Battery-powered electrosurgical forceps with multi-turn selectable-ratio transformer

• US 9,155,585 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syntheon LLC
• Original Assignee: Syntheon LLC
• Inventors: Bales, Thomas O. Jr., Palmer, Matthew A., Smith, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIULIANI, THOMAS ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US13/004,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20110172660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 606/34, 606/37, 606/42, 606/45, 606/51, 606/52, 606 38- 40, 606/46, 606 48- 50
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2018/1226 powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1286 having a specific transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/28 Coils; Windings; Conductive connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/40 Structural association with built-in electric component, e.g. fuse

Abstract

An electrocautery surgical device includes a battery power source and radio-frequency signal generating circuitry electrically coupled to the battery power source and operable to deliver power to an electrosurgical forceps. The radio-frequency signal generating circuitry includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding includes first and second primary sub-windings. At least one switching component is electrically coupled to the first and second primary sub-windings and is operable to switch between engaging the first primary sub-winding and engaging the second primary sub-winding such that a current flows through the first and/or second primary sub-windings. The first and second primary sub-windings have a different number of turns such that the radio-frequency signal generating circuitry produces a different impedance value depending on which one of the first and second primary sub-windings is engaged.

Claims

1. An electrocautery surgical device, comprising:

a battery power source; and

radio-frequency signal generating circuitry electrically coupled to the battery power source and operable to deliver power to an electrosurgical forceps, the radio-frequency signal generating circuitry comprising;

a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding being comprised of a first primary sub-winding and a second primary sub-winding;

at least one switching component that is operable to switch between engaging the first primary sub-winding and engaging the second primary sub-winding such that a current flows through either the first primary sub-winding or the second primary sub-winding or both, the at least one switching component comprising;

first and second MOSFETs electrically coupled to the second primary sub-winding; and

third and fourth MOSFETs electrically coupled to the first primary sub-winding;

a first gate driver electrically coupled to the first and second MOSFETs and operable to apply a gate voltage to activate the first and second MOSFETs to engage the second primary sub-winding; and

a second gate driver electrically coupled to the third and fourth MOSFETs and operable to apply a gate voltage to activate the third and fourth MOSFETs to engage the first primary sub-winding, wherein

the first and second primary sub-windings have a different number of turns such that the radio-frequency signal generating circuitry produces a different impedance value depending on which one or both of the first and second primary sub-windings is engaged.

2. The electrocautery surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the primary winding has turns and is tapped at an intermediate point along the turns to create the first primary sub-winding and the second primary sub-winding.

3. The electrocautery surgical device according to claim 1, wherein the first primary sub-winding and the second primary sub-winding are separate windings electrically coupled to one another.

4. The electrocautery surgical device according to claim 1, wherein:

the second primary sub-winding has a given number of turns; and

the first primary sub-winding has a number of turns greater than the given number of turns of the second primary sub-winding.

5. The electrocautery surgical device according to claim 4, wherein:

the first primary sub-winding has a given turns ratio; and

the second primary sub-winding has a turns ratio greater than the given turns ratio of the first primary sub-winding.

6. The electrocautery surgical device according to claim 5, wherein:

the first gate driver applies a gate voltage to activate the first and second MOSFETs to engage the higher-ratio second primary sub-winding; and

the second gate driver applies a gate voltage to activate the third and fourth MOSFETs to engage the lower-ratio first primary sub-winding.