Electrosurgical System Having a Sensor for Monitoring Smoke or Aerosols

• US 20100036373A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ward, Arlen K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• 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 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00684 using lookup tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/008 for smoke evacuation

Abstract

An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy and a sensor. The sensor is coupled to the electrosurgical generator and senses aerosol and/or smoke generated during application of the electrosurgical energy. The sensor generates data in response to the sensed aerosol and/or smoke and communicates the data to the electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical generator generates the electrosurgical energy as a function of the data.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an electrosurgical generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy; and

a sensor operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator configured to sense at least one of aerosol and smoke generated during application of the electrosurgical energy and to generate data in response to the sensed at least one of the aerosol and the smoke, wherein the sensor communicates the data to the electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical generator generates the electrosurgical energy as a function of the data.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrosurgical instrument operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator configured to receive the electrosurgical energy therefrom.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is disposed in spaced relation to the electrosurgical instrument

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a quartz crystal microbalance.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the electrosurgical generator determines a resonance frequency of the quartz crystal microbalance utilizing the data.

6. The system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a sensor component operatively coupled to the quartz crystal microbalance to receive the data therefrom, wherein the sensor component is adapted to drive the quartz crystal microbalance with a drive current.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the sensor component drives the quartz crystal microbalance with at least one pulse of the drive current to determine a dissipation of the quartz crystal microbalance.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor senses gas-suspended particulates in the aerosol.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical generator estimates a generation rate of at least one of the generated aerosol and the generated smoke.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical generator generates the electrosurgical energy such that a generation rate of at least one of the generated aerosol and the generated smoke is below a predetermined threshold.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical generator generates the electrosurgical energy such that a generation rate of at least one of the generated aerosol and the generated smoke is about zero.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical generator generates the electrosurgical energy such that a generation rate of at least one of the generated aerosol and the generated smoke is within a predetermined range.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined range is a function of a predetermined tissue effect.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined tissue effect is settable.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an evacuator apparatus adapted to evacuate the at least one of the aerosol and the smoke generated during application of the electrosurgical energy along a fluid path, wherein the sensor is disposed along the fluid path and configured to monitor the at least one of the aerosol and the smoke.

16. A method of treating tissue, comprising:

providing an electrosurgical generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy;

providing an electrosurgical instrument operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator for receiving the electrosurgical energy therefrom;

generating electrosurgical energy;

monitoring the electrosurgical instrument for at least one of aerosol and smoke generated during application of the electro surgical energy;

generating data in response to the sensed at least one of the aerosol and the smoke;

communicating the data of the monitored at least one of the aerosol and the smoke to the electrosurgical generator; and

adjusting the electro surgical energy as a function of the data.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of monitoring utilizes a quartz crystal microbalance.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

determining a resonance frequency of the quartz crystal microbalance.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of adjusting adjusts the electrosurgical energy such that a generation rate of at least one of the generated aerosol and the generated smoke is below a predetermined threshold.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of adjusting adjusts the electrosurgical energy such that a generation rate of at least one of the generated aerosol and the generated smoke is about zero.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of adjusting adjusts the electrosurgical energy such that a generation rate of at least one of the generated aerosol and the generated smoke is within a predetermined range.

22. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

at least one electrode configured to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue; and

a sensor disposed on the electrosurgical instrument and configured to sense at least one of aerosol and smoke generated during application of the electrosurgical energy, wherein the senor is adapted to generate data in response to the sensed at least one of the aerosol and the smoke.