Transformer for RF voltage sensing

• US 8,231,616 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McPherson, James W., Puterbaugh, Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, KAITLYN ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US12/861,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 336/182, 336/220, 336/222, 606/34
• US Class Current: 606/34
• 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 2018/00767 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1286 having a specific transformer
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/183 using transformers with a magnetic core

Abstract

An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes a multiple-secondary transformer configured for sensing voltage. The multiple-secondary transformer includes a primary winding coupled to an active terminal and a return terminal of the electrosurgical system and a plurality of secondary windings. Each of the secondary windings is configured to transform the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage. Each of the secondary windings includes an output coupled to a sensor circuit and configured to transmit the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical generator, comprising:

a radio frequency output stage coupled to an active terminal and a return terminal and configured to generate a radio frequency voltage;

a sensor circuit that measures at least one of a tissue property and a radio frequency voltage property; and

a multiple-secondary transformer including (i) a primary winding having a first lead coupled to the active terminal and a second lead coupled to the return terminal, the first and second leads coupled to the radio frequency output stage and (ii) a plurality of secondary windings, each including an output;

wherein each of the secondary windings are configured to transform the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage and each of the outputs of the secondary windings are coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to transmit the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit.

2. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of secondary windings is modular and configured to be selectively engageable with the multiple-secondary transformer.

3. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1, further comprising an electrosurgical instrument configured to deliver the radio frequency voltage to tissue, the electrosurgical instrument being coupled to the active terminal.

4. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical generator includes a plurality of outputs for interfacing with a plurality of monopolar and bipolar surgical instruments.

5. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical generator includes:

a plurality of return electrodes configured to minimize tissue damage;

a plurality of input controls for allowing a user to control the generator; and

one or more displays for displaying output information.

6. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency (RF) output stage is configured to generate sinusoidal waveforms of high RF energy.

7. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency (RF) output stage is configured to generate a plurality of waveforms having different ranges of at least one of duty cycles, peak voltages, and crest factors.

8. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency (RF) output stage is configured to generate:

a 100% duty cycle sinusoidal waveform in a cut mode for ablating, fusing, and dissecting tissue; and

a 1-25% duty cycle waveform in a coagulation mode for cauterizing tissue.

9. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sensing mechanism in operative communication with at least one feedback mechanism.

10. The electrosurgical generator according to claim 1, wherein the multiple-secondary transformer is configured to output multiple sense voltages.

11. A method for performing electrosurgery, the method comprising:

providing a radio frequency output stage coupled to an active terminal and a return terminal;

generating a radio frequency voltage via the radio frequency output stage;

measuring at least one of a tissue property and a radio frequency voltage property via a sensor circuit; and

providing a multiple-secondary transformer including (i) a primary winding having a first lead coupled to the active terminal and a second lead coupled to the return terminal, the first and second leads coupled to the radio frequency output stage and (ii) a plurality of secondary windings, each including an output;

wherein each of the secondary windings are configured to transform the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage and each of the outputs of the secondary windings are coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to transmit the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit.

12. The method according to claim 11,

wherein at least one of the plurality of secondary windings steps down the radio frequency voltage;

and

wherein each of the plurality of secondary windings includes a same number of turns.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of secondary windings is modular and configured to be selectively engageable with the multiple-secondary transformer.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

delivering the radio frequency voltage to tissue via an electrosurgical instrument coupled to the active terminal;

allowing a user to control the generator via a plurality of input controls; and

displaying output information via one or more displays.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of connectors to operatively cooperate with a plurality of surgical instruments; and

switching between the plurality of connectors via a switching mechanism.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a sensing mechanism to operatively communicate with a feedback mechanism.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the multiple-secondary transformer is configured to output multiple sense voltages.

18. A multiple-secondary transformer, comprising:

a primary winding having a first lead coupled to an active terminal and a second lead coupled to a return terminal, the first and second leads coupled to a radio frequency output stage; and

a plurality of secondary windings, each including an output;

wherein each of the secondary windings are configured to transform radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage and each of the outputs of the secondary windings are coupled to a sensor circuit and configured to transmit the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit.

19. The multiple-secondary transformer according to claim 18, wherein the multiple-secondary transformer operatively cooperates with the radio frequency output stage coupled to the active terminal and the return terminal and configured to generate the radio frequency voltage.

20. The multiple-secondary transformer according to claim 18, wherein the sensor circuit measures at least one of a tissue property and a radio frequency voltage property.