Energy source apparatus

A treatment system comprising:

• a treatment tool having a heater and bipolar electrodes to grip a treatment target;
• and
• an energy source apparatus used to supply electrical energy to the treatment tool wherein
• the energy source apparatus configured to output high-frequency electric power to the bipolar electrodes so as to cause a high-frequency current to flow through a treatment target between the bipolar electrodes, and outputs heater electric power to the heater so as to cause the heater to generate heat;
• and
• a processor controls the output to the bipolar electrodes and the heater, respectively, wherein
• the processor
• directs the output to the bipolar electrodes and detects an initial value of the impedance of the treatment target,
• determines whether or not the impedance has reached a minimum value,
• retrieves a parameter that is detected before the minimum value of the impedance is detected, the parameter being related to the impedance and/or the output to the bipolar electrodes,
• performs a first process and/or a second process based on the acquired parameter after the minimum value is detected, the first process determines whether or not the output to the heater is required, the second process sets a target value, the target value being related to an output control process for controlling the output to the heater,
• controls the output successively in respective first, second, and a third phases,
• detects the initial value of the impedance in the first phase,
• proceeds with the output to the bipolar electrodes in a manner to modify the treatment target with the high-frequency current applied thereto, determines whether or not the impedance has reached the minimum value, and applies the output to the heater in a manner to modify the treatment target with the heat of the heater, in the second phase,
• performs the first process and/or the second process in the third phase,
• determines a tissue volume of the treatment target based on the parameter, and
• if the processor determines that the tissue volume is smaller than a reference value, then the processor stops the output to the heater or sets a second target temperature lower than a first target temperature as the target value, and performs the output control process on the output to the heater so as to lower the heater temperature to the set second target temperature and to keep the temperature of the heater at the second target temperature, in the third phase.

A method of operating a treatment system having a treatment tool including a heater and bipolar electrodes to grip a treatment target and an energy source apparatus used to supply electrical energy to the treatment tool, the energy source apparatus comprising at least one processor to control the output to the bipolar electrodes and the heater, respectively, wherein the at least one processor:

• directs the output to the bipolar electrodes and detecting an initial value of the impedance of the treatment target;
• determines whether or not the impedance has reached a minimum value;
• retrieves a parameter that is detected before the minimum value of the impedance is detected, the parameter being related to the impedance and/or the output to the bipolar electrodes;
• performs a first process and/or a second process based on the acquired parameter after the minimum value is detected, the first process determining whether or not the output to the heater is required, the second process setting a target value, the target value being related to an output control process for controlling the output to the heater;
• controls the output successively in respective first, second, and a third phases;
• detects the initial value of the impedance in the first phase;
• proceeds with the output to the bipolar electrodes in a manner to modify the treatment target with the high-frequency current applied thereto, determines whether or not the impedance has reached the minimum value, and applies the output to the heater in a manner to modify the treatment target with the heat of the heater, in the second phase;
• performs the first process and/or the second process in the third phase;
• determines a tissue volume of the treatment target based on the parameter;
• and
• if the processor determines that the tissue volume is smaller than a reference value, then the processor stops the output to the heater or sets a second target temperature lower than a first target temperature as the target value, and performs the output control process on the output to the heater so as to lower the heater temperature to the set second target temperature and to keep the temperature of the heater at the second target temperature, in the third phase.