Electrosurgical system with suction control apparatus, system and method

• US 8,192,424 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Woloszko, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCOTT, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US11/969,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 606 32- 45
• US Class Current: 606/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• 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 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00583 Coblation, i.e. ablation using a cold plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

System and method for selectively applying electrical energy to structures within or on the surface of a patient'"'"'s body and controlling the flow of an electrically conductive fluid from the application site to provide or maintain a desired operating condition of the electrosurgical device. An electrosurgical probe is in communication with a fluid transport apparatus through a fluid transport lumen having an opening at an end proximate the application site and disposed proximate the electrosurgical probe. A controller in communication with the fluid transport apparatus provides control signals to the fluid transport apparatus in response to at least one operating parameter associated with the system. Based on the received control signals, the fluid transport apparatus adjusts a flow rate of the electrically conductive fluid at the application site through the fluid transport lumen in response to at least one operating parameter associated with the system.

Claims

1. A system for electrosurgically treating tissue comprising:

an electrosurgical probe having a distal end including at least one active electrode and a fluid transport lumen having an opening proximate the active electrode;

a generator in operative communication with the at least one active electrode and adapted to provide a high frequency voltage to the at least one active electrode;

a fluid transport apparatus in communication with the fluid transport lumen;

a controller in communication with the generator and in communication with the fluid transport apparatus, the controller adapted to control the fluid transport apparatus based on at least one operating parameter; and

wherein the at least one operating parameter is indicative of an operating condition at the distal end of the electrosurgical probe and wherein the controller adjusts the fluid transport apparatus in response to create a desired effect at the active electrode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one operating parameter is associated with the generator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one operating parameter is indicative of the activation of the generator.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the generator is adapted to provide a first high frequency voltage in a first operating mode and a second high frequency voltage in a second operating mode; and

the at least one operating parameter is indicative of the first operating mode or the second operating mode.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first operating mode comprises an ablation mode, and the second operating mode comprises a coagulation mode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one operating parameter is associated with the electrosurgical probe.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises impedance.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one operating parameter comprises electric current.

9. The system of claim of claim 6, wherein the at least one operating parameter is indicative of the quality of a plasma field proximate the at least one active electrode.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid transport apparatus comprises a suction pump.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the suction pump comprises a positive displacement pump.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the suction pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to dynamically adjust a fluid flow through the fluid transport apparatus.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sensor, wherein the sensor is adapted to measure the at least one operating parameter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the electrosurgical probe.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the generator.

17. The system of claim 1, the controller further comprising:

an input port for receiving an input indicative of the at least one operating parameter;

a processor adapted to determine a fluid flow for the fluid transport apparatus responsive to the at least one operating parameter; and

an output port for sending an output signal to the fluid transport apparatus.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is integrated within the generator.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is integrated within the fluid transport apparatus.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is a stand alone device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one operating parameter is indicative of the quality of the desired effect at the active electrode.

22. A system for electrosurgically treating tissue comprising:

an electrosurgical probe having a distal end including at least one active electrode and a fluid transport lumen having an opening proximate the active electrode;

a generator in operative communication with the at least one active electrode and adapted to provide a high frequency voltage to the at least one active electrode;

a fluid transport apparatus in communication with the fluid transport lumen;

a controller in communication with the generator and in communication with the fluid transport apparatus, the controller adapted to control the fluid transport apparatus based on at least one operating parameter; and

wherein the at least one operating parameter is associated with the electrosurgical probe and is indicative of a plasma field condition proximate the at least one active electrode.