System and method for accessory rate control

A method for changing the rate of operation between a high or low flow rate for a smoke evacuator used with an electrosurgical generator during treatment of a patient electrosurgically at an operative site, having the steps of:

• having an electrosurgical circuit for electrosurgery, the electrosurgical circuit located and connected between the electrosurgical generator and the patient for transmission of electrosurgical energy therebetween;
• connecting a switch in the electrosurgical circuit to activate the electrosurgical generator when closing the switch during treatment of the patient;
• supplying radio frequency energy for the patient to an active output in the electrosurgical circuit and electrically connecting the active output to the electrosurgical generator;
• returning electrosurgical energy through the electrosurgical circuit from the patient and into a return input in the electrosurgical circuit, electrically connecting the return input to the electrosurgical generator;
• providing an electrosurgical handpiece in the electrosurgical circuit and the electrosurgical handpiece having at least an active electrode carried thereby for use in performing electrosurgical procedures;
• connecting active and return leads in the electrosurgical circuit between the respective active output, active electrode, return input and patient return;
• having a return positioned relative to the patient for completing the electrosurgical circuit with the active electrode for returning RF energy passing therethrough to the electrosurgical generator through the return lead to the return input;
• operating the smoke evacuator at a different rate when the electrosurgical generator switch is keyed;
• adjusting the smoke evacuator for the condition of its function per unit time in accord with the keying of the electrosurgical generator switch with a rate controller;
• connecting with a cable between terminals on the electrosurgical generator and the accessory, and
• delivering signals of switch closing from terminals with a trigger, the signals delivered to the accessory and signals indicative of the use of the electrosurgical generator;
• changing the rate controller in the accessory by adjusting the condition of its function per unit time in accord with the switch closing for the electrosurgical generator, and
• driving the accessory with a driver connected to the rate controller.

A system for changing the rate of operation of a smoke evacuator used with an electrosurgical generator during treatment of a patient electrosurgically at an operative site, the system comprising:

• an electrosurgical circuit for use in electrosurgery, the electrosurgical circuit located and connected between the electrosurgical generator and the patient;
• a switch in the electrosurgical circuit, the switch connected to activate the electrosurgical generator when closed during treatment of the patient;
• an active output in the electrosurgical circuit, the active output electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator for supplying radio frequency energy to the electrosurgical circuit for delivery through the patient;
• a return input in the electrosurgical circuit, the return input electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator for receiving electrosurgical energy in the electrosurgical circuit passing through the patient;
• an electrosurgical handpiece in the electrosurgical circuit, the electrosurgical handpiece having at least an active electrode carried thereby for use in providing electrosurgical procedures;
• an active lead connected in the electrosurgical circuit between the active output and the electrosurgical handpiece active electrode;
• a return lead connected in the electrosurgical circuit to the return input, the return lead having a return positioned relative to the patient for completing the electrosurgical circuit with the active electrode so that RF energy passing therethrough may be returned to the electrosurgical generator through the return input;
• a smoke detector responsive to smoke generated at the operative site, the smoke detector for determining when there is smoke thereabout, the smoke detector for signaling smoke thereabout during operation of the electrosurgical generator;
• a smoke evacuator connected to the electrosurgical generator, the smoke evacuator for operating at either a high or low flow rate when the electrosurgical generator switch is closed, the smoke evacuator plumbed to remove fluid from the area about the active electrode near the operative site at a low flow rate sufficient to move the fluid passed the smoke detector;
• a rate controller in the smoke evacuator for operation of the smoke evacuator at a high flow per unit time in accord with the operation of the electrosurgical generator, the rate controller connected to receive signals from the smoke evacuator;
• a driver in the smoke evacuator connected to the rate controller and the smoke evacuator, the driver for changing the smoke evacuator by adjusting the rate of its operation per unit time in accord with the rate controller signal of the smoke detected and wherein the smoke evacuator changes from the low level of fluid flow rate to the high flow rate whenever the electrical signal is received and from the high flow rate to the low level fluid flow rate whenever the signal is absent.