Combined bipolar and monopolar electrosurgical instrument and method
First Claim
1. A electrical switching system for selectively delivering either bipolar or monopolar electrical energy through a surgical instrument, comprising:
- a generator, the generator comprising a first electrical distribution system for delivering monopolar electrical energy, and a second electrical distribution system for delivering bipolar electrical energy;
a controller coupled to the generator, for selecting based on an electrical condition at a tine of a surgical instrument, which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate, the electrical condition indicating a mode of operation of the surgical instrument, the controller comprising;
a first pair of relays actively coupled to-the first electrical distribution system;
a second pair of relays actively coupled to-the second electrical distribution system;
a switch for selecting either the first electrical distribution system or the second electrical distribution system; and
a keying circuit coupled to the switch for selectively engaging either the first or second electrical distribution systems.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical switching system for use in various types of electrosurgical instruments and related tools comprises a system adapted to automatically determine which of at least two electrical current modes to deliver through an electrosurgical instrument based on a condition sensed by the electrosurgical instrument. In another embodiment, the electrical switching system comprises a generator, the generator including a first electrical distribution systems for delivering monopolar electrical energy, and a second electrical distribution system for delivering bipolar electrical energy, a controller coupled to the generator for selecting based on an input which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A electrical switching system for selectively delivering either bipolar or monopolar electrical energy through a surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a generator, the generator comprising a first electrical distribution system for delivering monopolar electrical energy, and a second electrical distribution system for delivering bipolar electrical energy; a controller coupled to the generator, for selecting based on an electrical condition at a tine of a surgical instrument, which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate, the electrical condition indicating a mode of operation of the surgical instrument, the controller comprising; a first pair of relays actively coupled to-the first electrical distribution system; a second pair of relays actively coupled to-the second electrical distribution system; a switch for selecting either the first electrical distribution system or the second electrical distribution system; and a keying circuit coupled to the switch for selectively engaging either the first or second electrical distribution systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An electrical connection system for selectively delivering one of a plurality of electrical energy modes through a surgical instrument, comprising:
-
a generator comprising a first electrical distribution system for delivering a electrical energy in a first mode, and a second electrical distribution system for delivering electrical energy in a second mode; a controller coupled to the generator, for selecting based on an electrical condition at a tine of a surgical instrument, which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate, the electrical condition indicating a mode of operation of the surgical instrument, the controller comprising; a first pair of relays electrically coupled to the first electrical distribution system; a second pair of relays electrically coupled to the second electrical distribution system; a switch for selecting either the first electrical distribution system or the second electrical distribution system; a keying circuit coupled to the switch for selectively engaging either the first or second electrical distribution systems based on the mode of operation of the surgical instrument; a third set of relays coupled to the first and second set of relays; and an impedance sensing circuit coupled to and disposed between the keying circuit and the third set of relays. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A method of selectively delivering bipolar or monopolar electrical current through a surgical instrument, comprising:
-
sensing an electrical condition at a tine of the surgical instrument, the electrical condition indicating a mode of operation of the surgical instrument; selecting, based on the electrical condition, whether to deliver the bipolar or monopolar electrical current through the surgical instrument; and providing instructions to an electrosurgical generator to deliver the selected bipolar or monopolar electrical current through the surgical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (32)
-
Specification