Electrosurgical System Employing Multiple Electrodes and Method Thereof

• US 20120226274A1
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Orszulak, James H., McPherson, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles

Abstract

A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site on a patient, the method including the steps of providing a current restricting circuit operatively coupled between a source of electro surgical energy and an electrode, the current restricting circuit including: a switch configured to direct the flow of electrosurgical energy; and a plurality of current restrictive devices arranged in an H-Bridge arrangement, wherein the switch is disposed between adjacent current restrictive devices of the plurality of current restrictive devices; restricting the flow of electrosurgical energy wherein the current restricting circuit is configured to restrict a flow of electrosurgical energy when the switch is in a first position; enabling the flow of electrosurgical energy when the switch is in a second position; and dynamically controlling the electrosurgical energy delivered to the electrode with the current restricting circuit.

Claims

1. A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site on a patient, the method including the steps of:

inserting at least one electrode, operatively connected to a source of electrosurgical energy, into a patient;

providing at least one return electrode adapted to contact the patient and configured to return electrosurgical energy to the source of electrosurgical energy;

providing a current restricting circuit operatively coupled between the source of electrosurgical energy and at least one electrode, the current restricting circuit including;

a switch configured to direct the flow of electrosurgical energy; and

a plurality of current restrictive devices arranged in an H-Bridge arrangement, wherein the switch is disposed between adjacent current restrictive devices of the plurality of current restrictive devices;

restricting the flow of electrosurgical energy wherein the current restricting circuit is configured to restrict a flow of electrosurgical energy when the switch is in a first position;

enabling the flow of electrosurgical energy when the switch is in a second position; and

dynamically controlling the electrosurgical energy delivered to the at least one electrode with the current restricting circuit.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of dynamically controlling a duty cycle of the electrosurgical energy.

3. A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site on a patient, the method including the steps of:

inserting at least one electrode, operatively connected to a source of electrosurgical energy, into a patient;

providing at least one return electrode adapted to contact the patient and configured to return electrosurgical energy to the source of electrosurgical energy;

providing a current restricting circuit coupled between each of the at least one electrode and the source of electrosurgical energy and configured to restrict a flow of electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrode when the current restricting circuit is enabled and to not restrict the flow of electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrode when the current restricting circuit is disabled, wherein the current resisting circuit includes;

a plurality of diodes arranged in an H-Bridge arrangement; and

a switch disposed between adjacent diodes and configured to direct the flow of electro surgical energy wherein the switch conducts electro surgical energy when the switch is closed;

opening the switch, wherein the plurality of diodes restrict the flow of electrosurgical energy; and

closing the switch, wherein the plurality of diodes allow the flow of electrosurgical energy to the at least one electrode.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of dynamically controlling the opening and closing of the switch.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of dynamically selecting a duty cycle for opening and closing of the switch.