METHODS AND SYSTEMS RELATED TO AN ELECTROSURGICAL CONTROLLER

• US 20150230861A1
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Woloszko, Jean, Armstrong, Scott A., Bozeman, Michael, Wallis, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,420,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage

Abstract

An electrosurgical controller and related methods. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: placing a distal end of an electrosurgical wand in operational relationship with biological tissue; delivering energy to an active electrode of the electrosurgical wand. During delivering energy, the method may comprise: measuring a value indicative of flow of the energy to the active electrode; summing, over a first predetermined window of time, to create a first value indicative of energy provided to the active electrode; summing, over a second predetermined window of time, to create a second value indicative of energy provided to the active electrode. The method may further comprise: ceasing delivering energy responsive to the first value meeting or exceeding a predetermined value; and ceasing delivering energy responsive to the second value meeting or exceeding a threshold value.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical method comprising:

placing a distal end of an electrosurgical wand in operational relationship with biological tissue;

delivering energy to an active electrode of the electrosurgical wand, and during the delivering energy;

measuring a value indicative of flow of the energy to the active electrode;

summing, over a first predetermined window of time, to create a first value indicative of energy provided to the active electrode; and

ceasing delivering energy responsive to the first value meeting or exceeding a predetermined value.

2. The electrosurgical method of claim 1 further comprising:

summing, over a second predetermined window of time, to create a second value indicative of energy provided to the active electrode, the second predetermined window of shorter length than the first predetermined window, and the second predetermined window coextensive with the first predetermined window; and

ceasing delivering energy responsive to the second value meeting or exceeding a threshold value.

3. The electrosurgical method of claim 1 wherein measuring the value indicative of flow of the energy to the active electrode further comprises measuring at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a value indicative of electrical current flow provided to the active electrode;

a value indicative root mean square (RMS) electrical current flow provided to the active electrode;

a value indicative of voltage provided to the active electrode;

a value indicative of RMS voltage provided to the active electrode.

4. The electrosurgical method of claim 2 further comprising:

wherein summing, over the first predetermined window, further comprises summing over a one second window; and

wherein summing, over the second predetermined window, further comprises summing over a 20-500 millisecond window.

5. The electrosurgical method of claim 4 further comprising:

wherein the predetermined value is 400 Joules; and

wherein the threshold value is 5-400 Joules.

6. The electrosurgical method of claim 1 wherein ceasing delivering energy responsive to the first value exceeding the first predetermined value further comprises:

calculating a quiescent time representing an amount of time within which energy delivery should cease; and

ceasing delivering energy for the time length of the quiescent time.

7. The electrosurgical method of claim 2 wherein ceasing delivering energy responsive to the second value exceeding the second predetermined value further comprises:

calculating a quiescent time representing an amount of time within which energy delivery should cease; and

ceasing delivering energy for the time length of the quiescent time.

8. The electrosurgical method of claim 1 further comprising:

decreasing the threshold value during periods when plasma resides proximate the active electrode; and

increasing the threshold value during periods when plasma does not reside proximate the active electrode.

9. An electrosurgical controller comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a voltage generator operatively coupled to the processor, the voltage generator comprising an active terminal also coupled to the processor;

the memory storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

command delivery of energy to the active terminal by the voltage generator;

measure a value indicative of flow of the energy along the active terminal, the measurement during the delivery of energy;

sum, over a first predetermined window of time during delivery of energy, a first value indicative of energy provided along the active terminal; and

command the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the first value meeting or exceeding a predetermined value.

10. The electrosurgical controller of claim 9 further comprising:

sum, over a second predetermined window of time during delivery of energy, a second value indicative of energy provided along the active terminal, the second predetermined window of shorter length than the first predetermined window, and the second predetermined window coextensive with the first predetermined window; and

command the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the second value meeting or exceeding a threshold value.

11. The electrosurgical controller of claim 9 wherein when the processor measures the value indicative of flow of the energy, the program causes the processor to measure at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a value indicative of electrical current flow along the active terminal;

a value indicative root mean square (RMS) electrical current along the active electrode;

a value indicative of voltage provided to the active terminal;

a value indicative of RMS voltage provided to the active terminal.

12. The electrosurgical controller of claim 10:

wherein when the processor sums over the first predetermined window, the program causes the processor to sum over a one second window; and

wherein when the processor sums over the second predetermined window, the program causes the processor to sum over a 20-500 millisecond window.

13. The electrosurgical controller of claim 12:

wherein when the processor commands the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the first value meeting or exceeding the predetermined value, the program causes the processor to command the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the first value being equal or greater than 400 Joules; and

wherein when the processor commands the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the second value meeting or exceeding the threshold value, the program causes the processor to command the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the second value being equal or greater than 5-400 Joules.

14. The electrosurgical controller of claim 9 wherein when the processor commands the voltage generator to cease delivering energy responsive to the first value meeting or exceeding the first predetermined value, the program causes the processor to:

calculate a quiescent time representing an amount of time within which energy delivery should cease; and

command the processor to cease delivering energy for the time length of the quiescent time.

15. The electrosurgical controller of claim 10 wherein when the processor commands the voltage generator to cease delivering energy responsive to the second value meeting or exceeding the threshold value, the program causes the processor to:

calculate a quiescent time representing an amount of time within which energy delivery should cease; and

command the processor to cease delivering energy for the time length of the quiescent time.

16. The electrosurgical controller of claim 9 wherein the program further causes the processor to:

decrease the threshold value during periods when plasma resides proximate an active electrode coupled to the active terminal; and

increase the threshold value during periods when plasma does not reside proximate the active electrode.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

command delivery of energy to an active terminal of a voltage generator;

measure a value indicative of flow of the energy along the active terminal, the measurement during the delivery of energy;

sum, over a first predetermined window of time during delivery of energy, a first value indicative of energy provided along the active terminal;

command the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the first value meeting or exceeding a predetermined value.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17:

wherein the program causes the processor to sum, over a second predetermined window of time during delivery of energy, a second value indicative of energy provided along the active terminal, the second predetermined window of shorter length than the first predetermined window, and the second predetermined window coextensive with the first predetermined window; and

wherein the program causes the processor to command the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the second value meeting or exceeding a threshold value.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein when the processor measures the value indicative of flow of the energy, the program causes the processor to measure at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a value indicative of electrical current flow along the active terminal;

a value indicative root mean square (RMS) electrical current along the active electrode;

a value indicative of voltage provided to the active terminal;

a value indicative of RMS voltage provided to the active terminal.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18:

wherein when the processor sums over the first predetermined window, the program causes the processor to sum over a one second window; and

wherein when the processor sums over the second predetermined window, the program causes the processor to sum over a 20-500 millisecond window.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20:

wherein when the processor commands the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the first value meeting or exceeding the predetermined value, the program causes the processor to command the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the first value being equal or greater than 400 Joules; and

wherein when the processor commands the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the second value meeting or exceeding the threshold value, the program causes the processor to command the voltage generator to cease delivery of energy responsive to the second value being equal or greater than 5-400 Joules.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein when the processor commands the voltage generator to cease delivering energy responsive to the first value meeting or exceeding the first predetermined value, the program causes the processor to:

calculate a quiescent time representing an amount of time within which energy delivery should cease; and

command the processor to cease delivering energy for the time length of the quiescent time.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein when the processor commands the voltage generator to cease delivering energy responsive to the second value meeting or exceeding the threshold value, the program causes the processor to:

calculate a quiescent time representing an amount of time within which energy delivery should cease; and

command the processor to cease delivering energy for the time length of the quiescent time.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the program further causes the processor to:

decrease the threshold value during periods when plasma resides proximate an active electrode coupled to the active terminal; and

increase the threshold value during periods when plasma does not reside proximate the active electrode.