Medical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017367751-A1
Application number	US-201715617694-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2017
Priority date	May 21, 2010
Publication date	Dec 28, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A medical device is described having a handle and an end effector coupled to the handle. The end effector has at least one electrode for providing electrical signals to a tissue or vessel to be treated. An RF drive circuit is provided for generating an RF drive signal that is applied to the end effector electrode. The RF drive circuit includes a resonant circuit and a frequency controller is used to vary the frequency of a signal passed through the resonant circuit in order to control the power supplied to the end effector electrode.

First claim

1 - 19 . (canceled)

20 . A method of operating a medical device comprising generating an RF signal and applying the RF signal to at least one electrode of an end effector of the medical device and controlling a frequency of the generated RF signal to control at least one of a power, a current, and a voltage applied to the at least one electrode.

21 . A method of cauterizing a vessel or tissue, the method comprising:
gripping the vessel or tissue with an end effector of a medical device; applying an RF signal to at least one electrode of the end effector that is in contact with the vessel or tissue; and controlling a frequency of the RF signal to control at least one of a power, a current, and a voltage applied to the tissue to perform the cauterization.

22 . The method according to claim 21 , which uses a medical device comprising:
a handle for gripping by a user, an end effector coupled to the handle and having at least one electrical contact; a radio frequency, RF, generation circuit coupled to the handle and operable to generate an RF drive signal and to provide the RF drive signal to the at least one electrical contact; wherein the RF generation circuit comprises a resonant circuit.

23 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein controlling the frequency comprises:
varying the frequency of the RF signal to control the power applied to the tissue or vessel; obtaining measurements of the impedance of the tissue or vessel; and varying the desired power applied to the tissue or vessel in dependence upon the obtained impedance measurements.

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Ruddenklau David Ian
• Roberts Paul Christopher
• Green Alan Edward

Classifications

• A61B2018/1452

  including means for cutting (A61B2018/146 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2018/00892

  Voltage · CPC title

• A61B2018/00642

  with feedback, i.e. closed loop control · CPC title

• A61B2018/00607

  Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument · CPC title

• A61B2018/00732

  Frequency · CPC title