Condition responsive gas flow adjustment in gas-assisted electrosurgery
AssigneeAspen Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsDavid K. Bishop, James C. Crenner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas delivery apparatus used in gas-assisted electrocoagulation temporarily reduces a gas flow rate in a flowpath to an application which applies the flow of gas and electrical energy to the tissue during an arc initiation sequence. The reduced gas flow rate enhances the arc initiation capabilities and reduces the possibilities of embolism. After the arc initiation sequence is complete, the gas flow rate returns to a greater rate used during electrocoagulation. The back pressure in the flowpath and a user requested flow rate are control variables used to reduce the flow rate upon the occurrence of back pressure-related conditions and to increase the flow rate after the dissipation of those back pressure conditions.
Claims61
A gas delivery apparatus for gas-assisted electrocoagulation in which a flow of gas is supplied in a flowpath to an applicator and the gas is ionized at the applicator to transfer electrical energy in arcs to coagulate bleeding from tissue in response to an electrocoagulation activation request, comprising:
- a gas flow-controlling valve connected in the flowpath;
- and
- a flow controller connected to the valve and responsive to the activation request to supply a control signal to the valve to set an initiation gas flow rate in the flowpath to more readily initiate the transfer of arcs from the applicator, the controller also supplying a control signal to the valve to set an electrocoagulation gas flow rate in the flowpath to conduct the arcs during electrocoagulation after initiation of the arc transfer, the initiation gas flow rate being less than the electrocoagulation gas flow rate.
A gas delivery apparatus for gas-assisted electrocoagulation in which a flow of gas is supplied in a flowpath to an applicator in response to an electrocoagulation activation request and the gas is ionized at the applicator to transfer electrical energy in arcs to coagulate bleeding from tissue, comprising:
- a gas flow-controlling valve connected in the flowpath;
- a selector to establish a user requested electrocoagulation gas flow rate in the flowpath and to supply a signal related to the user requested electrocoagulation gas flow rate;
- a pressure sensor connected in the flowpath and operative to supply a signal related to pressure in the flowpath resulting from the gas flow in the flowpath;
- and
- a flow controller connected to the valve and receptive of the pressure-related signal and the user requested flow rate signal, the controller controlling the valve to reduce the gas flow rate in the flowpath from the electrocoagulation gas flow rate corresponding to the user requested flow rate upon the pressure-related signal indicating a pressure in the flowpath exceeding a predetermined limit.
A method of gas-assisted electrocoagulation in which a flow of gas is supplied in a flowpath to an applicator and the gas is ionized at the applicator to transfer electrical energy in arcs to coagulate bleeding from tissue, comprising the steps of:
- flowing gas in the flowpath to the applicator;
- initially setting an initiation gas flow rate to the applicator;
- transferring electrical energy in arcs to the tissue in the gas flowing from the applicator at the initiation gas flow rate;
- and
- setting the gas flow rate to an electrocoagulation gas flow rate after the arcs have been transferred to the tissue and while continuing to transfer arcs in the gas flowing at the electrocoagulation gas flow rate, the electrocoagulation gas flow rate being greater than the initiation gas flow rate.
A method of gas-assisted electrocoagulation in which a flow of gas is supplied in a flowpath to an applicator and the gas is ionized at the applicator to transfer electrical energy in arcs to coagulate bleeding from tissue, comprising the steps of:
- flowing gas through the flowpath;
- sensing a pressure in the flowpath resulting from gas flow in the flowpath;
- and
- reducing the gas flow rate in the flowpath without terminating the gas flow in the flowpath upon the sensed pressure exceeding a predetermined limit.
A method of gas-assisted electrocoagulation in which a flow of gas is supplied in a flowpath to an applicator and the gas is ionized at the applicator to transfer electrical energy in arcs to coagulate bleeding from tissue, comprising the steps of:
- flowing gas through the flowpath;
- sensing a pressure in the flowpath resulting from gas flow in the flowpath;
- reducing the gas flow rate in the flowpath upon the sensed pressure exceeding a predetermined limit;
- and
- determining the type of applicator connected in the flowpath from sensing the pressure in the flowpath.
A method of gas-assisted electrocoagulation in which a flow of gas is supplied in a flowpath to an applicator and the gas is ionized at the applicator to transfer electrical energy in arcs to coagulate bleeding from tissue, comprising the steps of:
- flowing gas through the flowpath;
- sensing a pressure in the flowpath resulting from gas flow in the flowpath;
- reducing the gas flow rate in the flowpath upon the sensed pressure exceeding a predetermined limit;
- determining whether one of a gastrointestinal probe applicator or an endoscopic probe applicator is connected in the flowpath by sensing the pressure;
- and
- establishing predetermined maximum flow rates for the gastrointestinal probe applicator and for the endoscopic probe applicator, the predetermined maximum flow rate for the gastrointestinal probe being less than a predetermined maximum flow rate for the endoscopic probe applicator.
A method of gas-assisted electrocoagulation in which a flow of gas is supplied in a flowpath to an applicator and the gas is ionized at the applicator to transfer electrical energy in arcs to coagulate bleeding from tissue, comprising the steps of:
- flowing gas through the flowpath;
- sensing a pressure in the flowpath resulting from gas flow in the flowpath;
- reducing the gas flow rate in the flowpath upon the sensed pressure exceeding a predetermined limit;
- measuring the gas flow rate in the flowpath;
- determining one of a plurality of predetermined different gas flow ranges in which the measured gas flow rate falls;
- and
- reducing the gas flow rate in the flowpath upon the sensed pressure in the flowpath exceeding a predetermined limit for the predetermined gas flow range within which the measured gas flow rate falls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.