Transformer for RF voltage sensing

• US 7,794,457 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: McPherson, James W., Puterbaugh, Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Roy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, KAITLYN ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US11/529,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 336/182, 336/220, 336/222, 606/38
• US Class Current: 606/34
• 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 2018/00767 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1286 having a specific transformer
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/183 using transformers with a magnetic core

Abstract

An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes a multiple-secondary transformer configured for sensing voltage. The multiple-secondary transformer includes a primary winding coupled to an active terminal and a return terminal of the electrosurgical system and a plurality of secondary windings. Each of the secondary windings is configured to transform the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage. Each of the secondary windings includes an output coupled to a sensor circuit and configured to transmit the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical system for producing a radio frequency voltage, comprising:

a multiple-secondary transformer configured for sensing voltage, the multiple-secondary transformer including;

a primary winding having a first lead and a second lead, the first lead is coupled to an active terminal and the second lead is coupled to a return terminal of the electrosurgical system, wherein the active terminal and the return terminal are coupled to a load; and

a plurality of secondary windings, each of the secondary windings being configured to transform the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage, each of the secondary windings including an output coupled to a sensor circuit and configured to transmit the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit.

2. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the secondary windings steps down the radio frequency voltage.

3. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein each of the secondary windings includes the same number of turns.

4. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of secondary windings is modular and is configured to be selectively engageable with the multiple-secondary transformer.

5. A method for performing electrosurgery, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a multiple-secondary transformer configured for sensing voltage, the multiple-secondary transformer including a primary winding, the primary winding having a first lead and a second lead, the first lead is coupled to an active terminal and the second lead is coupled to a return terminal of the electrosurgical system and a plurality of secondary windings, each of the secondary windings including an output coupled to a sensor circuit, wherein the active terminal and the return terminal are coupled to a load;

generating a radio frequency voltage at a radio frequency output stage including an active terminal and a return terminal; and

transforming the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage at each of the secondary windings and transmitting the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit via the output.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the secondary windings steps down the radio frequency voltage.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein each of the secondary windings includes the same number of turns.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of secondary windings is modular and is configured to be selectively engageable with the multiple-secondary transformer.

9. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of delivering the radio frequency voltage to tissue through an electrosurgical instrument coupled to the active terminal.