US 12,256,974 B2
Systems and methods for controlling arcing
Robert H. Wham, Boulder, CO (US); William D. Faulkner, Boulder, CO (US); and Donald L. Tonn, Superior, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/359,812.
Application 17/359,812 is a continuation of application No. 15/900,377, filed on Feb. 20, 2018, granted, now 11,045,247, issued on Jun. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2021/0322085 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1233 (2013.01) [A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00666 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00678 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00702 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00708 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00827 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00892 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1213 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrosurgical system for delivering electrosurgical energy to treat tissue the electrosurgical system comprising:
a an electrosurgical generator configured to supply electrosurgical energy;
an electrosurgical instrument coupled to the electrosurgical generator and configured to deliver the electrosurgical energy to the tissue; and
a processor and a memory having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the electrosurgical generator to:
deliver the electrosurgical energy to the electrosurgical instrument coupled to the electrosurgical generator at an indicated energy level for treating the tissue;
determine a change in a peak-to-peak voltage of the electrosurgical energy over time;
determine a normalized nonzero change in the peak-to-peak voltage; and
control delivery of the electrosurgical energy to extinguish an arc generated by the electrosurgical instrument based on:
a comparison of an impedance of the arc to an impedance threshold value stored in the memory; and
a comparison of the normalized nonzero change in the peak-to-peak voltage to a voltage threshold value stored in the memory.