Method and system of an electrosurgical controller with wave-shaping

• US 8,257,350 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2009
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Marion, Duane W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US12/486,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20100324549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 606 37- 38
• US Class Current: 606/38
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1286 having a specific transformer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

An electrosurgical controller with wave-shaping. At least some embodiments are methods including generating an alternating current (AC) voltage signal within an electrosurgical controller. The generating may be by inducing an intermediate AC voltage signal on a secondary winding of a first transformer, and wave-shaping the intermediate AC voltage signal by a second winding of a second transformer coupled to the first transformer, and thereby creating a final AC voltage signal. Thereafter, the method includes applying the final AC voltage signal to electrical pins of a connector configured to couple to an electrosurgical wand.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating an alternating current (AC) voltage signal within an electrosurgical controller, the generating by;

inducing an intermediate AC voltage signal on a secondary winding of a first transformer;

wave shaping the intermediate AC voltage signal by selective control of the impedance of a secondary winding of a second transformer coupled to the first transformer, and thereby creating a final AC voltage signal;

applying the final AC voltage signal to electrical pins of a connector configured to couple to an electrosurgical wand.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein wave shaping further comprises enabling electrical current to flow in a first winding of the second transformer, at least a portion of the electrical current induced by electrical current flow in the second winding of the second transformer.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein enabling further comprises enabling electrical current to flow in the first winding of the second transformer where all the electrical current is induced by electrical current flow in the second winding of the second transformer.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein wave shaping further comprises driving a transistor to a conductive state within an active region of the transistor, the transistor coupled to the first winding of the second transformer and wherein electrical current in the first winding of the second transformer flows through the transistor.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein wave shaping further comprises:

driving a first transistor to a conductive state during a positive half cycle of the AC voltage signal, the first transistor coupled to the first winding of the second transformer; and

driving a second transistor to a conductive state during a negative half cycle of the AC voltage signal, the second transistor coupled to the first winding of the second transformer.