Electrosurgical mode conversion system

• US 6,692,489 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microline Surgical, Inc. (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Team Medical, LLC
• Inventors: Heim, Warren P., Brassell, James L., Olichney, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/619,919
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32-35, 606/37-42, 607/101-102
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00119 with metal oxide nitride
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage

Abstract

A surgical system that applies electrical energy to obtain predetermined surgical effects while improving the control of the application of the energy that is supplied by electrosurgical generators. In one embodiment, a surgical assembly interfaces with and receives power from an electrosurgical generator for executing a first electrosurgical procedure. This surgical assembly may employ a shunt circuit between its power and return lines for providing in effect a voltage limitation and/or to allow a constant power electrosurgical generator to execute an at least substantially constant voltage electrosurgical technique. The electrosurgical assembly may also include a return coupler for directing energy from the patient back to the electrosurgical generator, which in turn may include a dielectric material which interfaces with the patient and which at least initially conveys the return energy via one or more electric fields versus conduction.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical assembly which interfaces with a generator for executing a first electrosurgical procedure and which comprises:

an output assembly which is at least operatively interconnectable with said generator;

an active electrosurgical element which is operatively interconnected with said output assembly and which is interfaceable with a first portion of a patient during said first electrosurgical procedure;

a return path element, wherein at least part of said return path element is interfaceable with a second portion of said patient during said first electrosurgical procedure, said second portion being different from said first portion;

a return assembly which is operatively interconnected with said return path element and further which is at least operatively interconnectable with said generator; and

a shunt circuit between said output and return assemblies, wherein said shunt circuit comprises at least one passive element and is devoid of any active elements, and wherein said shunt circuit produces a reactive load.

2. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said generator comprises an output connector and a return connector, said output assembly comprises an output plug which is detachably interconnectable with said output connector and an output line which is disposed between said output plug and said active electrosurgical element, and wherein said return assembly comprises a return plug which is detachably interconnectable with said return connector and a return line which is disposed between said return plug and said return path element.

3. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said active electrosurgical element comprises at least one active electrode, wherein each said electrode has at least one patient interface surface, and wherein each said patient interface surface is selected from the group consisting of a curved surface and a flat surface.

4. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said active electrosurgical element is selected from the group consisting of one or more blades, hooks, balls, spatulas, loops, pins, wireforms, tubes, and tubes with fluid passageways.

5. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said electrosurgical assembly is selected from the group consisting of a monopolar configuration and a bipolar configuration.

6. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said return path element comprises a return coupler, wherein said return coupler comprises a first dielectric material which interfaces with said patient during said first electrosurgical procedure, wherein said return coupler further comprises a first return conductor which interfaces with said first dielectric material in such a manner that energy is returned to said generator first through said first dielectric material and then to said first return conductor.

7. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said patient defines a patient impedance load, and wherein said shunt circuit is disposed in parallel with said patient impedance load.

8. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said shunt circuit comprises at least one electronic element which is selected from the group consisting of capacitors, inductors, resistors and any combination thereof.

9. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said shunt circuit includes a single electronic element.

10. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a user handle, wherein said shunt circuit is disposed in a part of said electrosurgical assembly other than said user handle.

11. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said output assembly comprises an output plug which detachably interfaces with said generator, wherein said shunt circuit is disposed within said output plug.

12. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said return assembly comprises a return plug which detachably interfaces with said generator, wherein said shunt circuit is disposed within said return plug.

13. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a handle and a probe which extends from said handle and supports at least said active electrosurgical element, wherein said output assembly comprises an output plug which detachably interfaces with said generator and an output line which is disposed between said active electrosurgical element and said output plug, wherein at least a first portion of said output line extends between said output plug and said handle, wherein said return assembly comprises a return plug which detachably interfaces with said generator and a return line which extends from said return plug, through said output plug, and at least toward said return path element, wherein a first portion of said return line is disposed between said output plug and said handle, wherein a second portion of said return line is disposed between said output and return plugs, and wherein said shunt circuit extends between said first portion of said output line and said first portion of said return line.

14. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said output assembly comprises an output plug and an output line which is disposed between said active electrosurgical element and said output plug, wherein said return assembly comprises a return plug and a return line which is disposed between said return plug and said return path element, wherein said electrosurgical assembly further comprises an in-line adapter which detachably interconnects with said generator, wherein said output and return plugs detachably interface with said in-line adapter, and wherein said shunt circuit is disposed within said adapter.

15. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said electrosurgical generator is a constant power generator, and wherein said electrosurgical assembly comprises means for achieving an at least substantially constant voltage operational mode for said first electrosurgical procedure, and wherein said means for achieving comprises said shunt circuit.

16. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

means for limiting a maximum voltage applied to said patient, wherein said means for limiting comprises said shunt circuit.

17. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said shunt circuit comprise means for limiting a voltage output variance by said electrosurgical assembly throughout said first electrosurgical procedure to no more than about 15%.

18. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

an impedance of said patient during said first electrosurgical procedure is within a first impedance range from about 500 ohms to about 2,000 ohms, and wherein said shunt circuit comprises means for limiting a voltage output variance by said electrosurgical assembly throughout said first impedance range to no more than about 15%.

19. An electrosurgical assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a configuration of said electrosurgical assembly allows said first electrosurgical procedure to be selected from the group consisting of cutting, coagulation, desiccation, fulguration, ablation, and tissue shrinkage.

20. An electrosurgical assembly which interfaces with a generator for executing a first electrosurgical procedure and which comprises:

an output assembly which is at least operatively interconnectable with said generator;

an active electrosurgical element which is operatively interconnected with said output assembly and which is interfaceable with a first portion of a patient during said first electrosurgical procedure;

a return path element which is interfaceable with a second portion of said patient during said first electrosurgical procedure, said second portion being different from said first portion;

a return assembly which is operatively interconnected with said return path element and further which is at least operatively interconnectable with said generator; and

a single passive capacitor electrically interconnecting said output and return assemblies.