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Condition responsive gas flow adjustment in gas-assisted electrosurgery

  • US 6,206,878 B1
  • Filed: 05/07/1999
  • Issued: 03/27/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A gas delivery apparatus for gas-assisted electrocoagulation in which a flow of gas is supplied in a flowpath to an applicator and the gas is ionized at the applicator to transfer electrical energy in arcs to coagulate bleeding from tissue in response to an electrocoagulation activation request, comprising:

  • a gas flow-controlling valve connected in the flowpath; and

    a flow controller connected to the valve and responsive to the activation request to supply a control signal to the valve to set an initiation gas flow rate in the flowpath to more readily initiate the transfer of arcs from the applicator, the controller also supplying a control signal to the valve to set an electrocoagulation gas flow rate in the flowpath to conduct the arcs during electrocoagulation after initiation of the arc transfer, the initiation gas flow rate being less than the electrocoagulation gas flow rate.

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