Motion detector for controlling electrosurgical output

• US 7,955,327 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schmaltz, Dale F., Sartor, Joe D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US11/651,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606 32- 35, 606/41, 606 45- 50
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• 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 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension

Abstract

An electrosurgical instrument having a movement sensing device for controlling the electrosurgical output thereof, is disclosed. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the electrosurgical instrument includes an elongated housing, an electrically conductive element supported within the housing and extending distally from the housing, the electrically conductive element connectable to a source of electrosurgical energy, and a sensor disposed within the housing and in electrical connection with the electrosurgical generator. The sensor detects movement of the electrically conductive element and communicates a signal to the electrosurgical generator relating to the movement of the electrically conductive element. The source of electrosurgical energy supplies electrosurgical energy in response to the signal from the sensor.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an electrically conductive element at least partially supported in the housing and extending therefrom, the electrically conductive element adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy;

a motion sensor disposed within the housing and adapted to electrically connect to the source of electrosurgical energy, the motion sensor operable to detect a movement of the electrosurgical instrument in a plurality of directions; and

wherein the motion sensor is operable to transmit a signal to the source of electrosurgical energy for de-activation of a transmission of energy from the source of electrosurgical energy when the motion sensor does not detect movement of the electrosurgical instrument for a period of time at least equal to a predetermined period of time,

wherein the electrically conductive element includes a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and the motion sensor is operable to detect at least one of an axial movement of the electrosurgical instrument relative to the longitudinal axis, a transverse movement of the electrosurgical instrument relative to the longitudinal axis, and a rotational movement of the electrosurgical instrument about the longitudinal axis,

wherein the motion sensor includes;

a first accelerometer operable to detect the axial movement and transmit a first signal to the source of electrosurgical energy corresponding to the axial movement; and

a second accelerometer operable to detect the transverse movement transmit a second signal to the source of electrosurgical energy corresponding to the transverse movement.

2. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is at least one of an accelerometer, an optical positioning system, a radiofrequency positioning system, an ultrasonic positioning system, a differential parallel plate accelerometer, a balanced interdigitated comb-finger accelerometer, an offset interdigitated comb-finger accelerometer, and a film-type accelerometer.

3. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second accelerometers is at least one of a differential parallel plate accelerometer, a balanced interdigitated comb-finger accelerometer, an offset interdigitated comb-finger accelerometer, a film-type accelerometer, and at least one piezoelectric film motion detector.

4. An electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

an electrically conductive element at least partially supported in the housing and extending therefrom, the electrically conductive element adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy; and

a sensor disposed within the housing and adapted to electrically connect with the source of electrosurgical energy, the sensor operable to detect a movement of the electrosurgical instrument as the electrosurgical instrument is moved in free space, wherein the sensor is operable to transmit a signal to the source of electrosurgical energy for controlling a transmission of energy from the source of electrosurgical energy based on the movement,

wherein the electrically conductive element includes a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and the motion sensor is operable to detect at least one of an axial movement of the electrosurgical instrument relative to the longitudinal axis, a transverse movement of the electrosurgical instrument relative to the longitudinal axis, and a rotational movement of the electrosurgical instrument about the longitudinal axis,

wherein the motion sensor includes;

a first accelerometer operable to detect the axial movement and transmit a first signal to the source of electrosurgical energy corresponding to the axial movement; and

a second accelerometer operable to detect the transverse movement transmit a second signal to the source of electrosurgical energy corresponding to the transverse movement.

5. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is at least one of an accelerometer, an optical positioning system, a radiofrequency positioning system, an ultrasonic positioning system, a differential parallel plate accelerometer, a balanced interdigitated comb-finger accelerometer, an offset interdigitated comb-finger accelerometer, and a film-type accelerometer.

6. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the signal is operable to cause the source of electrosurgical energy to transmit a dissecting RF energy output in response to the detection of the axial movement.

7. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the signal is operable to cause the source of electrosurgical energy to transmit a hemostatic RF energy output in response to the detection of the transverse movement.

8. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the signal is operable to cause the source of electrosurgical energy to reduce the supply of electrosurgical energy when the sensor fails to detect at least one of:

movement of the electrosurgical instrument for a predetermined period of time; and

movement of the electrosurgical instrument above a predetermined threshold level of movement.

9. The electrosurgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the signal is operable to cause the source of electrosurgical energy to increase the supply of electrosurgical energy when the sensor detects at least one of:

movement of the electrosurgical instrument following the predetermined period of time; and

movement of the electrosurgical instrument above the predetermined threshold level of movement.

10. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

a source of electrosurgical energy;

an electrosurgical instrument coupled to the source of electrosurgical energy, the electrosurgical instrument including;

an elongated housing;

an electrically conductive element at least partially supported in the housing and extending therefrom, the electrically conductive element connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy and having a longitudinal axis defined therethrough; and

a motion sensor disposed within the housing and in electrical connection with the source of electrosurgical energy, the motion sensor operable to detect a movement of the electrosurgical instrument in a plurality of directions, wherein the motion sensor is operable to transmit a signal to the source of electrosurgical energy for de-activation of a transmission of energy from the source of electrosurgical energy when the motion sensor does not detect movement of the electrosurgical instrument for a period of time at least equal to a predetermined period of time,

wherein the source of electrosurgical energy is operable to transmit a dissecting RF energy output in response to the detection of an axial movement of the electrosurgical instrument along the longitudinal axis,

wherein the source of electrosurgical energy is operable to transmit a hemostatic RF energy output in response to the detection of a transverse movement of the electrosurgical instrument across the longitudinal axis.