Electrosurgical instrument and system

• US 20100082026A1
• Filed: 09/15/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrus Medical Incorporated (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus Medical Incorporated (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Curtis, Richard James
• Granted Patent: US 8,333,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00053 Mechanical features of the instrument of device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 located on the probe body

Abstract

An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator, the instrument having a longitudinal axis and including at least first, second and third electrodes. The electrodes are spaced from each other by one or more insulating members therebetween, the spacing between the first and third electrodes being greater than that between the first and second electrodes. The electrosurgical generator includes a source of radio frequency energy capable of producing either a coagulating RF waveform or a cutting RF waveform and has first second and third output connections connected to the first, second and third electrodes respectively of the electrosurgical instrument. The generator further includes a switching means, and a controller, the controller being such that when a cutting RF waveform is selected, the switching means directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections and hence the first and second electrodes. When a coagulating RF waveform is selected, the switching means directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections and hence the first and third electrodes.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical system including an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical instrument including at least first, second and third electrodes, each spaced from each other by insulating members therebetween, the first electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute an active electrode, the second electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a first return electrode, and the third electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a second return electrode, the electrosurgical generator including a source of radio frequency energy capable of producing either a coagulating RF waveform or a cutting RF waveform, and first, second and third output connections connected to the first, second and third electrodes respectively of the electrosurgical instrument, the generator further including a switching means, and a controller, the controller being such that when a cutting RF waveform is selected, the switching means directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections and hence the first and second electrodes, and when a coagulating RF waveform is selected, the switching means directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections and hence the first and third electrodes.

2. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the spacing between the first and third electrodes is greater than that between the first and second electrodes,

3. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic that adapts the first electrode to constitute an active electrode is the electrode area.

4. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic that adapts the second and third electrodes to constitute return electrodes is the electrode area.

5. An electrosurgical system according to claim 3, wherein the area of the first electrode is less than that of the third electrode.

6. An electrosurgical system according to claim 5, wherein the area of the first electrode is less than that of the second electrode.

7. An electrosurgical system according to claim 5, wherein the area of the first and second electrodes is less than that of the third electrode.

8. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the third electrode is axially set back with respect to the first and second electrodes along the longitudinal axis of the electrosurgical instrument.

9. An electrosurgical system according to claim 8, wherein the second electrode is axially set back with respect to the first electrode along the longitudinal axis of the electrosurgical instrument.

10. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein when a coagulating RF waveform is selected, the switching means directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first output connection and both the second and third output connections and hence the first electrode and both the second and third electrodes.

11. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein the generator is provided with a blend mode in which the switching means directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections and hence the first and second electrodes, and also directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections and hence the first and third electrodes.

12. An electrosurgical system according to claim 11, wherein, in the blend mode, the generator directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections and hence the first and second electrodes simultaneously with directing the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections and hence the first and third electrodes.

13. An electrosurgical system according to claim 11, wherein, in the blend mode, the generator alternates rapidly between directing the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections and directing the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections.

14. An electrosurgical system including an electrosurgical instrument and an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical instrument including at least first, second and third electrodes, each spaced from each other by insulating members therebetween, the electrosurgical generator including a source of radio frequency energy capable of producing either a coagulating RF waveform or a cutting RF waveform, and first second and third output connections connected to the first, second and third electrodes respectively of the electrosurgical instrument, the generator further including a switching means, and a controller, the controller being such that when a cutting RF waveform is selected, the switching means directs the cutting RF waveform between the first and second output connections and hence the first and second electrodes, and when a coagulating RF waveform is selected, the switching means directs the coagulating RF waveform between the first and third output connections and hence the first and third electrodes, the first electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute an active electrode, the third electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a return electrode, and the second electrode having a characteristic such that it is adapted to constitute a either an active electrode or a return electrode, depending on the circumstances.

15. An electrosurgical system according to claim 14, wherein the second electrode is adapted to constitute a return electrode when the cutting RF waveform is supplied between the first and second output connections.

16. An electrosurgical system according to claim 14, wherein the second electrode is adapted to constitute an additional active electrode when the coagulating RF waveform is supplied between the first and third output connections.

17. An electrosurgical system according to claim 16, wherein the switching means connects the first and second output connections in common when the coagulating RF output is supplied between the first and third output connections.