Electric operation apparatus

• US 6,730,080 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Hijii, Kazuya, Yamauchi, Koji, Harano, Kenji, Hatta, Shinji, Ohyama, Masahide
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/929,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 606/34, 606/35, 606/37-40
• US Class Current: 606/38
• 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 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially

Abstract

When a user steps on a footswitch, high-frequency output power is delivered. A control circuit included in a diathermic power supply calculates the impedance ZSn that is offered by a living tissue immediately after delivery of high-frequency output power is started during the n-th delivery period. The control circuit also calculates the impedance ZEn that is offered thereby immediately before delivery of high-frequency output power is discontinued with elapse of predetermined time. The control circuit then discontinues delivery of high-frequency output power for the predetermined time, and calculates a difference ΔZn between the impedances. When the difference meets a predetermined condition that implies coagulation or when the number of times of delivery reaches a predetermined value, the control circuit discontinues delivery of high-frequency output power.

Claims

1. An electric operation apparatus comprising:

a high-frequency current generating means for delivering high-frequency output power with which high-frequency current is conducted to a living tissue for the purpose of remedy;

an output changing means for changing high-frequency output power that is delivered by said high-frequency current generating means;

a control means for controlling said output changing means so that delivery of high-frequency output power will be repeatedly continued and discontinued;

a coagulated state judging means that judges the coagulated state of the living tissue, said control means controlling said output changing means according to the result of judgment made by said coagulated state judging means

wherein said coagulated state judging means judges the coagulated state of the living tissue by comparing biomedical information, which is acquired during each delivery period during which high-frequency output power is delivered or during each pause period during which delivery of high-frequency output power is discontinued, with biomedical information acquired during an immediately preceding delivery period of high-frequency output power or during an immediately preceding pause period thereof.

2. An electric operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coagulated state judging means judges the coagulated state of the living tissue by comparing at least one of a maximum value and a minimum value of biomedical information, which are acquired during each delivery period during which high-frequency output power is delivered or during each pause period during which delivery of high-frequency output power is discontinued, with at least one of a maximum value and a minimum value of biomedical information that are acquired during an immediately preceding delivery period of high-frequency output power or during an immediately preceding pause period thereof.

3. An electric operation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coagulated state judging means judges the coagulated state of the living tissue by comparing at least one of biomedical information acquired at the start of each delivery period during which high-frequency output power is delivered and biomedical information acquired during each pause period during which delivery of high-frequency output power is discontinued with at least one of biomedical information acquired at the start of the first delivery period of high-frequency output power and biomedical information acquired during the first pause period thereof.

4. An electric operation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said coagulated state judging means judges the coagulated state of the living tissue by comparing biomedical information, which is acquired at the start of each delivery period during which high-frequency output power is delivered, with biomedical information acquired during an immediately preceding pause period during which delivery of high-frequency output power is discontinued.