Ultrasound and impedance feedback system for use with electrosurgical instruments

A feedback electrosurgical system for use with a surgical tool to detect the effects of energy on tissue, said system comprising

• a first energy-delivering electrode to be mounted to the surgical tool and adapted to deliver electrosurgical energy from a power source to tissue disposed adjacent thereto,
• a second electrode adapted to receive the energy delivered by the first electrode and passing through the tissue,
• impedance measurement means in electrical communication with the surgical tool for determining the electrical impedance of the tissue, said impedance measurement means generating an impedance output signal indicative of the tissue impedance,
• differentiation means in circuit with the impedance measurement means for determining the derivative of the tissue impedance in response to the impedance output signal, said differentiation means generating a derivative output signal indicative of the time-based derivative of the impedance output, wherein the differentiation means comprises:
• first differentiation means in communication with the impedance measurement means for determining the first time-based derivative of the impedance output signal, said first differentiation means generating a first derivative output signal in response to the impedance output signal, and second differentiation means in circuit with the first differentiation means for determining the second time-based derivative of the impedance output signal, said second differentiation means generating a second derivative output signal in response to the first derivative output signal, and
• power regulation means in circuit with the differentiation means and the power source for regulating the application of electrosurgical energy by the power source to the energy-delivering electrode in response to the derivative output signal, the power regulation means regulating the application of energy to the energy-delivering electrode in response to the second derivative output signal.

An electrosurgical feedback system for use with a surgical tool to detect the effects of energy on tissue, said system comprising

• a first energy-delivering electrode to be mounted to the surgical tool and adapted to receive electrosurgical energy from a power source and deliver energy to the tissue,
• a second electrode adapted to receive the energy delivered by the first electrode and passing through the tissue,
• acoustical detection means coupled to the surgical tool for detecting acoustically the effects of energy on the tissue, said acoustical detection means generating an acoustic output signal indicative of the formation of gas created during application of energy to the tissue, and
• power regulation means in circuit with the surgical tool and the acoustical detection means for regulating the energy supplied to the energy delivering electrode in response to the acoustic output signal.

An electrosurgical feedback system for use with a surgical tool to detect the effects of energy on tissue, said system comprising

• a first energy-delivering electrode to be mounted to the surgical tool and adapted to receive electrosurgical energy from a power source and deliver energy to the tissue,
• a second electrode adapted to receive the energy delivered by the first electrode and passing through the tissue,
• acoustical detection means coupled to the surgical tool for detecting acoustically the effects of energy on the tissue, said acoustical detection means generating an acoustic output signal indicative of the heating effects on the tissue, and
• power regulation means in circuit with the surgical tool and the acoustical detection means for regulating the energy supplied to the energy delivering electrode in response to the acoustic output signal,
• impedance measurement means coupled to the surgical tool for determining the impedance of the tissue disposed between the energy receiving electrode and the second electrode, said impedance measurement means generating an impedance output signal indicative of the impedance of the tissue,
• first derivative means coupled to the impedance measurement means for determining the first time-based derivative of the impedance output signal, said first derivative means generating a first derivative output signal indicative of the first derivative of the tissue impedance,
• second derivative means in communication with the first derivative means and the power regulation means for determining the derivative of the first derivative output signal, said second derivative means generating a second derivative output signal indicative of the second derivative of the impedance output signal.

An electrosurgical feedback system for use with a surgical tool to detect the effects of energy on tissue, said system comprising

• a first energy-delivering electrode to be mounted to the surgical tool and adapted to receive electrosurgical energy from a power source and deliver energy to the tissue,
• a second electrode adapted to receive the power delivered by the first electrode and passing through the tissue,
• acoustical detection means associated with a surgical tool and remotely located relative thereto for detecting acoustically the effects of energy on the tissue, said acoustical detection means generating an acoustic output signal indicative of the formation of gas created during application of energy to the tissue, and
• power regulation means in circuit with the acoustical detection means for regulating the power supplied to the tool in response to the acoustic output signal.