# US 2014/0155884 A1 · Electrosurgical system and method having enhanced temperature measurement

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- Number: US 2014/0155884 A1
- Document ID: US20140155884A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/175,665
- Filed: 2014-02-07
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2010-04-30
- Assignees: ArthroCare Corporation
- Applicants: ArthroCare Corporation
- Inventors: Duane W. Marion
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155884A1

## CPC

- A61B 18/1233: {with circuits for assuring patient safety}
- A61B 18/148: {having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy}
- A61B 90/06: {Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for}
- A61B 2017/00084: {Temperature}
- A61B 2017/00088: {using thermistors}
- A61B 2018/00011: {with fluids}
- A61B 2018/00702: {Power or energy}
- A61B 2018/00744: {Fluid flow}
- A61B 2018/00767: {Voltage}
- A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature}
- A61B 2018/1472: {for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes}
- A61B 2218/007: Aspiration
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Electrosurgical systems and methods are described herein in which the temperature of a fluid within a body or joint space is determined and/or monitored despite the energy generated during treatment by an ablation probe. One or more temperature sensors are positioned along the probe proximally of the electrode assembly and measure the temperature of an electrically conductive fluid without being overly influenced by the surgical effect occurring proximate the electrode assembly. A controller automatically suspends energy delivery for one or more periods of time while the temperature is monitored.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrosurgical method for monitoring temperature during an electrosurgical procedure to ablate soft tissue comprising:
delivering high frequency energy to an active electrode terminal located at the distal end of an electrosurgical probe, said active electrode terminal being positioned in electrically conductive fluid during the procedure and wherein a current flow path from the active electrode, through the electrically conductive fluid, to a return electrode is created when the high frequency energy is delivered;
monitoring a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the electrically conductive fluid; and
automatically suspending the delivering step for at least one suspension period while monitoring said temperature signal until the change in said temperature signal versus time is less than a threshold value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said threshold value is 1 degree per 50 ms.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one suspension period is at least 250 ms.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of automatically suspending comprises suspending the delivery step for a plurality of suspension periods.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the suspending step is performed according to a suspension frequency wherein said suspension frequency (F) is at least 1 period every 3 seconds and less than 2 periods per second.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein said suspension frequency (F) is determined based on power output.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein said suspension frequency (F) is determined based on receiving an input of a type of surgical procedure to be performed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein said suspension frequency (F) is determined based on sensing the temperature, and said suspension frequency (F) is increased once the temperature reaches a threshold limit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
circulating fluid to the target site at a flowrate;
comparing the temperature to a desired temperature range; and
adjusting the flowrate based on the temperature.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said applying step forms a plasma in the vicinity of the active electrode terminal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said target site is a joint.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said automatically suspending step is performed by reducing the voltage difference between the active electrode terminal and the return electrode to less than 100 volts.