US 11,744,631 B2
Systems and methods for controlled electrosurgical coagulation
Donald L. Tonn, Superior, CO (US); James E. Dunning, Lafayette, CO (US); William D. Faulkner, Boulder, CO (US); Jennifer R. McHenry, Denver, CO (US); Devon E. Scott-Drechsel, Superior, CO (US); and Eric M. Westra, Loveland, CO (US)
Assigned to COVIDIEN LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by COVIDIEN LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Sep. 5, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/122,857.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/562,110, filed on Sep. 22, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/562,012, filed on Sep. 22, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/562,078, filed on Sep. 22, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0090932 A1, Mar. 28, 2019
Int. Cl. A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1206 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1233 (2013.01); A61B 18/1442 (2013.01); A61B 18/1445 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0063 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00589 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00595 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00601 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00607 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00666 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00702 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00767 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00827 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1253 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1266 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1462 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrosurgical generator for providing electrical treatment energy to an instrument having an active electrode and a return electrode, the electrosurgical generator comprising:
a processor; and
a memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the electrosurgical generator to:
control a treatment energy to provide to an instrument in a coagulation mode, the treatment energy having an adjustable voltage ramp rate, wherein the adjustable voltage ramp rate can be set to a ramp rate in a range of voltage ramp rates that effectuate coagulation before dissection and prevent dissection of grasped tissue in the coagulation mode;
receive signals from the instrument over time relating to a load impedance between an active electrode and a return electrode of the instrument;
determine tissue is being grasped between the active electrode and the return electrode of the instrument; and
repeat, until it is determined that tissue is no longer being grasped between the active electrode and the return electrode of the instrument:
when the load impedance is above a first threshold of a plurality of thresholds, select from a plurality of voltage ramp rates in the range of voltage ramp rates to set the adjustable voltage ramp rate to the selected voltage ramp rate, and decrease, at the adjustable voltage ramp rate, a voltage of the treatment energy being provided to the instrument, wherein the plurality of voltage ramp rates is stored in the memory, and wherein each of the plurality of voltage ramp rates is associated with at least one threshold of the plurality of thresholds; and
when the load impedance is below the first threshold, set the adjustable voltage ramp rate to a ramp rate in the range of voltage ramp rates, and increase, at the adjustable voltage ramp rate, the voltage of the treatment energy being provided to the instrument.