System and method of controlling power delivery to a surgical instrument
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a thermal cutting or coagulating instrument, comprising:
- delivering an oscillating electrical energy to a thermal element, the thermal element comprising a conductor having a ferromagnetic material covering at least a portion of the conductor, the conductor in electrically conductive communication with the ferromagnetic material, and the ferromagnetic material having a thickness being between 0.5 μ
m and 500 μ
m;
sensing a behavior characteristic associated with the thermal element; and
adjusting delivery of the oscillating electrical energy in response to the behavior characteristic associated with the thermal element.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal surgical instrument having a system to control the delivery of power from an energy source to active element located on a tip. The system for controlling delivery to the tip may include a control algorithm which uses one or more measurements, such as tip current, SWR, and rapid changes in reflected power, to manage power without affecting cutting efficacy, and in a manner that may be imperceptible by a surgeon. The system may utilize a state machine to determine the current environment in which the tip may be in. Power delivered to the tip may be selectively managed according to a fixed power index or a repeatedly executed power profile.
389 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a thermal cutting or coagulating instrument, comprising:
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delivering an oscillating electrical energy to a thermal element, the thermal element comprising a conductor having a ferromagnetic material covering at least a portion of the conductor, the conductor in electrically conductive communication with the ferromagnetic material, and the ferromagnetic material having a thickness being between 0.5 μ
m and 500 μ
m;sensing a behavior characteristic associated with the thermal element; and adjusting delivery of the oscillating electrical energy in response to the behavior characteristic associated with the thermal element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for regulating a thermal surgical instrument comprising:
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selecting a body having a thermal element disposed thereon and disposed in communication with an energy source so as to receive oscillating electrical energy to heat the thermal element, the thermal element comprising a conductor and a layer of ferromagnetic material disposed on the conductor, wherein the layer of ferromagnetic material is in electrically conductive communication with the conductor, the layer of ferromagnetic material having a thickness between 1 μ
m and 50 μ
m; andsensing a change in an impedance of the thermal element and generating a signal to adjust the oscillating electrical energy received by the thermal element. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification