Electrosurgical system and method having enhanced temperature measurement
First Claim
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1. An electrosurgical method for monitoring temperature during an electrosurgical procedure to ablate soft tissue comprising:
- delivering high frequency energy to an active electrode terminal located at a distal end of an electrosurgical probe, said active electrode terminal being positioned in electrically conductive fluid during the electrosurgical procedure and wherein a current flow path from the active electrode terminal, through the electrically conductive fluid, to a return electrode is created when the high frequency energy is delivered;
monitoring a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the electrically conductive fluid;
automatically suspending the delivering step for at least one suspension period;
during the at least one suspension period, measuring or calculating the temperature of the electrically conductive fluid from the temperature signal; and
repeating the step of delivering upon completion of the at least one suspension period, wherein the at least one suspension period has a duration sufficient for an electrical noise associated with the step of delivering the high frequency energy to diminish and to allow the temperature signal to stabilize.
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Abstract
Electrosurgical systems and methods are described herein in which the temperature of a fluid within a body or joint space is determined and/or monitored despite the energy generated during treatment by an ablation probe. One or more temperature sensors are positioned along the probe proximally of the electrode assembly and measure the temperature of an electrically conductive fluid without being overly influenced by the surgical effect occurring proximate the electrode assembly. A controller automatically suspends energy delivery for one or more periods of time while the temperature is monitored.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical method for monitoring temperature during an electrosurgical procedure to ablate soft tissue comprising:
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delivering high frequency energy to an active electrode terminal located at a distal end of an electrosurgical probe, said active electrode terminal being positioned in electrically conductive fluid during the electrosurgical procedure and wherein a current flow path from the active electrode terminal, through the electrically conductive fluid, to a return electrode is created when the high frequency energy is delivered; monitoring a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the electrically conductive fluid; automatically suspending the delivering step for at least one suspension period; during the at least one suspension period, measuring or calculating the temperature of the electrically conductive fluid from the temperature signal; and repeating the step of delivering upon completion of the at least one suspension period, wherein the at least one suspension period has a duration sufficient for an electrical noise associated with the step of delivering the high frequency energy to diminish and to allow the temperature signal to stabilize. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrosurgical method for monitoring temperature during an electrosurgical procedure to ablate soft tissue comprising:
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delivering high frequency energy to an active electrode terminal located at a distal end of an electrosurgical probe, said active electrode terminal being positioned in electrically conductive fluid during the electrosurgical procedure and wherein a current flow path from the active electrode terminal, through the electrically conductive fluid, to a return electrode is created when the high frequency energy is delivered; adjusting the high frequency energy for at least one suspension period; during the at least one suspension period, monitoring a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the electrically conductive fluid; and repeating the step of delivering upon completion of the at least one suspension period, wherein the at least one suspension period has a duration sufficient for an electrical noise associated with the step of delivering the high frequency energy to diminish and to allow the temperature signal to stabilize. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification