coagulation and, in a blend mode, to alternate constantly between the first and second threshold values, and

a switching device for supplying the radio frequency cutting signal between the cutting electrode and one of the coagulating electrodes when the switching device is in a first state, and for supplying the radio frequency coagulating voltage between the two coagulation electrodes when the switching device is in a second state, and

an adjustment device for adjusting the timing of the switching device to alter the ratio between a first part of the blended RF signal that is a cutting signal and a second part of the blended RF signal that is a coagulating signal.

28. The electrosurgical system according to claim 27, wherein, in the first state, the switching device is open, and, in the second state, the switching device is closed.

29. An electrosurgical system including a generator for generating radio frequency power, and an electrosurgical instrument including three or more electrodes, the generator comprising:

means for supplying radio frequency power,

means for outputting the radio frequency output power, the output means having a plurality of output connections, each in electrical connection with a respective one of the three or more electrodes,

means for limiting radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections to at least a first predetermined threshold value for cutting or vaporisation and a second threshold value for coagulation and, in a blend mode, to alternate constantly between the first and second threshold values,

switching means for delivering the radio frequency output voltage to the plurality of output connections, such that, in the blend mode, the cutting RF waveforms is delivered between a first pair of the plurality of three or more electrodes, and the coagulating RF waveform is delivered between a second pair of the electrodes, and

adjustment means, operable by a user of the electrosurgical system, for varying the ratio of the blend mode so as to vary the part of the blend signal that is limited to the first threshold value for cutting or vaporisation, as compared with the part of the blend signal that is limited to the second threshold value for coagulation.