Method and system of controlling conductive fluid flow during an electrosurgical procedure
AssigneeArthroCare Corporation
InventorDavid A. Cox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Controlling conductive fluid flow during an electrosurgical procedure. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: flowing conductive fluid from a source lumen to a suction lumen of an electrosurgical wand, the flowing with the electrosurgical wand in a first orientation; sensing a change in orientation of the electrosurgical wand to a second orientation different than the first orientation; and changing a control parameter associated with the conductive fluid flow, the changing responsive to the change in orientation of the electrosurgical wand.
Claims22
A method comprising:
- flowing conductive fluid from a source lumen to a suction lumen of an electrosurgical wand, the flowing with the electrosurgical wand in a first orientation;
- sensing a change in orientation of the electrosurgical wand to a second orientation different than the first orientation, the sensing by a computer system;
- and
- changing a control parameter associated with the conductive fluid flow, the changing responsive to the change in orientation of the electrosurgical wand, and changing the control parameter by the computer system.
A system comprising:
- an electrosurgical controller, the electrosurgical controller configured to produce radio frequency (RF) energy at an active terminal with respect to return terminal;
- an electrosurgical wand coupled to the electrosurgical controller, the electrosurgical wand comprising:
- an orientation sensor, readings from the orientation sensor indicative of orientation of a distal end of the wand relative to a handle end of the wand;
- an active electrode defined on the distal end of the electrosurgical wand;
- a source lumen in operational relationship to the active electrode, the source lumen coupled to a source tubing;
- and
- a suction lumen in operational relationship to the active electrode, the suction lumen coupled to a suction tubing;
- a flow control device coupled to the source tubing between a source of conductive fluid and the electrosurgical wand, the flow control device operatively coupled to the orientation sensor;
- wherein the system is configured to sense a change of orientation of the distal end of the wand, and responsive to the change of orientation change a control parameter of the flow control device.
An electrosurgical wand comprising:
- an elongate shaft that defines a handle end and a distal end;
- an active electrode defined on the distal end of the electrosurgical wand;
- a source lumen that defines an aperture in operational relationship to the active electrode, the source lumen coupled to a source tubing;
- a suction lumen that defines a suction aperture in operational relationship to the active electrode, the suction lumen coupled to a suction tubing;
- and
- an orientation sensor mechanically coupled to the elongate shaft, and the orientation sensor communicatively coupled to a conductor of a connector;
- wherein the orientation sensor configured to provide an indication of the orientation of a distal end of the electrosurgical.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.