ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEM WITH SUCTION CONTROL APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080167645A1
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Woloszko, Jean
• Granted Patent: US 8,192,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• 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 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00583 Coblation, i.e. ablation using a cold plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

System and method for selectively applying electrical energy to structures within or on the surface of a patient'"'"'s body and controlling the flow of an electrically conductive fluid from the application site to provide or maintain a desired operating condition of the electrosurgical device. An electrosurgical probe is in communication with a fluid transport apparatus through a fluid transport lumen having an opening at an end proximate the application site and disposed proximate the electrosurgical probe. A controller in communication with the fluid transport apparatus provides control signals to the fluid transport apparatus in response to at least one operating parameter associated with the system. Based on the received control signals, the fluid transport apparatus adjusts a flow rate of the electrically conductive fluid at the application site through the fluid transport lumen in response to at least one operating parameter associated with the system.

Claims

1. A system for electrosurgically treating tissue comprising:

an electrosurgical probe having a distal end including at least one active electrode and a fluid transport lumen having an opening proximate the active electrode;

a generator in operative communication with the at least one active electrode and adapted to provide a high frequency voltage to the at least one active electrode;

a fluid transport apparatus in communication with the fluid transport lumen; and

a controller in communication with the generator and in communication with the fluid transport apparatus, the controller adapted to control the fluid transport apparatus based on at least one operating parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one operating parameter is associated with the generator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one operating parameter is indicative of the activation of the generator.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the generator is adapted to provide a first high frequency voltage in a first operating mode and a second high frequency voltage in a second operating mode; and

the at least one operating parameter is indicative of the first operating mode or the second operating mode.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first operating mode comprises an ablation mode, and the second operating mode comprises a coagulation mode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one operating parameter is associated with the electrosurgical probe.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises impedance.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises electric current.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one operating parameter is indicative of a plasma field condition proximate the at least one active electrode.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport apparatus comprises a suction pump.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the suction pump comprises a positive displacement pump.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the suction pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to dynamically adjust a fluid flow through the fluid transport apparatus.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor, wherein the sensor is adapted to measure the at least one operating parameter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the electrosurgical probe.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the generator.

17. The system of claim 1, the controller further comprising:

an input port for receiving an input indicative of the at least one operating parameter;

a processor adapted to determine a fluid flow for the fluid transport apparatus responsive to the at least one operating parameter; and

an output port for sending an output signal to the fluid transport apparatus.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is integrated within the generator.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is integrated within the fluid transport apparatus.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is a stand alone device.

21. A surgical method for treating tissue using an electrosurgical probe, the electrosurgical probe having a distal end including at least one active electrode, and a fluid transport lumen having an opening proximate the at least one active electrode, the method comprising:

positioning the distal end of the electrosurgical probe adjacent a target tissue;

generating a high frequency voltage between the at least one active electrode and a return electrode;

measuring at least one operating parameter;

processing an input indicative of the at least one operating parameter; and

controlling a fluid transport apparatus in communication with the fluid transport lumen based upon the at least one operating parameter.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein measuring the at least one operating parameter comprises measuring an operating condition within a generator in communication with the electrosurgical probe.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the operating condition is indicative of the activation of the generator.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein generating the high frequency voltage comprises generating a first high frequency voltage at the at least one active electrode in a first operating mode, and controlling the fluid transport apparatus comprises activating the fluid transport apparatus.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first operating mode comprises an ablation mode.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein generating the high frequency voltage comprises generating a second high frequency voltage at the at least one active electrode in a second operating mode, and controlling the fluid transport apparatus comprises deactivating the fluid transport apparatus.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second operating mode comprises a coagulation mode.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein measuring the at least one operating parameter comprises measuring impedance.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein measuring the at least one operating parameter comprises measuring impedance.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein measuring the at least one operating parameter comprises determining the condition of a plasma field.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein controlling the fluid transport apparatus comprises adjusting a fluid flow through the fluid transport apparatus.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein adjusting the fluid flow further comprises dynamically adjusting the fluid flow through the fluid transport apparatus.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein adjusting the fluid flow comprises initiating the fluid flow through the fluid transport apparatus.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein adjusting the fluid flow comprises ceasing the fluid flow through the fluid transport apparatus.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein adjusting the fluid flow comprises decreasing the fluid flow through the fluid transport apparatus.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein adjusting the fluid flow comprises increasing the fluid flow through the fluid transport apparatus.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein adjusting the fluid flow comprises maintaining a preselected fluid flow through the fluid transport apparatus.

38. A system for electrosurgically treating tissue comprising:

an electrosurgical probe having a distal end including at least one active electrode and a fluid transport lumen having an opening proximate the active electrode;

a power supply electrically coupled to the at least one active electrode and adapted to provide a high frequency voltage to the at least one active electrode;

a suction pump fluidly connected to the fluid transport lumen;

at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one operating parameter; and

a controller in communication with the at least one sensor and in communication with the suction pump, the controller adapted to control the suction pump based on the at least one operating parameter.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed proximate the electrosurgical probe.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed proximate the power supply.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed proximate the fluid transport lumen.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises impedance.

43. The system of claim 41 wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises pressure.

44. A surgical method for treating tissue comprising:

providing an electrosurgical probe having a distal end including an active electrode and a return electrode, and a fluid transport lumen having an opening proximate the active electrode;

providing a generator, the generator operable to provide a high frequency voltage between the active electrode and the return generator;

providing a fluid transport apparatus, the fluid transport apparatus operable to deliver a fluid at a flow rate through the fluid transport lumen;

providing a sensor, the sensor operable to measure an operating parameter; and

providing a controller, the controller operable to control the fluid transport apparatus, wherein controlling the fluid transport apparatus comprises adjusting the flow rate of the fluid through the fluid transport lumen based on the operating parameter.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein adjusting the flow rate comprises increasing the flow rate of the fluid through the fluid transport lumen.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein adjusting the flow rate comprises decreasing the flow rate of the fluid through the fluid transport lumen.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein adjusting the flow rate comprises initiating the flow rate of the fluid through the fluid transport lumen.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein adjusting the flow rate comprises ceasing the flow rate of the fluid through the fluid transport lumen.