Generator and probe adapter

• US 6,685,703 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Garabedian, Robert, Pearson, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US10/036,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 606/41, 606/32, 606/34, 606/42
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter

Abstract

An adapter to couple a dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe and radio frequency generator includes an adapter body having a proximal connector to be coupled to the generator, a distal connector to be coupled to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, and one or more electrical elements to emulate one or more operating parameters of a compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

Claims

1. A method of using an adapter to couple a dissimilar normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe and radio frequency generator, the radio frequency generator normally used with a compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe, the method comprising:

providing an adapter including a proximal connector to be coupled to the radio frequency generator, a distal connector to be coupled to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, and one or more electrical elements to emulate one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe;

coupling the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator;

coupling the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe; and

using the adapter to emulate one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, wherein the one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe includes impedance, and the one or more electrical elements include one or more resistors to emulate the impedance of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator includes directly connecting the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator includes indirectly connecting the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator via one or more connectors.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more connectors include a cable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe includes directly connecting the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe includes indirectly connecting the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe via one or more connectors.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more connectors include a cable.

8. A method of using an adapter to couple a dissimilar normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe and radio frequency generator, the radio frequency generator normally used with a compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe, the method comprising:

providing an adapter including a proximal connector to be coupled to the radio frequency generator, a distal connector to be coupled to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, and one or more electrical elements to emulate one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe;

coupling the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator;

coupling the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe; and

using the adapter to emulate one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe, wherein the one or more operating parameters of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe includes temperature, and the one or more electrical elements include one or more resistors to emulate the resistance of one or more temperature sensors of the compatible, native radiotherapeutic probe to interface the generator with the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein coupling the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator includes directly connecting the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein coupling the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator includes indirectly connecting the proximal connector to the radio frequency generator via one or more connectors.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more connectors include a cable.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein coupling the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe includes directly connecting the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein coupling the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe includes indirectly connecting the distal connector to the dissimilar, normally incompatible radiotherapeutic probe via one or more connectors.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more connectors include a cable.