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US 2006/0217700 A1Published application
Electrosurgical instrument with enhanced capability
AssigneeElliquence
InventorsJon Garito, Alan Ellman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrosurgical instrument for use by a surgeon that provides additional features and benefits compared with known designs. The operating mode as well as other operating parameters, especially power level, can be preset by the surgeon before commencing the procedure. Five operating modes are available using a three-button fingerswitch handpiece and a 3-way footswitch, including three unipolar modes and two bipolar modes over a full range of power levels including a new turbo mode for treating heavy bleeders.
Claims15
An electrosurgical instrument having a plurality of operating modes and at least one operating condition associated with each of the operating modes comprising:
- (a) a console unit having a monopolar output connector and a bipolar output connector,
- (b) circuitry in the console unit for generating first RF electrosurgical currents and second RF electrosurgical currents each selectively modulated by selected waveforms,
- (c) an instrument controller comprising
- i) a unipolar fingerswitch handpiece connected to the instrument's monopolar output connector, and
- ii) a footswitch connected to the instrument,
- iii) said fingerswitch handpiece and footswitch being connected when operated to activate the circuitry for generating the first and second RF electrosurgical currents,
- (d) a bipolar handpiece connected to the instrument's bipolar output connector,
- (e) a non-volatile memory for storing information representative of the operating condition,
- (f) means connected to the console for presetting into the memory information representative of the operating conditions for at least several of the operating modes,
- (g) electronic means in response to operation of one of the instrument controllers for retrieving the stored information representative of the operating condition associated with and setting the operating condition for the operated controller.
7 more elements
An electrosurgical instrument having a plurality of operating modes and at least one operating condition associated with each of the operating modes comprising:
- (a) a console unit having a monopolar output connector and a bipolar output connector,
- (b) circuitry in the console unit for generating first RF electrosurgical currents and second RF electrosurgical currents each selectively modulated by selected waveforms,
- (c) an instrument controller comprising
- i) a unipolar fingerswitch handpiece connected to the instrument's monopolar output connector, said fingerswitches handpiece having first, second, and third operating buttons, and
- ii) a footswitch having first, second, and third switches connected to the instrument,
- iii) said fingerswitch handpiece and footswitch being connected when operated to activate the circuitry for generating the first and second RF electrosurgical currents,
- (d) a bipolar handpiece connected to the instrument's bipolar output connector,
- (e) a non-volatile memory for storing information representative of the operating conditions associated with each of the operating modes,
- (f) switch means connected to the console for presetting into the memory information representative of the operating conditions for each of the operating modes,
- (g) electronic means including software in the instrument:
- i) in response to activation of the first fingerswitch for directing the first RF electrosurgical currents to the monopolar output connector,
- ii. in response to activation of the second fingerswitch for directing the first RF electrosurgical currents to the monopolar output connector,
- iii. in response to activation of the third fingerswitch for directing the first RF electrosurgical currents to the monopolar output connector,
- iv. in response to activation of the first footswitch switch for directing the first RF electrosurgical currents to the monopolar output connector,
- vi. in response to activation of the second footswitch switch for directing the second RF electrosurgical currents to the bipolar output connector,
- vii. in response to activation of the third footswitch for directing the second RF electrosurgical currents to the bipolar output connector,
- whereby the first RF electrosurgical currents are always directed to the monopolar output connector and the second RF electrosurgical currents are always directed to the bipolar output connector however selectively modulated.
14 more elements
A method of operating electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
- A. an electrosurgical instrument having a plurality of operating modes and the capability of controlling the power level of each of the operating modes comprising:
- (a) a console unit having a monopolar output connector and a bipolar output connector,
- (b) circuitry in the console unit for generating first RF electrosurgical currents and second RF electrosurgical currents each selectively modulated by selected waveforms,
- (c) an instrument controller comprising
- i) a unipolar fingerswitch handpiece connected to the instrument's monopolar output connector for implementing several of the operating modes, and
- ii) a footswitch connected to the instrument,
- iii) said fingerswitch handpiece and footswitch being connected when operated to activate the circuitry for generating the first and second RF electrosurgical currents,
- (d) a bipolar handpiece connected to the instrument's bipolar output connector for implementing several of the operating modes,
- (e) a non-volatile memory for storing information representative of the power level for each of the operating modes,
- (f) switch means connected to the console for presetting into the memory information representative of the power level for each of the operating modes,
- (g) electronic means in response to operation of one of the instrument controllers for retrieving the stored information representative of the power level associated with and setting the power level for the operated controller;
- comprising the steps:
- B. after turning the instrument ON, operating the switch means on the console to preset into the memory information representative of the power level for at least several of the operating modes,
- C. using one of the handpieces to perform a surgical procedure including one of the operating modes at the power level preset into the memory.
11 more elements
In combination:
- A. an electrosurgical instrument having a plurality of operating modes and at least one operating condition associated with each of the operating modes comprising:
- (a) a console unit having a monopolar output connector and a bipolar output connector,
- (b) circuitry in the console unit for generating first RF electrosurgical currents and second RF electrosurgical currents each selectively modulated by selected waveforms,
- (c) an instrument controller comprising
- i) a unipolar fingerswitch handpiece connected to the instrument's monopolar output connector, and
- ii) a footswitch connected to the instrument,
- iii) said fingerswitch handpiece and footswitch being connected when operated to activate the circuitry for generating the first and second RF electrosurgical currents,
- (d) a bipolar handpiece connected to the instrument's bipolar output connector,
- (e) a non-volatile memory for storing information representative of the operating conditions,
- (f) means connected to the console for presetting into the memory information representative of the operating conditions for at least several of the operating modes,
- (g) electronic means in response to operation of one of the instrument controllers for retrieving the stored information representative of the operating condition associated with and setting the operating condition for the operated controller,
- B. the first RF electrosurgical current having a higher frequency than the second RF electrosurgical current.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.