Electrosurgical control system
First Claim
1. A control system for a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic, each device controllable by an associated device user control, comprising:
- a central user control operable by a user to control any of the electrosurgical devices;
a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices;
a plurality of intelligent adapters, each associated with one of the electrosurgical devices and programmed or adapted to communicate information relating to the associated electrosurgical device; and
a processor system responsive to operation of the central user control, each intelligent adapter removably connectable to the processor system, the processor system programmed or adapted to respond to operation of the central user control by controlling the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the associated intelligent adapter such that the central user control can be used to control at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical control system includes a selector by which a user can select any of a number of electrosurgical devices or similar devices for use, and a processor system responsive to user actuation of a foot control or other central control by controlling the selected device. Each device has an associated intelligent adapter that communicates information relating to device with which the adapter is associated. The processor system uses the information communicated by the adapter to properly interface the associated device with the control system and its central control.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. A control system for a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic, each device controllable by an associated device user control, comprising:
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a central user control operable by a user to control any of the electrosurgical devices; a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices; a plurality of intelligent adapters, each associated with one of the electrosurgical devices and programmed or adapted to communicate information relating to the associated electrosurgical device; and a processor system responsive to operation of the central user control, each intelligent adapter removably connectable to the processor system, the processor system programmed or adapted to respond to operation of the central user control by controlling the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the associated intelligent adapter such that the central user control can be used to control at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for controlling a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic, each device controllable by an associated device user control, comprising the steps of:
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connecting each electrosurgical device to an associated intelligent adapter programmed or adapted to communicate information relating to the associated electrosurgical device; connecting each electrosurgical device and connected intelligent adapter to a processor system instead of to an associated device user control to which the electrosurgical device is connectable; operating a device selector in communication with the processor system to select one of the electrosurgical devices; and operating a central user control to control the selected electrosurgical device, the processor system programmed or adapted to respond to operation of the central user control by controlling the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the associated intelligent adapter such that the central user control can be used to control at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A control system for a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices, each controllable by an associated device user control, comprising:
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a central user control operable by a user to control any of the electrosurgical devices; a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices wherein the device selector is disposed separately and remotely from the processor system in an enclosure in communication with the processor system and wherein the device selector includes a disposable anti-static sheath on the enclosure; a plurality of intelligent adapters, each associated with one of the electrosurgical devices and programmed or adapted to communicate information relating to the associated electrosurgical device; and a processor system responsive to operation of the central user control, each intelligent adapter removably connectable to the processor system, the processor system programmed or adapted to respond to operation of the central user control by controlling the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the associated intelligent adapter.
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48. A method for controlling a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices, comprising the steps of:
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connecting each electrosurgical device to an associated intelligent adapter programmed or adapted to communicate information relating to the associated electrosurgical device; connecting each electrosurgical device and connected intelligent adapter to a processor system instead of to an associated device user control to which the electrosurgical device is connectable; operating a device selector in communication with the processor system to select one of the electrosurgical devices wherein the device selector is housed in an enclosure disposed remotely from the processor system and the enclosure is placed in a disposable anti-static sheath; and operating a central user control to control the selected electrosurgical device, the processor system programmed or adapted to respond to operation of the central user control by controlling the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the associated intelligent adapter.
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49. A control system for a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices, wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic, the control system comprising:
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a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices; a central user control operable by a user to activate the selected device; and a plurality of adaptors, wherein at least one adaptor is configured to couple with the electrosurgical device having the first output function or operating characteristic and wherein at least one adaptor is configured to couple with the electrosurgical device having the second output function or operating characteristic, wherein each adaptor is configured to communicate information regarding the associated electrosurgical device to a processor system that is responsive to operation of the central user control, and wherein the processor system is programmed or configured to respond to operation of the central user control by activating the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the associated adapter. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices, wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic; a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices; a central user control operable by a user to activate the selected device; and a plurality of adaptors, wherein at least one adaptor is configured to couple with the electrosurgical device having the first output function or operating characteristic and wherein at least a second adaptor is configured to couple with the electrosurgical device having the second output function or operating characteristic, wherein each adaptor is configured to communicate information regarding the associated electrosurgical device to a processor system that is responsive to operation of the central user control, and wherein the processor system is programmed or configured to respond to operation of the central user control by activating the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the associated adapter. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A control system for a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least one device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic, each device controllable by an associated device user control, comprising:
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a central user control operable by a user to control any of the electrosurgical devices; a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices; a plurality of intelligent adapters, each associated with one of the electrosurgical devices and programmed or adapted to communicate information relating to the associated electrosurgical device; and a processor system responsive to operation of the central user control, the processor system programmed or adapted to respond to operation of the central user control by controlling the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the associated intelligent adapter such that the central user control can be used to control at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least one device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices, wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic; a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices; a central user control operable by a user to activate the selected device; and
a first means for coupling the electrosurgical device having the first output function or operating characteristic and a second means for coupling the electrosurgical device having the second output function or operating characteristic to a processor system that is responsive to the operation of the central user control, wherein the first and second means for coupling are configured to communicate information regarding the associated electrosurgical device to the processor system, and wherein the processor system is programmed or configured to respond to operation of the central user control by activating the selected electrosurgical device in accordance with information communicated by the coupling means such that the central user control can be used to control at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic.
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65. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices, wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic; a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices; a central user control operable by a user to activate the selected device; and a control unit comprising a processing system wherein the processing system is programmed or configured to respond to operation of the central user control to activate at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A control system for a plurality of independent electrosurgical devices, wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic, the control system comprising;
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a device selector operable by a user to select one of the electrosurgical devices; a central user control operable by a user to activate the selected device; and a control unit comprising a processing system wherein the processing system is programmed or configured to respond to operation of the central user control to activate at least one device having a first output function or operating characteristic and least a second device having a second output function or operating characteristic that differs from the first output function or operating characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74)
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Specification