Method and system for programming and controlling an electrosurgical generator system

• US 8,298,223 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wham, Robert H, Sturm, Thomas A, Faulkner, William D
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCOTT, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US12/754,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20100191233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 606 32- 52
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00648 using more than one sensed parameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00773 Sensed parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The programmable electrosurgical generator system has an RF output stage for outputting at least one RF operating waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The programmable electrosurgical generator system includes an inner loop system to change at least one parameter of the at least one RF operating waveform; an outer loop system to provide at least one operating command to the inner loop system; and a configuration control system that modifies at least one of the inner and outer loop systems based on received data from a sensor module.

Claims

1. A programmable electrosurgical generator system having an RF output stage for outputting at least one RF operating waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure, the programmable electrosurgical generator comprising:

an inner loop system configured to change at least one parameter of the at least one RF operating waveform;

an outer loop system configured to provide at least one operating command to the inner loop system;

a configuration control system that modifies at least one of the inner and outer loop systems based on received data from a sensor module; and

a high level RF algorithm module configured to program at least one algorithm or an algorithm parameter for the at least one algorithm of the inner loop system or the outer loop system based on received sensor data from the sensor module that senses properties associated with the electrosurgical procedure or the output of at least one RF operating waveform.

2. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of output power, output current, output voltage, and output waveform pattern.

3. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to input and provide to the configuration control system programming commands for operating the inner loop system, the outer loop system or the configuration control system in accordance with the programming commands.

4. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 3, further comprising at least one memory module configured to store the inputted programming commands as command files.

5. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 4, wherein each command file defines values of various parameters of an operating mode.

6. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 1, wherein the sensor module having at least one sensor for sensing that senses electrical or physical properties responsive to application of the electrosurgical energy and generates sensor data corresponding to the sensing;

wherein the inner loop system or the outer loop system uses the sensor data for changing and performing, respectively.

7. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of current, phase shift, voltage, power, impedance, and temperature sensors.

8. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 6, wherein the inner loop and outer loop systems use different subsets of the sensor data.

9. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 6, further comprising at least one processor configured to create and store a plurality of operating modes for the electrosurgical generator system.

10. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 1, wherein the configuration control system is adapted to re-program the inner and outer loop systems in virtual real-time.

11. A programmable electrosurgical generator system having an RF output stage configured to output at least one RF Operating waveform that performs an electrosurgical procedure, the programmable electrosurgical generator comprising:

an inner loop system including means for changing at least one parameter of the at least one RF operating waveform;

an outer loop system including means for performing at least one operating function of the electrosurgical generator;

a configuration control system including means for modifying the inner and outer loop systems based on received input data; and

a high level RF algorithm module configured to program an operating parameter or an operation of the inner loop system or the outer loop system based on received sensor data from a sensor module that senses properties associated with the electrosurgical procedure.

12. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 11, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of output power, output current, output voltage, and output waveform pattern.

13. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 11, wherein the at least one operating function is selected from the group consisting of receiving input information from at least one sensor, and providing at least one operating command to the means for changing the at least one parameter of the at least one operating waveform.

14. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 11, further comprising means for receiving programming commands for operating the inner loop system, the outer loop system and the configuration control system in accordance with the programming commands, and means for inputting the programming commands.

15. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 14, further comprising at least one memory module configured to store the inputted programming commands as command files.

16. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 15, wherein each command file defines values of various parameters of an operating mode.

17. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 11, wherein the sensor module having at least one sensor that senses electrical or physical properties responsive to application of the electrosurgical energy and generates sensor data corresponding to the sensing;

wherein the means for changing of the inner loop system or the means for performing of the outer loop system uses the sensor data for changing and performing, respectively.

18. The electrosurgical generator system as in claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of current, phase shift, voltage, power, impedance, and temperature sensors.