System and method to evoke smooth muscle response during surgery

A smooth muscle stimulation device for use with an electrosurgical unit (ESU), said smooth muscle stimulation device comprising:

• an enclosure;
• stimulation circuitry within the enclosure configured to generate a stimulatory electrical signal which when delivered to a target anatomy induces an observable response in the target anatomy during a medical procedure;
• an input connector on the enclosure configured to detachably couple to a power output of the ESU;
• an output connector on the enclosure configured to detachably couple to an electrosurgical tool;
• switching circuitry within the enclosure configured to selectively connect either the power output of the ESU or the stimulatory electrical signal of the stimulation circuitry to the output connector in response to user input;
• and
• a plurality of input plug adapters, wherein each input plug adapter is configured to provide a bridging electrical connection between the input connector on the enclosure and the power output of one of a plurality ESU's.

A smooth muscle stimulation device for use with an electrosurgical unit (ESU), said smooth muscle stimulation device comprising:

• an enclosure;
• stimulation circuitry within the enclosure configured to generate a stimulatory electrical signal which when delivered to a target anatomy induces an observable response in the target anatomy during a medical procedure;
• an input connector on the enclosure configured to detachably couple to a power output of the ESU;
• an output connector on the enclosure configured to detachably couple to an electrosurgical tool;
• switching circuitry within the enclosure configured to selectively connect either the power output of the ESU or the stimulatory electrical signal of the stimulation circuitry to the output connector in response to user input;
• and
• a plurality of output plug adapters wherein each output plug adapter is configured to provide a bridging electrical connection between the output connector on the enclosure and one of a plurality of electrosurgical tools.

A method for assembling a smooth muscle stimulation system with an electrosurgical unit (ESU) to selectively output electrical stimulation energy and electrical power, said method comprising:

• providing an enclosure comprising an electrical stimulator having a stimulation signal output;
• providing an electrosurgical unit (ESU) having a power output;
• connecting the power output of the ESU to an input connector of the enclosure;
• connecting an electrosurgical tool to an output connector of the enclosure;
• selectively switching the output connector to receive current from either (1) the power output of the ESU or (2) the stimulatory electrical signal of the stimulation circuitry in response to user input and to deliver the received current to the electrosurgical tool;
• energizing the electrical stimulator to deliver a stimulation signal to the electrosurgical tool, engaging an electrode surface on the electrosurgical tool against target tissue proximate target smooth muscle anatomy, and observing the target tissue to detect a contraction induced by the stimulation signal, indicating the presence of the target smooth muscle anatomy in or near the engaged tissue;
• and
• engaging the electrode surface against a tissue surface which has been determined free of target smooth muscles based upon the absence of tissue contraction and energizing the ESU to deliver power to said tissue surface.

A method for assembling a smooth muscle stimulation system with an electrosurgical unit (ESU) to selectively output electrical stimulation energy and electrical power, said method comprising:

• providing an enclosure comprising an electrical stimulator having a stimulation signal output;
• providing an electrosurgical unit (ESU) having a power output;
• connecting the power output of the ESU to an input connector of the enclosure;
• connecting an electrosurgical tool to an output connector of the enclosure;
• and
• selectively switching the output connector to receive current from either (1) the power output of the ESU or (2) the stimulatory electrical signal of the stimulation circuitry in response to user input and to deliver the received current to the electrosurgical tool;
• wherein selectively switching the output connector comprises manually selecting a switch position on the enclosure to control switching circuitry with the enclosure.