System and Method for Directing Energy to Tissue

• US 20130304049A1
• Filed: 05/11/2012
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Behnke, Robert J. II, Frushour, Scott E.M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,375,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• 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 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00785 Reflected power
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00845 Frequency
• 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 2018/1823 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1838 Dipole antennas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1869 with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles

Abstract

An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical power generating source, an energy applicator operably associated with the electrosurgical power generating source, a processor unit, and a data acquisition module configured to receive a reflected signal. The processor unit is disposed in operative communication with the data acquisition module and adapted to determine a tissue desiccation rate around at least a portion of the energy applicator based on one or more signals received from the data acquisition module.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an electrosurgical power generating source;

an energy applicator operably associated with the electrosurgical power generating source;

a processor unit; and

a data acquisition module configured to receive a reflected signal, wherein the processor unit is disposed in operative communication with the data acquisition module and adapted to determine a tissue desiccation rate around at least a portion of the energy applicator based on at least one signal received from the data acquisition module.

2. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, wherein the reflected signal is transmitted by the energy applicator.

3. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, wherein the processor unit is operably associated with the electrosurgical power generating source.

4. The electrosurgical system of claim 3, wherein the data acquisition module includes a sensor circuit operably associated with the processor unit.

5. The electrosurgical system of claim 3, wherein the electrosurgical power generating source includes an RF output stage operably associated with the processor unit.

6. The electrosurgical system of claim 5, wherein the data acquisition module includes a diplexer operably associated with the RF output stage.

7. The electrosurgical system of claim 6, wherein the diplexer is further operably associated with the energy applicator.

8. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, wherein the processor unit is further adapted to determine at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical power generating source based on the determined tissue desiccation rate around the energy applicator.

9. The electrosurgical system of claim 8, wherein the at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical power generating source is selected from the group consisting of temperature, impedance, power, current, voltage, mode of operation, and duration of application of electromagnetic energy.

10. A method of directing energy to tissue, comprising the steps of:

positioning an energy applicator for delivery of energy to a target tissue, the energy applicator operably associated with a data acquisition module, the data acquisition module operably associated with an electrosurgical power generating source including a processor unit;

transmitting energy from the electrosurgical power generating source through the energy applicator to the target tissue;

transmitting a signal reflected from the target tissue to the data acquisition module; and

determining at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical power generating source based on a tissue desiccation rate determined by the processor unit based on at least one signal received from the data acquisition module.

11. The method of directing energy to tissue of claim 10, wherein the signal reflected from the target tissue is transmitted by the energy applicator.

12. The method of directing energy to tissue of claim 11, wherein the data acquisition module includes a diplexer configured to receive the signal transmitted by the energy applicator.

13. The method of directing energy to tissue of claim 10, wherein the at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical power generating source is selected from the group consisting of temperature, impedance, power, current, voltage, mode of operation, and duration of application of electromagnetic energy.

14. A method of directing energy to tissue, comprising the steps of:

positioning an energy applicator for delivery of energy to a target tissue, the energy applicator operably associated with an electrosurgical power generating source;

transmitting energy from the electrosurgical power generating source through the energy applicator to the target tissue;

acquiring data including a frequency of a signal reflected from the target tissue;

calculating a tissue desiccation rate as a function of the frequency of the signal reflected from the target tissue; and

determining at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical power generating source based on the calculated tissue desiccation rate.

15. The method of directing energy to tissue of claim 14, wherein electrosurgical power generating source includes a processor unit disposed in operative communication with a data acquisition module configured to receive the signal reflected from the target tissue.

16. The method of directing energy to tissue of claim 15, wherein the processor unit is adapted to determine a tissue desiccation rate around at least a portion of the energy applicator based on at least one signal received from the data acquisition module.

17. The method of directing energy to tissue of claim 14, wherein the at least one operating parameter associated with the electrosurgical power generating source is selected from the group consisting of temperature, impedance, power, current, voltage, mode of operation, and duration of application of electromagnetic energy.