Electrosurgical device for treating body tissue with high-frequency power

An electrosurgical device for treating a body tissue with a high-frequency power, comprising:

• an electrode for outputting a high-frequency power to the body tissue for treatment;
• and
• a high-frequency cautery power supply having a control circuit for controlling a high-frequency power generator that outputs the high-frequency power to the electrode,
• wherein the control circuit of the high-frequency cautery power supply comprises;
• a time measurement unit for measuring suspension time of the high-frequency power applied to the body tissue, and
• a counter unit for counting a number of discrete applications of high-frequency power, a count of said number of discrete applications being initialized prior to high-frequency power output;
• an impedance detector for detecting an impedance of the body tissue in the coagulated state thereof when the body tissue is treated using the high-frequency power applied from the electrode, said impedance detector detecting impedance based on body information such as the temperature of the body tissue;
• an impedance comparator for comparing the impedance of the coagulated tissue detected by the impedance detector with an impedance predetermined for the purpose of the treatment of a region to be treated;
• a high-frequency power switch for switching the output of the high-frequency power generator based on the result of comparison provided by the impedance comparator, said switch temporarily suspending application of said high-frequency power for a predetermined time based on the impedance monitored;
• and,
• means for comparing said count against a predetermined count;
• said control circuit enabling a further discrete application of a high-frequency power from an electrode to the body tissue for treatment at a reduced power level if said compared count is less than said predetermined count, said count of said discrete application of high-frequency power being incremented when said high-frequency power application is applied at said reduced power level,
• wherein said control circuit controls repeated application of said high-frequency power at successively reduced levels while said count is less than said predetermined count.

A method of controlling an electrosurgical device for treating a body tissue with a high-frequency power, comprising the steps of:

• outputting a high-frequency power from an electrode to the body tissue for treatment;
• monitoring an impedance of the body tissue in the coagulated state thereof when the body tissue is treated using the high-frequency power applied from the electrode;
• measuring output time of the high-frequency power;
• increasing the high-frequency output if the output time measured reaches a predetermined time before the impedance monitored exceeds a predetermined value;
• and
• decreasing the high-frequency output if the impedance monitored exceeds a predetermined value before the output time measured reaches a predetermined time.

A method of controlling an electrosurgical device for treating a body tissue with a high-frequency power, comprising the steps of:

• initializing a count of a discrete application of high-frequency power;
• outputting said high-frequency power from an electrode to the body tissue for treatment;
• monitoring an impedance of the body tissue in the coagulated state thereof when the body tissue is treated using the high-frequency power applied from the electrode;
• temporarily stopping outputting the high-frequency power for a predetermined time based on the impedance monitored;
• incrementing said discrete application count of high-frequency power and comparing said count against a predetermined count:
• outputting a high-frequency power from an electrode to the body tissue for treatment at a reduced power level if said count is less than said predetermined count;
• and
• repeating said monitoring, temporarily stopping, incrementing and outputting steps while said count is less than said predetermined count.