Method and apparatus for electrosurgically treating tissue
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue during a surgical procedure, said apparatus comprising:
- first and second elements electrically insulated from one another and movable relative to one another for engaging tissue to be coagulated therebetween;
a power controller responsive to a power control signal for controlling RF energy connected to said first and second elements;
impedance measurement circuitry coupled to said first and second elements for measuring the impedance of tissue between said first and second elements, said impedance measuring circuitry including;
a first device for storing an initial maximum impedance value; and
a second device for storing a minimum impedance value;
a threshold determining circuit coupled to said first and second devices for determining a threshold impedance value between said initial maximum impedance value and said minimum impedance value; and
a first comparator operatively associated with said threshold determining circuit for comparing measured impedance values to said threshold impedance value and generating a power control signal to stop said power controller upon said measured impedance value exceeding said threshold impedance value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Tissue impedance or tissue impedance in combination with tissue temperature is used to control electrosurgical tissue treatment. Tissue impedance alone provides better control of electrosurgical treatment by determining an initial maximum tissue impedance, a minimum tissue impedance selecting a point between the maximum and minimum impedances, preferably the average, as an impedance threshold, and turning off rf power to the electrosurgical instrument when the impedance reaches the threshold as it rises from the minimum. Control may also be by the combination of tissue impedance and temperature. Temperature is controlled to maintain a selected preferred temperature and a maximum temperature is also selected so that if the tissue reaches the maximum temperature, power is turned off. Impedance control is combined with temperature control so that the temperature of the instrument is maintained at a selected preferred temperature unless a maximum temperature is exceeded, which normally will not happen. The impedance is also monitored with maximum and minimum values being determined as well as a threshold impedance between the max and the min. When the threshold, preferably the average impedance, is reached, power is removed from the instrument.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue during a surgical procedure, said apparatus comprising:
-
first and second elements electrically insulated from one another and movable relative to one another for engaging tissue to be coagulated therebetween; a power controller responsive to a power control signal for controlling RF energy connected to said first and second elements; impedance measurement circuitry coupled to said first and second elements for measuring the impedance of tissue between said first and second elements, said impedance measuring circuitry including; a first device for storing an initial maximum impedance value; and a second device for storing a minimum impedance value; a threshold determining circuit coupled to said first and second devices for determining a threshold impedance value between said initial maximum impedance value and said minimum impedance value; and a first comparator operatively associated with said threshold determining circuit for comparing measured impedance values to said threshold impedance value and generating a power control signal to stop said power controller upon said measured impedance value exceeding said threshold impedance value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of operating electrosurgical apparatus for coagulating tissue during a surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:
-
engaging tissue to be coagulated between first and second elements electrically insulated from one another and movable relative to one another; selectively controlling RF energy connected to said first and second elements for coagulating tissue positioned therebetween; measuring the impedance of tissue positioned between said first and second elements; storing an initial maximum impedance value; storing a minimum impedance value; determining a threshold impedance value between said initial maximum impedance value and said minimum impedance value; comparing a measured impedance value to said threshold impedance value; and stopping said RF energy connected to said first and second elements upon said measured impedance value exceeding said threshold impedance value. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for electrosurgically treating tissue during a surgical procedure, said apparatus comprising:
-
an instrument for applying RF energy to tissue to be electrosurgically treated; impedance measurement circuitry coupled to said instrument for measuring the impedance of tissue engaged by said instrument and for generating a representative impedance signal wherein said impedance measurement circuitry comprises; a first device for storing an initial maximum impedance value; and a second device for storing a minimum impedance value; temperature measurement circuitry coupled to said instrument for measuring the temperature of tissue engaged by said instrument and for generating a representative temperature signal; and control circuitry operatively associated with said impedance circuitry and said temperature measurement circuitry and responsive to said impedance signal and said temperature signal for controlling RF energy connected to said instrument, wherein said control circuitry comprises; a threshold determining circuit connected to said first and second devices for determining a threshold impedance value between said initial maximum impedance value and said minimum impedance value; and a first comparator operatively associated with said threshold determining circuit for comparing a measured impedance value to said threshold impedance value and generating a control signal upon said measured impedance value exceeding said threshold impedance value.
-
-
12. A method of operating apparatus for electrosurgically treating tissue during a surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:
-
applying RF energy to tissue to be electrosurgically treated by means of an electrosurgical instrument; measuring the impedance of tissue engaged by said electrosurgical instrument; generating an impedance signal representative of the impedance of said tissue; measuring the temperature of tissue engaged by said electrosurgical instrument; generating a temperature signal representative of the temperature of said tissue; and controlling the RF energy applied to said electrosurgical instrument in response to said impedance signal and said temperature signal wherein said step of controlling the RF energy applied to said electrosurgical instrument comprises the steps of; storing an initial maximum impedance value; storing a minimum impedance value; determining a threshold impedance value between said initial maximum impedance value and said minimum impedance value; comparing a measured impedance value to said threshold impedance value; and generating a control signal upon said measured impedance value exceeding said threshold impedance value. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
-
14. A method of operating apparatus for electrosurgically treating tissue during a surgical procedure as claimed in claim 26 further comprising the steps of:
-
setting a maximum temperature of tissue engaged by said electrosurgical instrument; comparing measured temperature values to said maximum temperature; and generating a control signal upon a measured temperature value exceeding said maximum temperature value.
-
-
15. A method of operating apparatus for electrosurgically treating tissue during a surgical procedure, said method comprising the steps of:
-
applying RF energy to tissue to be electrosurgically treated by means of an electrosurgical instrument through an RF energy switch; measuring the temperature of tissue engaged by said electrosurgical instrument; generating a temperature signal representative of the temperature of said tissue; controlling said RF energy switch in response to said temperature signal to maintain a selected temperature for tissue engaged by said electrosurgical instrument; measuring the impedance of tissue engaged by said electrosurgical instrument; generating an impedance signal representative of the impedance of said tissue; and controlling the RF energy switch in response to said impedance signal to stop the application of said RF energy to tissue engaged by said electrosurgical instrument wherein said step of controlling the RF energy switch in response to said impedance signal to stop the application of said RF energy to tissue engaged by said electrosurgical instrument comprises the steps of; storing an initial maximum impedance value; storing a minimum impedance value; determining a threshold impedance value between said initial maximum impedance value and said minimum impedance value; comparing a measured impedance value to said threshold impedance value; and generating a control signal to stop the application of RF energy to said tissue upon said measured impedance value exceeding said threshold impedance value.
-
Specification