Method for monitoring impedance to control power and apparatus utilizing same
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring impedance in a circuit coupling a radio frequency electrode to a radio frequency generator to control power supplied by the generator to the electrode during a treatment procedure comprising the steps ofmonitoring the impedance in the circuit over a length of time, calculating an expected impedance at the end of the treatment procedure from the monitored impedance, comparing the expected impedance to a predetermined maximum impedance and reducing the power supplied to the circuit if the expected impedance is greater than the predetermined maximum impedance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring the impedance in a circuit coupling a radio frequency electrode to a radio frequency generator to control the power supplied by the generator to the electrode during a treatment procedure. In the method, the impedance in the circuit is monitored over a length of time. An expected impedance at the end of the treatment procedure is calculated from the monitored impedance and compared to a predetermined maximum impedance. The power supplied to the circuit is reduced if the expected impedance is greater than the predetermined maximum impedance. A computer-readable memory and apparatus utilizing the method are provided.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring impedance in a circuit coupling a radio frequency electrode to a radio frequency generator to control power supplied by the generator to the electrode during a treatment procedure comprising the steps of
monitoring the impedance in the circuit over a length of time, calculating an expected impedance at the end of the treatment procedure from the monitored impedance, comparing the expected impedance to a predetermined maximum impedance and reducing the power supplied to the circuit if the expected impedance is greater than the predetermined maximum impedance.
- 13. A computer-readable memory for use with a radio frequency controller and a circuit to couple a radio frequency electrode to the controller, the memory containing a computer program for causing the controller to monitor impedance in the circuit so as to control power supplied by the generator to the electrode during a treatment procedure by measuring the change of impedance in the circuit over a length of time, calculating an expected impedance at the end of the treatment procedure from the change of impedance, comparing the expected impedance to a predetermined maximum impedance and reducing the power supplied to the circuit if the expected impedance is greater than the predetermined maximum impedance.
- 15. A radio frequency controller for use with a circuit to couple a radio frequency electrode to the controller comprising a computer-readable memory containing a computer program for causing the controller to monitor impedance in the circuit so as to control power supplied by the generator to the electrode by measuring the rate of change of impedance in the circuit over a length of time, calculating an expected impedance at the end of the treatment procedure from the rate of change of impedance, comparing the expected impedance to a predetermined maximum impedance and reducing the power supplied to the circuit if the expected impedance is greater than the predetermined maximum impedance, and a central processing unit coupled to the memory for executing the program in the memory.
Specification