Method and system of an electrosurgical controller with wave-shaping

• US 9,138,282 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• 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): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US13/559,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20120296328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 606 34- 38
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An electrosurgical controller comprising:

a wand connector configured to couple to a connector of an electrosurgical wand, the wand connector comprising a plurality of electrical pins;

a voltage generator comprising;

a first transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding, wherein the secondary winding defines a first terminal coupled to a first electrical pin of the plurality of electrical pins of the wand connector and a second terminal coupled to a second electrical pin of the plurality of electrical pins of the wand connector;

a second transformer, different than the first transformer, the second transformer comprises a first winding and a second winding, wherein the second winding of the second transformer is coupled to the secondary winding of the first transformer;

wherein the electrosurgical controller is configured to modify voltage of an alternating current (AC) signal induced on the secondary winding and applied to the first electrical pin relative to the second electrical pin by selective control of an impedance of the second winding of the second transformer.

2. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 wherein the electrosurgical controller is configured to modify the AC signal within only a portion of each half cycle of the AC signal.

3. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 further comprising:

the first winding of the second transformer defines a first terminal and a second terminal;

an electrically controlled switch coupled to the first terminal of the first winding of the second transformer, wherein electrical current flow in the first winding is also configured to flow through the electrically controlled switch; and

wherein the impedance of the second winding of the second transformer is controlled by selective control of the electrical current flow through the electrically controlled switch.

4. The electrosurgical controller of claim 3 further comprising:

wherein the electrically controlled switch is a transistor;

a control circuit coupled to the transistor; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to drive the transistor between a conductive state and an off state at a frequency, and the impedance of the second winding is proportional to the frequency.

5. The electrosurgical controller of claim 3 further comprising:

wherein the electrically controlled switch is a transistor;

a control circuit coupled to the transistor; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to drive the transistor between a conductive state and an off state with a duty cycle, and the impedance of the second winding is proportional to the duty cycle.

6. The electrosurgical controller of claim 3 further comprising:

wherein the electrically controlled switch is a transistor;

a control circuit coupled to the transistor; and

wherein the control circuit is configured to drive the transistor to a state within an active region of the transistor, and the impedance of the second winding is proportional to the electrical current flow through the transistor.

7. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 wherein the second winding of the second transformer is coupled in series with the secondary winding of the first transformer.

8. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 wherein the second winding of the second transformer is coupled in parallel with the secondary winding of the first transformer.

9. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 further comprising:

the first winding of the second transformer defines a first terminal and a second terminal;

a first transistor coupled to the first terminal;

a second transistor, different than the first transistor, coupled to the second terminal;

a control circuit coupled to the first and second transistors, wherein the control circuit is configured to force the first transistor to a conductive state during a positive half cycle of the AC signal induced on the secondary winding, and the control circuit is configured to force the second transistor to a conductive state during a negative half cycle of the AC signal; and

wherein the impedance of the second winding during the positive half cycle is proportional to electrical current flow through the first transistor; and

the impedance of the second winding during the negative half cycle is proportional to the electrical current flow through the second transistor.

10. The electrosurgical controller of claim 9 wherein the electrosurgical controller is configured to modify the AC signal applied to the first electrical pin relative to the second electrical pin such that the AC signal has a direct current (DC) bias.

11. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 wherein the first winding of the second transformer further comprises a center tap, and wherein the center tap is electrically floated.