US 7,834,484 B2 · Connection cable and method for activating a voltage-controlled generator

Abstract

A connection cable is disclosed for controlling a voltage-controlled generator such as an electrosurgery generator from a controlling device such as a robotic surgery system. The cable includes a first connector adapted to connect to a voltage-controlled generator and a second connector adapted to connect to a controlling device. Within the cable is a voltage divider interdisposed between the first connector and the second connector. The voltage divider is configured to divide a reference voltage provided by the voltage-controlled generator into at least one control voltage which is selectable by the controlling device. The cable additionally includes a plurality of electrical wires which operatively connect the first connector, the second connector and the voltage divider. During robotic electrosurgery, said operating parameters can be actuated by a surgeon operating at the robotic surgical system console, which causes a corresponding control voltage to be switched to a control voltage input on an electrosurgery generator, which, in turn, generates a corresponding electrosurgical signal in response thereto.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A connection cable for activating a voltage-controlled generator, the connection cable comprising:

a first connector adapted to couple to a voltage-controlled generator;
a second connector adapted to couple to a controlling device, the controlling device including at least one circuit element adapted to electrically couple a control voltage to the voltage-controlled generator;
a voltage divider network having a plurality of voltage taps interdisposed between the first connector and the second connector and configured to divide a reference voltage provided by the voltage-controlled generator into at least one control voltage, wherein a control voltage capable of activating the voltage-controlled generator is provided when a single voltage tap is coupled thereto by the controlling device, and a control voltage incapable of activating the voltage-controlled generator is provided when two or more voltage taps are coupled thereto by the controlling device;
and
a cable including a plurality of electrical wires that couple the first connector, the second connector, and the voltage divider network.

2 more elements

A method for activating a voltage-controlled generator from a controlling device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a voltage-controlled generator and a controlling device;
providing a connection cable comprising:
a first connector adapted to couple to the voltage-controlled generator;
a second connector adapted to couple to the controlling device, the controlling device including at least one circuit element adapted to electrically couple a control voltage to the voltage-controlled generator;
a voltage divider network having a plurality of voltage taps interdisposed between the first connector and the second connector and configured to divide a reference voltage provided by the voltage-controlled generator into at least one control voltage, wherein a control voltage capable of activating the voltage-controlled generator is provided when a single voltage tap is coupled thereto by the controlling device, and a control voltage incapable of activating the voltage-controlled generator is provided when two or more voltage taps are coupled thereto by the controlling device;
and
a cable including a plurality of electrical wires that couple the first connector, the second connector, and the voltage divider network;
operably coupling the voltage-controlled generator and a controlling device with the connection cable;
in the connection cable, dividing the reference voltage provided by the voltage-controlled generator into at least one control voltage;
at the connection cable, receiving at least one control signal originating within the controlling device;
selecting a control voltage in accordance with the received control signal;
determining whether the control voltage is valid;
activating the voltage-controlled generator in response to a determination that the received control voltage is valid;
and
inhibiting the activation of the voltage-controlled generator in response to determination that the received control signal is not valid.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Connection cable and method for activating a voltage-controlled generator

Life of this patent

Connection cable and method for activating a voltage-controlled generator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14