Systems and methods for controlling power in an electrosurgical probe
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsDorin Panescu, David K. Swanson, Robert Burnside
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for controlling the power supplied to an electrosurgical probe. The systems and methods may be used to monitor electrode-tissue contact, adjust power in response to a loss of contact, and apply power in such a manner that charring, coagulum formation and tissue popping are less likely to occur.
Claims24
An apparatus for coagulating tissue, comprising:
- a support element;
- at least one energy transmission element on the support element;
- a source of energy operably connected to the at least one energy transmission element and adapted to supply energy at a first frequency and a second frequency less than the first frequency;
- and
- a control system, operably connected to the energy source, and adapted to monitor impedance at the at least one energy transmission element at the first frequency and the second frequency and to determine a relationship between the impedance at the first frequency and the impedance at the second frequency.
A method of coagulating tissue, comprising the steps of:
- attempting to place an energy transmission element in contact with tissue;
- supplying the energy transmission element with energy at a first frequency;
- monitoring the impedance at the energy transmission element at the first frequency;
- supplying the energy transmission element with energy at a second frequency less than the first frequency;
- monitoring the impedance at the energy transmission element at the second frequency;
- and
- determining a relationship between the impedance measured at the first frequency and the impedance measured at the second frequency.
A user interface for a tissue coagulation system, the coagulation system including a control device operable in response to at least one input power parameter, the user interface comprising:
- a power parameter input device operably connected to the control device;
- and
- an indicator, operably connected to the control device, that produces an indication, which is not associated with any input power parameter, that a therapeutic lesion has been formed.
A method of coagulating tissue, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring tissue being coagulated during a coagulation procedure;
- collecting tissue data concerning at least one aspect of the monitored tissue;
- determining when a therapeutic lesion has been formed based on the collected tissue data;
- and
- providing at least one of an audible indication and a visual indication that the therapeutic lesion has been formed.
A user interface for a tissue coagulation system, the coagulation system including a control device, the user interface comprising:
- a duration of power application input device operably connected to the control device for input of a power application duration;
- and
- a completed lesion indicator, operably connected to the control device, that produces an indication that a therapeutic lesion has been formed prior to expiration of the input power application duration.
A method of coagulating tissue, comprising the steps of:
- inputting a power application duration;
- beginning power application to tissue;
- determining whether a therapeutic lesion has been formed during power application prior to expiration of the input power application duration;
- and
- providing an indication that the therapeutic lesion has been formed prior to the expiration of the input power application duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.