# US 2019/0314079 A1 · Electrical flux delivery and return configurations for electrical flux delivery instruments, and related systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0314079 A1 - Document ID: US20190314079A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/315,434 - Filed: 2017-05-15 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-07 - Assignees: Intutive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Applicants: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Inventors: Michael ORTON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314079A1 ## CPC - A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor} - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 18/1482: {having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy} - A61B 18/16: Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding - A61B 34/37: Leader-follower robots (A61B34/35 takes precedence) - A61B 34/35: for telesurgery - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00589: {Coagulation} - A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting} - A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing} - A61B 2018/00708: {switching the power on or off} - A61B 2018/00827: {Current} - A61B 2018/00898: {Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition} - A61B 2018/00958: {for switching between different working modes of the main function} - A61B 2018/124: {switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially} - A61B 2018/1253: {monopolar} - A61B 2018/126: {bipolar} - A61B 2018/162: {located on the probe body} - A61B 2018/165: {Multiple indifferent electrodes} - A61B 2090/061: {for measuring dimensions, e.g. length} - A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An electrosurgical flux supply unit includes a first terminal configured to deliver a first electrical flux, the first terminal being configured to be electrically coupled with a first electrode of a first electrosurgical instrument, a second terminal configured to receive a second electrical flux; the second terminal being configured to be electrically coupled with a second electrode of the first electrosurgical instrument, and an electrical switching mechanism selectively configurable between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the electrical switching mechanism electrically couples the first electrode with the first terminal and, in the second state, the electrical switching mechanism electrically isolates the first electrode from the first terminal. The electrosurgical flux supply unit is configured to maintain the electrical coupling of the second terminal with the second electrode in both the first state and the second state of the electrical switching mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -27. (canceled) ### Claim 28 An electrosurgical flux supply unit, comprising: a first terminal configured to deliver a first electrical flux from the flux supply unit, the first terminal being configured to be electrically coupled with a first electrode of a first bipolar electrosurgical instrument operably coupled to the electrosurgical flux supply unit, wherein in the electrically coupled state, a first flux delivery path is defined between the first terminal and the first electrode to deliver flux from the flux supply unit to the first electrode; a second terminal configured to receive a second electrical flux; the second terminal being configured to be electrically coupled with a second electrode of the first bipolar electrosurgical instrument, wherein in the electrically coupled state, a flux return path is defined between the second terminal and the second electrode to return flux received at the second electrode to the flux supply unit; an electrosurgical flux source terminal; and an electrical switching mechanism selectively configurable between a first state and a second state, wherein: in the first state, the electrosurgical flux source terminal is electrically coupled with the first terminal, and in the second state, the electrical flux source terminal is not electrically coupled with the first terminal, wherein the electrosurgical flux supply unit is configured to maintain an electrically coupled state of the second terminal with the second electrode in both the first state and the second state of the electrical switching mechanism. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The electrosurgical flux supply unit of claim 28, wherein the electrosurgical flux supply unit is configured to supply bipolar electrosurgical flux through the first terminal. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The electrosurgical flux supply unit of claim 29, further comprising a third terminal configured to deliver a third electrical flux, the third terminal being configured to be electrically coupled to a third electrode of a second electrosurgical instrument, wherein in the electrically coupled state, a second flux delivery path is defined between the third terminal and the third electrode to deliver flux from the flux supply unit to the third electrode. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The electrosurgical flux supply unit of claim 30, wherein the second electrosurgical instrument comprises a monopolar electrosurgical instrument, and wherein the electrosurgical flux supply unit is configured to supply monopolar electrosurgical flux through the third terminal. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The electrosurgical flux supply unit of claim 30, wherein in the second state of the electrical switching mechanism, the electrosurgical flux source terminal is electrically coupled with the third terminal. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The electrosurgical flux supply unit of claim 32, wherein in the electrically coupled state, the second electrical flux received at the second terminal via the second electrode of the first bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprises a portion of the third electrical flux supplied to the third electrode of the monopolar electrosurgical instrument. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The electrosurgical flux supply unit of claim 30, wherein the second electrosurgical instrument comprises a second bipolar electrosurgical instrument, and wherein the electrosurgical flux supply unit is configured to supply monopolar electrosurgical flux through the third terminal. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The electrosurgical flux supply unit of claim 34, wherein in the second state of the electrical switching mechanism, the electrosurgical flux source terminal is electrically coupled with the third terminal. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The electrosurgical flux supply unit of claim 35, wherein, in the electrically coupled state, the second electrical flux received at the second terminal via the second electrode of the first bipolar electrosurgical instrument comprises a portion of the third electrical flux supplied to the third electrode of the second bipolar electrosurgical instrument. ### Claim 37 An electrosurgical system, comprising: an electrosurgical flux supply unit; a monopolar electrosurgical instrument electrically coupled to the electrosurgical flux supply unit; and a bipolar electrosurgical instrument electrically coupled to the electrosurgical flux supply unit; wherein the electrosurgical flux supply unit is configured to: set a first electrode of a first end effector of the monopolar electrosurgical instrument at a first electrical potential, set a second electrode of a second end effector of the bipolar electrosurgical instrument at a second electrical potential, the second electrical potential being at a relative ground to the first electrical potential, deliver an electrical flux to the first electrode, and return a portion of the electrical flux delivered to the first electrode back to the flux supply unit via the second electrode of the bipolar electrosurgical instrument. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The system of claim 37, wherein the first end effector is configured to perform one or more of a spray procedure, a blend procedure, or a fulguration procedure. ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The system of claim 37, wherein the second electrode has a surface area that is relatively larger than a surface area of the first electrode. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The system of claim 37, further comprising a sensor configured to sense a resistance between the first electrode of the monopolar electrosurgical instrument and the second electrode of the bipolar electrosurgical instrument based in part on the portion of the electrical flux received via the second electrode. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the electrosurgical flux supply unit is further configured to adjust at least one of the first electrical potential and the second electrical potential based on the resistance sensed by the sensor. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The system of claim 41, further comprising a feedback mechanism configured to output feedback prompting a user to adjust the first and second electrical potentials based on the resistance. ### Claim 43 A method, comprising: setting a first electrode of a first end effector of a monopolar electrosurgical instrument at a first electrical potential; setting a second electrode of a second end effector of a bipolar electrosurgical instrument at a second electrical potential, the second electrical potential being set at a relative ground to the first electrical potential; supplying an electrical flux to the first electrode; and returning to a ground terminal electrically coupled to the second electrode, a portion of the electrical flux supplied to the first electrode. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising determining if the second electrode is within sufficient proximity to the first electrode to return the portion of the electrical flux. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, wherein determining if the second electrode is within sufficient proximity comprises sensing a current between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45, further comprising determining a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode based on the current. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45, further comprising adjusting an amount of the electrical flux supplied to the first electrode based on the current. ### Claim 48 (depends on 45) The method of claim 45, further comprising outputting feedback to indicate to a user to adjust at least one of the first and second electrical potentials based on the current. ### Claim 49 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, further comprising generating error feedback upon determining that the second electrode is not within sufficient proximity to the first electrode. ### Claim 50 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, further comprising setting the first electrode at a neutral electrical potential upon determining that the second electrode is not within sufficient proximity to the first electrode.