Electrosurgical system employing multiple electrodes and method thereof

• US 20060079886A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Orszulak, James H., McPherson, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,282,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles

Abstract

A system for heat ablation of tissue in a patient comprises a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to a source of radiofrequency energy and configured to apply RF energy to tissue at a patient site, a plurality of RF current restricting circuits, each circuit coupled between one of the plurality of electrodes and the source of radiofrequency energy, and configured to restrict RF energy to the electrode when the current restricting circuit is enabled and not restrict RF energy to flow to the electrode when the current restricting circuit is disabled, at least one return electrode adapted to contact the patient and configured to return RF energy to the RF source; and a switching mechanism configured to selectively enable each of the plurality of RF current restricting circuits, in one of a sequential and non sequential fashion, wherein the switching mechanism is isolated from each of the current restricting circuits.

Claims

1. A system for heat ablation of tissue in a patient comprising:

a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to a source of radiofrequency energy and configured to apply RF energy to tissue at a patient site;

a plurality of RF current restricting circuits, each circuit coupled between one of said plurality of electrodes and said source of radiofrequency energy, and configured to restrict RF energy to said electrode when said current restricting circuit is enabled and not restrict RF energy to flow to said electrode when said current restricting circuit is disabled;

at least one return electrode adapted to contact the patient and configured to return RF energy to the RF source; and

a switching mechanism configured to selectively enable each of said plurality of RF current restricting circuits, in one of a sequential and non sequential fashion, wherein said switching mechanism is isolated from each of said current restricting circuits.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein the switch mechanism comprises a corresponding plurality of optical switching devices.

3. The system as in claim 1 wherein at least one of the current restricting circuits include:

a switch configured to direct the flow of RF energy;

a plurality of current restrictive devices arranged to restrict RF energy when said switch is disposed in a first position and not restrict RF energy when said switch is disposed in a second position;

wherein said switching mechanism is optically coupled to said switch; and

wherein said switching mechanism selects between said first position and said second position of said switch.

4. The system as in claim 3, wherein said plurality of current restrictive devices is a diode.

5. The system as in claim 4 wherein a plurality of diodes is arranged in an H-Bridge arrangement including a switch disposed therein wherein RF energy is conducted when said switch is closed.

6. The system as in claim 5 wherein the switch is a transistor.