Electrosurgical Instrument Including a Sensor

• US 20100049187A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Carlton, John D., Odom, Darren
• Granted Patent: US 9,603,652 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 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 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence

Abstract

An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator, an electrosurgical instrument, an optical clarity sensor and a control component. The electrosurgical generator generates electrosurgical energy for use during electrosurgery. The electrosurgical instrument is coupled to the electrosurgical generator and treats tissue. The optical clarity sensor is coupled to the electrosurgical generator and is adapted to measure tissue with at least two optical frequencies. The control component is operatively coupled to the optical clarity sensor and receives sensor data therefrom. The control component communicates control instructions to the electrosurgical generator to control the generation of the electrosurgical energy.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an electrosurgical generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy for use during electrosurgery;

an electrosurgical instrument operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator and configured to treat tissue;

an optical clarity sensor operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator, the optical clarity sensor adapted to measure tissue with at least two optical frequencies; and

a control component operatively coupled to the optical clarity sensor configured to receive sensor data therefrom, wherein the control component is configured to communicate control instructions to the electrosurgical generator to control the generation of the electrosurgical energy.

2. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes at least one optical clarity measurement of tissue, wherein the control component instructs the electrosurgical generator to generate the electrosurgical energy corresponding to the at least one optical clarity measurement corresponding to tissue being less than about 60 degrees Celsius.

3. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes at least one optical clarity measurement of tissue, wherein the control component instructs the electrosurgical generator to generate the electrosurgical energy corresponding to the at least one optical clarity measurement being less than about 100 degrees Celsius.

4. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes at least one optical clarity measurement of tissue, wherein the control component instructs the electrosurgical generator to generate the electrosurgical energy corresponding to at least one optical clarity measurement being in a predetermined range.

5. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes at least optical clarity measurement of tissue, wherein the control component instructs the electrosurgical generator to generate the electrosurgical energy when the at least one optical clarity measurement corresponds to tissue hydration being within a predetermined range.

6. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes at least one optical clarity measurement of tissue, wherein the control component instructs the electrosurgical generator to generate the electrosurgical energy when the at least one optical clarity measurement falls within a predetermined range.

7. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical instrument includes:

a shaft having a first jaw member and a second jaw member at a distal end thereof, at least one of said jaw members including an electrode disposed thereon configured to apply the electrosurgical energy to tissue, at least one of the jaw members includes the optical clarity sensor disposed thereon;

a drive assembly operatively coupled to the shaft which is positionable to move at least one of the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member from a first position wherein the first jaw member is disposed in spaced relation relative to the second jaw member to a second position wherein first jaw members grasp tissue; and

a movable handle which actuates the drive assembly.

8. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical instrument includes:

a first shaft having a first jaw member; and

a second shaft having a second jaw member, wherein the second shaft is pivotally connected to the first shaft, at least one of said jaw members includes an electrode disposed thereon configured to apply the electrosurgical energy to tissue, at least one of the jaw members includes the optical clarity sensor disposed thereon.

9. The electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein an optical frequency of the at least two optical frequencies is adapted to be a reference.

10. The electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein an optical frequency of the at least two optical frequencies is adapted to be substantially absorbed by water.

11. The electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein an optical frequency of the at least two optical frequencies is adapted such that water is substantially translucent to the optical frequency.

12. The electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein a first optical frequency of the at least two optical frequencies is adapted to be substantially absorbed by water and a second optical frequency of the at least two optical frequencies is adapted such that water is substantially translucent to the second optical frequency.

13. The electrosurgical system according to claim 12, wherein the sensor data includes a first measurement of the first optical frequency and second measurement of the second optical frequency, wherein the electrosurgical generator compares the first measurement to the second measurement.

14. The electrosurgical system according to claim 12, wherein the sensor data includes a first measurement of the first optical frequency and second measurement of the second optical frequency, wherein the electrosurgical generator compares the first measurement to the second measurement such that at least one of tissue hydration, tissue temperature, optical clarity and tissue thickness is determined.

15. An electrosurgical generator, comprising:

a control component at least partially implemented by an operative set of processor executable instructions configured for execution by at least one processor, the control component including;

a receiving module operatively connected to a optical clarity sensor and configured to receive sensor data therefrom, the optical clarity sensor adapted to measure tissue with at least two optical frequencies and the sensor data includes at least one of a tissue temperature sensor measurement, a tissue hydration sensor measurement, and an optical clarity sensor measurement utilizing the at least two optical frequencies.

a waveform controller configured to communicate control instructions to the electrosurgical generator to control generation of electrosurgical energy; and

a control algorithm in operative communication with the receiving module and the waveform controller, wherein control algorithm processes the data to calculate the control instructions and communicates the control instructions to the waveform controller.

16. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 15, wherein the control algorithm is a proportional-integral-derivative control algorithm.

17. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 15, wherein the control component further comprises:

at least one microcontroller configured to execute the operative set of processor executable instructions.

18. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 15, wherein the receiving module includes an analog to digital conversion circuit configured to convert the data from an analog signal to a digital signal.

19. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 15, wherein the waveform controller includes a digital-to-analog conversion circuit configured to convert the control instructions from a digital signal to an analog signal.

20. An electrosurgical generator according to claim 19, wherein the waveform controller further includes an electronic signal amplifier configured to amplify the analog signal of the control instructions, wherein the amplified analog signal instructs the electrosurgical generator.

21. A method for controlling generation of electrosurgical energy, the method including the steps of:

providing an electrosurgical system including;

an electrosurgical generator configured to generate electrosurgical energy for use during electrosurgery;

an electrosurgical instrument operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator and configured to treat tissue;

an optical clarity sensor operatively coupled to the electrosurgical generator, the optical clarity sensor adapted to measure tissue with at least two optical frequencies; and

a control component operatively coupled to the optical clarity sensor configured to receive sensor data therefrom wherein the control component is configured to communicate control instructions to the electrosurgical generator to control the generation of the electrosurgical energy;

activating the optical clarity sensor to communicate with the control component; and

monitoring the sensor data.