Electrosurgical system

A method of energizing an electrosurgical probe so as to allow for the manipulation of tissue, comprising the steps of:

• establishing a maximum acceptable power level at which the electrosurgical probe can be driven;
• energizing the electrosurgical probe with a power signal for a first defined period of time;
• interrupting the power signal for a second defined period of time, which is less than the first defined period of time, when a power level of the power signal exceeds the established maximum acceptable power level;
• and
• reestablishing the power signal after the second defined period of time such that the average power level of the power signal over the first defined period of time combined with the second defined period of time is less than the maximum acceptable level of power.

An electrosurgical system for coagulating and ablating tissue, comprising:

• a control console;
• an electrosurgical probe that detachably connects to the control console;
• a generator contained with the control console for generating a variable power signal for energizing the electrosurgical probe;
• a first monitoring system contained within the control console and in communication with the generator, the first monitoring system being configured to determine an impedance of the tissue being acted upon by the electrosurgical probe;
• and
• a second monitoring system contained within the control console and in communication with the generator, the second monitoring system being configured to detect changes in an amount of electrical current making up the power signal;
• wherein the first monitoring system and second monitoring system act independently of one another, with the first monitoring system terminating the energizing of the electrosurgical probe if the determined impedance falls below a predefined value, and the second monitoring system terminating the energizing of the electrosurgical probe if a detected increase in the amount of electrical current exceeds a predefined amount.

A method of monitoring impedance in an electrosurgical system configured to manipulate tissue within a target area by an electrosurgical probe, comprising the steps of:

• energizing the electrosurgical probe to a relatively low power level in response to a user first activating and applying the probe to the target area;
• determining an impedance of the target area;
• and
• energizing the electrosurgical probe to a higher power level necessary for normal operation if the determined impedance is greater than a predefined value, and de-energizing the electrosurgical probe if the determined impedance is less than a predefined value.

An electrosurgical system for coagulating and ablating tissue, comprising:

• a control console;
• an electrosurgical probe that detachably connects to the control console;
• a generator contained with the control console for generating a variable power signal for energizing the electrosurgical probe;
• a non-volatile memory in the probe for storing data concerning at least one of probe-specific operating parameters and probe usage;
• and
• a data reader/writer for retrieving information from the memory device and writing information to the memory device
• wherein the control console accesses the data upon connection of the probe and automatically configures itself based on the accessed data.