US 12,440,265 B2
System and method to evoke smooth muscle response during surgery
Albert Yung-Hsiang Huang, Houston, TX (US); and Jeffrey Paul Castleberry, Longmong, CO (US)
Assigned to Northgate Technologies Inc., Elgin, IL (US)
Filed by Northgate Technologies Inc., Elgin, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/064,856.
Application 18/064,856 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2021/039552, filed on Jun. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/046,294, filed on Jun. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0106476 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1482 (2013.01) [A61B 2018/00517 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00702 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00755 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A smooth muscle stimulation device for use with an electrosurgical unit (ESU), said smooth muscle stimulation device comprising:
an enclosure;
stimulation circuitry within the enclosure configured to generate a stimulatory electrical signal which when delivered to a target anatomy induces an observable response in the target anatomy during a medical procedure;
an input connector on the enclosure configured to detachably couple to a power output of the ESU;
an output connector on the enclosure configured to detachably couple to an electrosurgical tool; and
switching circuitry within the enclosure configured to selectively connect either the power output of the ESU or the stimulatory electrical signal of the stimulation circuitry to the output connector in response to user input;
wherein the stimulation circuitry comprises a power supply configured to deliver an undriven capacitive discharge and a pulse control.