Electrosurgical device and methods
Inventors
Gilbert, James A. • Rupp, Steven C. • Gregg, William N. • Johnson, Kristin D. • Johnson, Dirk
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9649147-B2
Publication Date
2017-05-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A tissue segmentation device, controller, and methods therefore are disclosed. The device has an active electrode, a return electrode, a mechanical force application mechanism, voltage and current sensors, and a controller. The controller is configured to control a power output of the segmentation device. The controller has a processing component, responsive to the sensors, configured to execute the following: (a) derive a power factor of power applied to the at least one electrode; and (b) responsive to the deriving a power factor, assign a circuit status to a circuit comprising the at least one electrode. IF (PF≈0) and ((Vrms/Irms)≧T), THEN the circuit status is “open”. IF (PF≈0) and ((Vrms/Irms)<T), THEN the circuit status is “short”. PF is the power factor. T is a threshold value.
Core Innovation
The document describes an electrosurgical tissue segmentation device with at least one active electrode and a return electrode. A mechanical force application mechanism applies mechanical force in connection with the segmentation device, and the device includes a voltage sensor and a current sensor. A controller is configured to control a power output of the segmentation device responsive to sensed voltage and current.
The controller derives a power factor of power applied to the at least one electrode and assigns a circuit status to a circuit comprising the at least one electrode using conditions based on power factor and a ratio of Vrms to Irms. IF (PF≥0) and ((Vrms/Irms)≥T), then the circuit status is open, and IF (PF≥0) and ((Vrms/Irms)<T), then the circuit status is short, where PF is the power factor, Vrms is a root mean square of a voltage associated with the power applied, Irms is a root mean square of a current associated with the power applied, and T is a threshold value.
The document further describes tissue segmentation status determination and multiplexing across multiple wires, including segmentation-status outcomes such as cut complete or complete status. It also references electrode travel sensing, tensioning and force measurement, circuit checks, and impedance-based alternatives using impedance measurement with threshold comparisons to assign open and short circuit statuses.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim set includes four independent claims: a tissue segmentation device, a controller, a method, and a tissue segmentation device using impedance. The independent claims share the core decision logic of deriving a quantity from sensed electrical parameters and assigning a circuit status, open or short, and they further support segmentation status outcomes and control behavior through additional inputs and comparisons.
Power factor-based circuit status assignment for tissue segmentation
A tissue segmentation device includes at least one active electrode, a return electrode, a mechanical force application mechanism, a voltage sensor, and a current sensor, and a controller configured to derive a power factor of power applied to the at least one electrode and assign a circuit status to a circuit comprising the at least one electrode; IF (PF≥0) and ((Vrms/Irms)≥T) then the circuit status is open, and IF (PF≥0) and ((Vrms/Irms)<T) then the circuit status is short, where PF is the power factor, Vrms is the root mean square of a voltage associated with the power applied to the at least one electrode, Irms is the root mean square of a current associated with the power applied to the at least one electrode, and T is a threshold value.
Controller executing power factor-based circuit status assignment
A controller for a tissue segmentation device includes a processing component responsive to a voltage sensor and a current sensor to derive a power factor of power applied to at least one electrode and assign a circuit status to a circuit comprising the at least one electrode; IF (PF≥0) and ((Vrms/Irms)≥T) then the circuit status is open, and IF (PF≥0) and ((Vrms/Irms)<T) then the circuit status is short, where PF is the power factor, Vrms is the root mean square of a voltage associated with the power applied to the at least one electrode, Irms is the root mean square of a current associated with the power applied to the at least one electrode, and T is a threshold value.
Method deriving power factor and assigning open/short circuit status
A method of tissue segmentation comprising providing a tissue segmentation device having at least one active electrode, a return electrode, a mechanical force application mechanism, a voltage sensor, and a current sensor; deriving a power factor of power applied to the at least one electrode; and responsive to the deriving a power factor assigning a circuit status to a circuit comprising the at least one electrode, wherein if PF≥0 and (Vrms/Irms)≥T then the circuit status is open, and if PF≥0 and (Vrms/Irms)<T then the circuit status is short.
Impedance threshold-based circuit status assignment for tissue segmentation
A tissue segmentation device includes at least one active electrode, a return electrode, a mechanical force application mechanism, a voltage sensor, and a current sensor, and a controller configured to derive an impedance to power applied to the at least one electrode and assign a circuit status to a circuit comprising the at least one electrode; if (Z>T1) then the circuit status is open, and if (Z<T2) then the circuit status is short, where Z is the impedance, T1 is a first threshold value, and T2 is a second threshold different from the first threshold value.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage lies in deriving a power-related electrical quantity, either power factor-based classification using PF and Vrms/Irms with threshold T or impedance-based classification using Z with two thresholds T1 and T2, and assigning a circuit status, open or short, to a circuit comprising the at least one active electrode. The device, controller, and method architecture includes sensed voltage and current and logic configured to execute the derivation and classification.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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