Electrosurgical system employing multiple electrodes and method thereof
First Claim
1. A method for heat ablation of tissue in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting at least two electrodes into the tissue;
placing at least one return electrode in contact with the patient;
sequentially applying energy to each of said at least two electrodes for a pre-determinable period of time, wherein said pre-determinable period of time is determined by the procedure and the number of selected electrodes;
determining a parameter at the energized electrode wherein the parameter is selected from a group consisting of impedance, temperature or time and any combination thereof;
switching the applied energy to a next electrode if the parameter is above a predetermined limit;
determining an off time of a next electrode in sequence;
comparing the off time to a predetermined minimum off time, wherein the predetermined minimum off time is determined by a number of electrodes selected; and
if the off time is less than the minimum off time, skipping over the next electrode in sequence.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for heat ablation of tissue in which energy is sequentially applied to at least two electrodes inserted into tissue. The system is comprised of a radiofrequency (RF) source for supplying RF energy, at least two electrodes configured to apply RF energy to tissue, at least one return electrode for returning the RF energy to the RF source, and a controller configured to sequentially apply the RF energy to each of the at least two electrodes. The sequential delivery of energy is determined by the measured current and voltage, the calculated impedance at each of the electrodes and the timing for each electrode. An internal load may be activated with the previously activated channel and remain on until the next channel is activated to avoid the generator from having an open circuit.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for heat ablation of tissue in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting at least two electrodes into the tissue; placing at least one return electrode in contact with the patient; sequentially applying energy to each of said at least two electrodes for a pre-determinable period of time, wherein said pre-determinable period of time is determined by the procedure and the number of selected electrodes; determining a parameter at the energized electrode wherein the parameter is selected from a group consisting of impedance, temperature or time and any combination thereof; switching the applied energy to a next electrode if the parameter is above a predetermined limit; determining an off time of a next electrode in sequence; comparing the off time to a predetermined minimum off time, wherein the predetermined minimum off time is determined by a number of electrodes selected; and if the off time is less than the minimum off time, skipping over the next electrode in sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for heat ablation of tissue in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting at least two electrodes into the tissue; placing at least one return electrode in contact with the patient; sequentially applying energy to each of said at least two electrodes for a pre-determinable period of time, wherein said pre-determinable period of time is determined by the procedure and the number of selected electrodes; determining a parameter at the energized electrode wherein the parameter is selected from a group consisting of impedance, temperature or time and any combination thereof; switching the applied energy to a next electrode if the parameter is above a predetermined limit; determining an off time of a next electrode in sequence; comparing the off time to a predetermined minimum off time, wherein the predetermined minimum off time is determined by a number of electrodes selected; and if the off time is greater than the minimum off time, switching the applied energy to the next electrode.
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17. A method for heat ablation of tissue in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting at least two electrodes into the tissue; placing at least one return electrode in contact with the patient; sequentially applying energy to each of said at least two electrodes for a pre-determinable period of time, wherein said pre-determinable period of time is determined by the procedure and the number of selected electrodes; determining a parameter at the energized electrode wherein the parameter is selected from a group consisting of impedance, temperature or time and any combination thereof; switching the applied energy to a next electrode if the parameter is above a predetermined limit; determining an off time of the next electrode; comparing the off time to a predetermined minimum off time, wherein the predetermined minimum off time is determined by a number of electrodes selected; and if the off time is less than the minimum off time, switching the applied energy to a load for dissipating the energy.
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18. A method for heat ablation of tissue in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting at least two electrodes into the tissue; placing at least one return electrode in contact with the patient; sequentially applying energy to each of said at least two electrodes for a pre-determinable period of time, wherein said pre-determinable period of time is determined by the procedure and the number of selected electrodes; applying energy to an internal load prior to removing energy from the current electrode; removing energy from said current electrode while maintaining the application of energy to said internal load; applying energy to the next electrode while maintaining the application of the energy to said internal load; removing energy from the internal load; and repeating the above steps as the energy is sequentially applied to the said electrodes.
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Specification