Tissue treatment system
First Claim
1. A tissue treatment system comprising:
- a radio frequency (r.f.) generator;
a treatment instrument connectible to the generator and to a source of ionisable gas and operable to produce a plasma jet at a nozzle of the instrument when supplied with the ionisable gas and energised by the generator; and
a calibration device that comprises;
a target element having a target surface area;
a transducer arranged to produce an electrical signal indicative of a temperature change of the target element within the target surface area;
a receptacle for locating the nozzle of the instrument in juxtaposition with the target surface area whereby, in operation of the instrument when the nozzle is in the receptacle, the plasma jet is incident upon the target surface area to cause the transducer to generate a calibration signal for adjusting the energy output of the generator; and
an output connected to the generator for coupling the calibration signal to the generator;
wherein the generator includes an energy output adjuster for adjusting the r.f. energy output of the generator, the adjuster being configured to adjust the r.f. energy output in response to the calibration signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tissue treatment system has a radio frequency generator and a handheld treatment instrument that generates a gas plasma jet for delivering thermal energy to a tissue surface to be treated. Incorporated in the housing for the generator is a calibration device for adjusting the energy output of the generator, if necessary, at the beginning of a treatment session. The calibration device has a target element with a target surface, a transducer for sensing changes in temperature of the target element with respect to the temperature of a reference element, and an energy output adjuster for adjusting the radio frequency energy output of the generator in response to a calibration signal generated by the transducer. The generator housing has a receptacle for locating the nozzle of the handheld instrument in juxtaposition with the target element so that when a plasma burst is generated as part of a calibration sequence it is incident on the target surface. The generator output is automatically adjusted to compensate for any deviation of a calibration value, produced from the calibration signal, from a reference value. Also disclosed is a method of regenerating the reticular architecture of tissue, the method including calibrating the energy delivery of a tissue treatment system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A tissue treatment system comprising:
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a radio frequency (r.f.) generator; a treatment instrument connectible to the generator and to a source of ionisable gas and operable to produce a plasma jet at a nozzle of the instrument when supplied with the ionisable gas and energised by the generator; and a calibration device that comprises; a target element having a target surface area; a transducer arranged to produce an electrical signal indicative of a temperature change of the target element within the target surface area; a receptacle for locating the nozzle of the instrument in juxtaposition with the target surface area whereby, in operation of the instrument when the nozzle is in the receptacle, the plasma jet is incident upon the target surface area to cause the transducer to generate a calibration signal for adjusting the energy output of the generator; and an output connected to the generator for coupling the calibration signal to the generator; wherein the generator includes an energy output adjuster for adjusting the r.f. energy output of the generator, the adjuster being configured to adjust the r.f. energy output in response to the calibration signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of calibrating a tissue treatment system which includes a radio frequency (r.f.) generator, a treatment instrument connected to the generator and to a source of ionisable gas, and a calibration device comprising a target element and a temperature sensing transducer, a receptacle for locating a nozzle of the instrument in juxtaposition with a target surface area of the target element at a pre-defined location with respect thereto, and an output coupled to the generator, wherein the method comprises:
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placing the treatment instrument in the receptacle; causing gas to be supplied to the instrument and simultaneously causing a burst of r.f. energy to be delivered to the instrument with a predetermined waveform and duration so as to generate a plasma jet exiting the nozzle and incident upon the target element; automatically evaluating a calibration signal generated by the calibration device at the output and representative of an output of the transducer resulting from heating of the target element by the plasma jet; and setting the r.f. energy output level of the generator according to the evaluation of the calibration signal.
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Specification