Electrosurgical systems and methods

• US 9,333,024 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Woloszko, Jean, Marion, Duane W., Goode, Johnson E., Morrison, George, Yuan, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hupczey, Jr., Ronald
• Application Number:
  US14/238,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20140336630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/10 Power sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00636 Sensing and controlling the application of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/122 ionizing, with corona
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

System and methods of an electrosurgical controller having multiple modes of operation that are configured for treatment of a specific targeted tissue type and the electrosurgical effect desired where the treatment and effect are provided by a single controller and an electrosurgical probe. The electrosurgical controller includes an integrated fluid control apparatus or pump where activation of the controller allows for selective energy delivery and corresponding fluid volume flow rates. The electrosurgical probe includes a fluid transport lumen and is in communication with the controller and the pump for operation of the probe in the various user selected modes with accompanying energy delivery and fluid control directed to the desired treatment and surgical effect.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical controller comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a voltage generator operatively coupled to the processor, the voltage generator comprising an active terminal;

a wand connector configured to couple to a connector of an electrosurgical wand, and the wand connector comprising a plurality of electrical pins, and at least one electrical pin coupled to the active terminal of the voltage generator;

a peristaltic pump comprising a rotor coupled to an electric motor, the electric motor operatively coupled to the processor;

wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

implement a first mode of ablation by setting a first predetermined speed of the rotor of the peristaltic pump and by setting a first predetermined energy provided by the voltage generator; and

implement a second mode of ablation by setting a second predetermined speed of the rotor of the peristaltic pump and by setting a second predetermined energy provided by the voltage generator, the second predetermined speed different than the first predetermined speed, and the second predetermined energy different than the first predetermined energy.

2. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 further comprising an outer enclosure, wherein the processor, memory, voltage generator, wand connector and peristaltic pump are at least partially disposed within the outer enclosure.

3. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 further comprising:

a first outer enclosure, wherein the processor, memory, voltage generator, and wand connector are at least partially disposed within the outer enclosure; and

a second outer enclosure distinct from the first outer enclosure, wherein the peristaltic pump is at least partially disposed within the second outer enclosure.

4. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 wherein the program, during each mode of ablation, further causes the processor to:

adjust the speed of the rotor of the peristaltic pump responsive to changes in a parameter indicative of impedance of the electrode circuit; and

adjust energy provided by the generator responsive to changes in the parameter indicative of impedance of electrode circuit.

5. The electrosurgical controller of claim 4 wherein when the processor adjusts the speed of the rotor, the program further causes the processor to at least one selected from the group consisting of:

momentarily stop the rotor; and

momentarily reverse the rotor direction.

6. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 wherein the first mode of ablation and the second mode of ablation are each selected from the group consisting of:

a low mode for use ablating cartilage;

a medium mode for use ablating fibro-cartilage;

a high mode for ablating soft tissue; and

a vacuum mode for removal of free floating tissue.

7. The electrosurgical controller of claim 1 wherein the program further causes the processor to implement a third mode of ablation by setting a third predetermined speed of the rotor of the peristaltic pump and by setting a third predetermined energy provided by the voltage generator, the third predetermined speed different than the first and second predetermined speeds, and the third predetermined energy different than the first and second predetermined energy.

8. The electrosurgical controller of claim 7 wherein first, second and third modes of ablation are each selected from the group consisting of:

a low mode for use ablating cartilage;

a medium mode for use ablating fibro-cartilage;

a high mode for ablating soft tissue; and

a vacuum mode for removal of free floating tissue.

9. A system comprising:

an electrosurgical controller comprising

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a voltage generator operatively coupled to the processor, the voltage generator comprising an active terminal;

a wand connector configured to couple to a connector of an electrosurgical wand, and the wand connector comprising a plurality of electrical pins, and at least one electrical pin coupled to the active terminal of the voltage generator;

a peristaltic pump comprising a rotor coupled to an electric motor, the electric motor operatively coupled to the processor;

an electrosurgical wand comprising

an elongate shaft that defines a proximal end and a distal end;

a first active electrode disposed on the distal end of the elongate shaft;

a connector comprising at least one pin, the at least one pin electrically coupled to the first active electrode;

wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to implementing at least two modes of ablation during an electrosurgical procedure, the implementing with the first active electrode of the electrosurgical wand;

wherein when the program implements the at least two modes, the program causes the processor to;

control impedance of an electrode circuit during a first mode of ablation of an electrosurgical procedure; and

then

control impedance of the electrode circuit during a second mode of ablation of the electrosurgical procedure, the impedance of the electrode circuit during the second mode different than the impedance of the electrode circuit during the first mode.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein when the processor controls the impedance of the electrode circuit during the first mode of ablation, the program causes the processor to:

control flow of fluid into an aperture on the distal end of the electrosurgical wand, the aperture proximate to the first active electrode; and

control energy delivered to the first active electrode by the electrosurgical controller.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein when the processor controls the impedance of the electrode circuit during the second mode of ablation, the program causes the processor to:

control flow of fluid into the aperture, the flow of fluid in the second mode different than the flow of fluid in the first mode; and

control energy delivered to the first active electrode, the energy delivered to the first active electrode in the second mode different than the energy delivered to the first active electrode in the first mode.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein when the processor controls the flow of fluid into the aperture, the program causes the processor to control speed of the rotor of the peristaltic pump.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein when the processor controls the speed of the rotor of the peristaltic pump, the program further causes the processor to momentarily reverse direction of the rotor of the peristaltic pump.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a first outer enclosure, wherein the processor, memory, voltage generator, and wand connector are at least partially disposed within the outer enclosure; and

a second outer enclosure distinct from the first outer enclosure, wherein the peristaltic pump is at least partially disposed within the second outer enclosure.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the program, during each mode of ablation, further causes the processor to:

adjust a speed of the rotor of the peristaltic pump responsive to changes in a parameter indicative of impedance of the electrode circuit; and

adjust energy provided by the generator responsive to changes in the parameter indicative of impedance of the electrode circuit.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein when the processor adjusts the speed of the rotor, the program further causes the processor to at least one selected from the group consisting of:

momentarily stop the rotor; and

momentarily reverse the rotor direction.

17. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least two modes of ablation are selected from the group consisting of:

a low mode for use ablating cartilage;

a medium mode for use ablating fibro-cartilage;

a high mode for ablating soft tissue; and

a vacuum mode for removal of free floating tissue.