Electrosurgical processor and method of use

A circuit for monitoring operating parameters of an electrosurgical unit with an output transformer having primary and secondary windings and for controlling in real time those parameters relative to a load placed upon the radio frequency energy supplied by the electrosurgical unit, comprising:

• a sensing circuit means connected to receive radio frequency energy supplied by the output of the electrosurgical unit and responsive to loads applied across the radio frequency energy supplied, the sensing circuit means connected for providing instantaneous values of current and voltage from the secondary windings so the sensing circuit means collects parameters indicative of the operation of the electrosurgical unit under load;
• a signal modifier connected to the sensing circuit means the signal modifier including enhancement means to adjust or attenuate the amplitude of the parameters from the sensing circuit means in response to signal processing and feedback;
• a buffer connected to the signal modifier for receiving the enhanced parameters collected to set the level thereof;
• a flash type analog to digital converter connected to the buffer for receiving signals therefrom and converting the analog form of those signals into digital form multiple times during a cycle, the flash type analog to digital converter capable of sampling wave pulse train output periodically and several times during a cycle or some cycles at millions of samples per second;
• a data memory connected to the analog to digital converter for storing the converted signals in their digitized form, and
• a sample clock means is in circuit with the flash type analog to digital converter so as to set the timing for storing converted signals into the data memory so the number of samples taken times the sample frequency is an integral number of RF cycle times;
• a RF drive clock means is in circuit with, connected to the electrosurgical unit output and the flash type analog to digital converter so as to synchronize the sample clock means of the flash type analog to digital converter with output of the electrosurgical unit;
• a processor connected to the data memory so as receive the stored signals from the data memory, the processor connected to the electrosurgical unit and capable of processing the signals while continually monitoring the electrosurgical unit by measurement of the voltage, current, power, load impedance, leakage current, spectral content and/or crest factor of the wave pulse train of the radio frequency energy and then controlling the electrosurgical unit to achieve a predefined voltage, current, power, load impedance, leakage current, spectral content and/or crest factor of the wave pulse train of the radio frequency energy in accord with a mode setting and an algorithm in the processor so the output parameters of the electrosurgical unit may be calculated for controlling performance parameters including peak to peak voltage, peak to peak current, and leakage current for consideration of each as the control signal for feedback into the electrosurgical unit;
• the sample clock means for permitting measurement handling at a frequency greater than the processor could without the sample clock means so that the instantaneous values of current and voltage of the electrosurgical unit can be monitored and controlled over its broad spectral input to correct in real time the output in accordance with measured load, and
• a feedback loop connected to the electrosurgical unit so a high voltage power supply therein may be manipulated and so the radio frequency drive pulses of a main control circuit of the electrosurgical unit may be regulated and wherein the transformer output performance parameters including the constant current, constant voltage or power may be calculated as a root mean square value, monitored and/or regulated through an input of the processor.

A method for monitoring operating parameters of an electrosurgical unit and for controlling those parameters relative to a load placed upon the radio frequency energy supplied by the electrosurgical unit, having the steps comprising:

• collecting parameters indicative of the operation of the electrosurgical unit under load with a sensing circuit means connected to receive radio frequency energy supplied by the output of the electrosurgical unit and responsive to loads applied thereacross;
• enhancing parameters of the signals collected with a signal modifier connected to the sensing circuit means;
• converting the analog form of the signals into digital form with an analog to digital converter connected for receiving signals from the signal modifier;
• storing the signals in digitized form in a data memory for transmission therefrom to a processor;
• receiving the stored signals from the data memory in the processor, and
• processing the signals while continually monitoring and controlling the electrosurgical unit by measurement of the voltage, current, power, load impedance, leakage current, spectral content and/or crest factor of the wave pulse train of the radio frequency energy with the processor.

A circuit for monitoring operating parameters of an electrosurgical unit with an output transformer having primary and secondary windings and for controlling in real time those parameters relative to a load placed upon the radio frequency energy supplied by the electrosurgical unit, comprising:

• a sensing circuit means connected to receive radio frequency energy supplied by the output of the electrosurgical unit and responsive to loads applied across the radio frequency energy supplied, the sensing circuit means connected for providing instantaneous values of current and voltage from the secondary windings so the sensing circuit means collects parameters indicative of the operation of the electrosurgical unit under load;
• a signal modifier connected to the sensing circuit means, the signal modifier including enhancement means to adjust or attenuate the amplitude of the parameters from the sensing circuit means in response to signal processing and feedback;
• a buffer connected to the signal modifier for receiving the enhanced parameters collected to set the level thereof;
• a flash type analog to digital converter connected to the buffer for receiving signals therefrom and converting the analog form of those signals into digital form multiple times during a cycle, the flash type analog to digital converter capable of sampling wave pulse train output periodically and several times during a cycle or some cycles;
• a data memory connected to the analog to digital converter for storing the converted signals in their digitized form;
• a processor connected to the data memory so as to receive the stored signals from the data memory, the processor connected to the electrosurgical unit and capable of processing the stored signals while continually monitoring the electrosurgical unit by measurement of the voltage, current, power, load impedance, leakage current, spectral content and/or crest factor of the wave pulse train of the radio frequency energy and then controlling the electrosurgical unit to achieve a predefined voltage, current, power, load impedance, leakage current, spectral content and/or crest factor of the wave pulse train of the radio frequency energy, the processor for controlling the electrosurgical unit in accord with the measurements, and.
• a sample clock means is in circuit with the flash type analog to digital converter so as to set the timing for storing converted signals into the data memory so the number of samples taken times the sample frequency is an integral number of RF cycle times, and
• a RF drive clock means is in circuit with, connected to the electrosurgical unit output and the flash type analog to digital converter so as to synchronize the sample clock means of the flash type analog to digital converter with output of the electrosurgical unit.