Electrosurgical generator and system

• US 7,282,048 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrus Medical Incorporated (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus Medical Incorporated (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ford, Andrew J., Goble, Colin C. O., Newton, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen; Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US10/858,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 606/34, 606/37, 606/42
• US Class Current: 606/34
• 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 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1273 including multiple generators in one device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe

Abstract

In an electrosurgical generator for generating radio frequency power, the generator includes a radio frequency output stage having two or more output connections, and a power supply coupled to the output stage for supplying power to the output stage. A controller is operable to cause the generator to supply a blended output signal alternating constantly between a first output signal across the output connections in which the radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections is limited to at least a first predetermined threshold value for cutting or vaporisation of tissue, and a second output signal across the output connections in which the radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections is limited to a second threshold value for coagulation. There is also provided adjustment means, operable by a user of the electrosurgical generator, for changing between various preset settings for the blended signal, the preset settings each having a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is limited to the first threshold value for cutting or vaporisation, and a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is limited to the second threshold value for coagulation.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical generator for generating radio frequency power, the generator comprising:

(i) a radio frequency output stage having two or more output connections,

(ii) a power supply coupled to the output stage for supplying power to the output stage,

(iii) a controller operable to cause the generator to supply a blended output signal alternating constantly between a first output signal across the output connections in which the radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections is limited to at least a first predetermined threshold value for cutting or vaporisation of tissue, and a second output signal across the output connections in which the radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections is limited to a second threshold value for coagulation, and

(iv) adjustment means, operable by a user of the electrosurgical generator, for changing between various preset settings for the blended signal, the preset settings each having a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is limited to the first threshold value for cutting or vaporisation, and a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is limited to the second threshold value for coagulation, the first and second predetermined threshold values being non-zero values.

2. An electrosurgical system including a generator according to claim 1, and further including a footswitch, the generator being adapted to receive signals from the footswitch as the means by which the user of the electrosurgical generator changes between the various preset settings for the blended signal.

3. An electrosurgical system according to claim 2, wherein the footswitch includes at least first and second pedals, and wherein, in an operating condition, signals from the first pedal cause the generator to be set into a blended mode in which the controller causes the generator to supply a blended output signal alternating constantly between the first and second output signals across the output connections for cutting or vaporisation, and signals from the second pedal cause the generator to be set into a coagulation mode in which the controller causes the generator to supply the second output signal across the output connections for coagulation.

4. An electrosurgical system according to claim 3, wherein in a mode-selection condition, signals from the first pedal change between the various preset settings for the blended signal in a first manner, and signals from the second pedal change between the various preset settings for the blended signal in a second manner.

5. An electrosurgical system according to claim 4, wherein in the mode-selection condition, signals from the first pedal change between the various preset settings for the blended signal so as to increase the duty cycle of the blended signal that is limited to the first threshold value for cutting or vaporisation, and signals from the second pedal change between the various preset settings for the blended signal so as to increase the duty cycle of the blended signal that is limited to the second threshold value for coagulation.

6. An electrosurgical generator for generating radio frequency power, the generator comprising:

(i) a radio frequency output stage having two or more output connections,

(ii) a power supply coupled to the output stage for supplying power to the output stage,

(iii) a controller operable to cause the generator to supply a blended output signal alternating constantly between a first output signal across the output connections for cutting or vaporisation of tissue, and a second output signal across the output connections for coagulation, the first and second output signals being non-zero signals, and

(iv) adjustment means, operable by a user of the electrosurgical generator, for changing between various preset settings for the blended signal, the preset settings each having a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is the first output signal, and a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is the second output signal.

7. A method of controlling an electrosurgical generator comprising the steps of:

(i) providing an electrosurgical generator capable of producing a blended output signal alternating constantly between a first output signal for cutting or vaporisation, and a second output signal for coagulation, the first and second output signals being non-zero signals, and

(ii) selectively changing between various preset settings for the blended signal, the preset settings each having a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is the first output signal, and a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is the second output signal.

8. A method of controlling an electrosurgical generator comprising the steps of:

(i) providing an electrosurgical generator capable of producing a blended output signal alternating constantly between a first output signal for cutting or vaporisation, and a second output signal for coagulation, the first and second output signals being non-zero signals,

(ii) providing a footswitch connected to the generator, and

(iii) using the footswitch to send signals to the generator, to selectively change between various preset settings for the blended signal, the preset settings each having a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is the first output signal, and a predetermined duty cycle of the blended signal that is the second output signal.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the footswitch includes at least first and second pedals, the method including the steps of

(i) actuating the footswitch to enter a mode-selection condition,

(ii) pressing one of the pedals to selectively change between the various preset settings for the blended signal,

(iii) actuating the footswitch to enter an operating condition, and

(iv) pressing the first pedal to cause the generator to produce a blended output signal comprising a duty cycle for the first and second output signals in accordance with the selected preset setting.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein, in the mode-selection condition, the method includes the step of pressing the first pedal to increase the duty cycle of the blended signal that is the first output signal, and pressing the second pedal to increase the duty cycle of the blended signal that is the second output signal.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of actuating the footswitch to enter the mode-selection condition is performed by pressing the first and second pedals simultaneously.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of actuating the footswitch to enter the operating condition is performed by pressing the first and second pedals simultaneously.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the footswitch includes at least three pedals, and the step of actuating the footswitch to enter the mode-selection condition is performed by pressing the third pedal.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the footswitch includes at least three pedals, and the step of actuating the footswitch to enter the operating condition is performed by pressing the third pedal.

15. An electrosurgical generator for generating radio frequency power, the generator comprising:

(i) a radio frequency output stage having two or more output connections,

(ii) a power supply coupled to the output stage for supplying power to the output stage,

(iii) a controller operable to cause the generator to supply a blended output signal alternating constantly between a first output signal portion across the output connections in which the radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections is limited to at least a first predetermined threshold value for cutting or vaporisation of tissue, and a second output signal portion across the output connections in which the radio frequency output voltage developed across the output connections is limited to a second threshold value for coagulation, the first and second predetermined threshold values being non-zero values, and

(iv) adjustment means, operable by a user of the electrosurgical generator, for changing between different preset settings for the blended signal, the preset settings each defining a different respective predetermined ratio of the proportion of time occupied by the first output signal portion and that occupied by the second output signal portion.