Electrosurgical generator and method for cross-checking mode functionality
First Claim
1. A method of evaluating functionality of an electrosurgical generator which delivers electrosurgical output power from an output section of the electrosurgical generator in accordance with a selected mode of operation of the electrosurgical generator, comprising:
- generating a patterned pulse signal formed by a plurality of drive pulses in accordance with the selected mode of operation;
applying the drive pulses of the patterned pulse signal to the output section of the electrosurgical generator;
converting energy represented by the drive pulses to electrosurgical output power;
within the output section of the electrosurgical generator;
counting the number of drive pulses in the patterned pulse signal applied to the output section;
establishing a predetermined expected number of drive pulses in accordance with the selected mode of operation;
comparing the counted number of drive pulses to the expected number of drive pulses; and
indicating an error condition when the counted number of drive pulses and the expected number of drive pulses differ by a predetermined finite amount.
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Abstract
The functionality and the mode of operation are evaluated in an electrosurgical generator by determining whether a patterned pulse signal that contributes to the generation of electrosurgical energy is as expected. A number of pulses in the patterned pulse signal is compared to an expected number of pulses, and an error condition is indicated when the two values are not the same or differ by more than a predetermined amount. The expected number of pulses depends on a mode of operation of the electrosurgical generator. The error condition may be used to as a basis to terminate the output power delivery.
165 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of evaluating functionality of an electrosurgical generator which delivers electrosurgical output power from an output section of the electrosurgical generator in accordance with a selected mode of operation of the electrosurgical generator, comprising:
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generating a patterned pulse signal formed by a plurality of drive pulses in accordance with the selected mode of operation;
applying the drive pulses of the patterned pulse signal to the output section of the electrosurgical generator;
converting energy represented by the drive pulses to electrosurgical output power;
within the output section of the electrosurgical generator;
counting the number of drive pulses in the patterned pulse signal applied to the output section;
establishing a predetermined expected number of drive pulses in accordance with the selected mode of operation;
comparing the counted number of drive pulses to the expected number of drive pulses; and
indicating an error condition when the counted number of drive pulses and the expected number of drive pulses differ by a predetermined finite amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of evaluating functionality of an electrosurgical generator which delivers electrosurgical output power, comprising:
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generating a patterned pulse signal with which the electrosurgical output power is generated, the patterned pulse signal having a plurality of drive pulses that are arranged in a pattern that repeats over successive time periods and that includes an off time off time during which no pulses occur;
counting a number of the drive pulses in the patterned pulse signal over a counting time period that is sufficiently long to ensure that all of the drive pulses in at least one of the successive time periods are within the counting time period;
comparing the counted number of drive pulses to an expected number of drive pulses; and
indicating an error condition when the counted number of drive pulses and the expected number of drive pulses differ by a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of evaluating functionality of an electrosurgical generator which delivers electrosurgical output power under a plurality of modes of operation, comprising:
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selecting one of the plurality of modes of operation for the electrosurgical generator to deliver the output power;
generating a patterned pulse signal in accordance with the selected mode of operation, the patterned pulse signal having a plurality of drive pulses and an off time during which no pulses occur arranged in a pattern that repeats over successive pattern time periods;
generating electrosurgical output power by using the patterned pulse signal;
detecting the drive pulses of the patterned pulse signal over at least one of the successive pattern time periods;
determining from the detected drive pulses whether the electrosurgical output power is being generated according to the selected mode of operation; and
indicating an error condition upon determining that the electrosurgical output power is not being generated according to the selected mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An electrosurgical generator which delivers electrosurgical output power according to a selected one of a plurality of different modes of operation, each mode represented by a different selected mode signal, comprising:
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a control processor which generates a patterned pulse signal in accordance with the selected mode signal, the patterned pulse signal having a plurality of drive pulses and an off time during which no pulses occur arranged in a pattern that repeats over successive pattern time periods in at least one of the different modes of operation;
an output section receptive of the patterned pulse signal and operative to convert energy represented by the drive pulses into the delivered output power, the control processor applying the patterned pulse signal to the output section;
a monitor processor receptive of the patterned pulse signal and the selected mode signal, the monitor processor detecting the drive pulses of the patterned pulse signal over at least one of the successive pattern time periods, the monitor processor determining from the detected drive pulses whether the patterned pulse signal applied by the control processor to the output section is consistent with the selected mode signal, the monitor processor indicating an error condition upon determining that the patterned pulse signal applied by the control processor to the output section is inconsistent with the selected mode signal; and
one of the control or monitor processors responding to the indication of the error condition by one of either issuing an alarm or terminating the delivery of the output power. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification