Computerized electrical signal generator

• US 7,258,688 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2002
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Medical Device Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Baylis Medical Company Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Shah, Krishan, Baylis, Frank Headley
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US10/122,413
• Time in Patent Office: 1,953 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606 10- 12, 606 32- 34, 606/41
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical probe signal generator. More particularly, it relates to a medical probe signal generator architecture. The present invention further relates to a medical probe signal generator having an automatic probe type detector, a user interface and operational parameter settings automatically configured according to a type of medical probe connected to the generator.

Claims

1. An energy generator capable of operating in a plurality of functional operating modes to generate energy for a variety of treatment procedures, the generator comprising:

a mode storage element for storing the operating modes for the generator, each of the operating modes characterized by a plurality of energy delivery parameters;

a detector for detecting and identifying an identifier connected to the generator from a plurality of identifiers, the identifier being associated with at least one applicable operating mode from the stored operating modes, at least one of the plurality of identifiers being associated with a plurality of operating modes;

a user input control to receive input from a user to select a current operating mode from the operating modes applicable to a detected identifier where the detected identifier is associated with a plurality of operating modes; and

an energy controller for controlling a delivery of energy by said generator in accordance with the current operating mode.

2. The generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user input control is identifier-defined.

3. The generator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mode selector for selecting the current operating mode by default from the at least one operating mode applicable to a detected identifier.

4. The generator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a user interface for displaying the current operating mode.

5. The generator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one current operating mode-defined user input control for adjusting at least one of the plurality of energy delivery parameters that characterize the current operating mode.

6. The generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of energy delivery parameters is selected from the group consisting of voltage, current, user input control functions, time, temperature, stimulation rate, pulse rate, pulse duration, ramp time, and power.

7. The generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current operating mode is selected from the group consisting of stimulation, automatic temperature control RF delivery, manual control RF delivery and Intra-discal RF delivery.

8. The generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the parameters that characterize the current operating mode is adjustable and is presented on the user interface.

9. An energy delivery system comprising:

on energy generator capable of operating in a plurality of functional operating modes to generate energy for a variety of treatment procedures, the generator comprising

a mode storage element for storing the operating modes for the generator, each of the operating modes characterized by a plurality of energy delivery parameters,

a detector for detecting and identifying an identifier connected to the generator from a plurality of identifiers, at least one of the plurality of identifiers being associated with a plurality of operating modes,

a user input control to receive input from a user to select a current operating mode from the operating modes applicable to a detected identifier where the detected identifier is associated with a plurality of operating modes, and

an energy controller for controlling a delivery of energy by said generator in accordance with the current operating mode; and

at least one instrument cable adapted to connect an instrument to the generator, the cable comprising the identifier.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user input control is identifier-defined.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a mode selector for selecting the current operating mode by default from the at least one operating mode applicable to a detected identifier.

12. The system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a user interface for displaying the current operating mode.

13. The system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising at least one current operating mode-defined user input control for adjusting at least one of the plurality of energy delivery parameters that characterize the current operating mode.

14. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least one of the plurality of energy delivery parameters is selected from the group consisting of voltage, current, user input control functions, time, temperature, stimulation rate, pulse rate, pulse duration, ramp time, and power.

15. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the current operating mode is selected from the group consisting of stimulation, automatic temperature control RF delivery, manual control RF delivery and Intra-discal RF delivery.

16. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the parameters that characterize the current operating mode is adjustable and is presented on the user interface.