Electrosurgical generator

Abstract

An electrosurgical generator that can be used, for example, to provide radio-frequency (RF) energy for localized tissue coagulation, cutting, ablation, and to create lesions in nervous tissue. The generator can provide controls for line power, RF power, setting temperature and/or power, for selecting preset temperature and power combinations, and for selecting programmed treatment profiles. The generator can have a display to display the desired probe and tissue temperature, measured probe impedance, actual probe and/or tissue temperature, delivered power, treatment time, mode setting, preset selection, and messages, and indicators for RF Power On, Stimulation On, and Fault Condition. The generator can include the ability to generate low frequency pulses to stimulate nerves and to assist in the proper placement of the electrosurgical probe in the location that is causing pain.

1 . An electrosurgical generator comprising: a probe recognizing circuit configured to recognize an electrosurgical probe; a processor configured to select a mode of the electrosurgical generator based upon the recognized probe and to set a therapy profile based upon the selected mode; a display configured to display the therapy profile; and a user control configured to modify the therapy profile.  
     
     
         2 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 1  wherein the user control comprises a soft key.  
     
     
         3 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 1  wherein the user control comprises an arrow key.  
     
     
         4 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 1  wherein the user control comprises a rotary encoder knob.  
     
     
         5 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 1  wherein the display comprises a visual display.  
     
     
         6 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 5  wherein the visual display comprises an LCD display.  
     
     
         7 . An electrosurgical generator comprising: 
 a. a processor configured to: receive a target temperature; calculate a first set temperature; command a first output power level until a measured temperature is equal to or greater than the first set temperature; calculate an updated set temperature based upon the target temperature; command a second output power level until the measured temperature is equal to or greater than the updated set temperature; and determine whether the updated set temperature is equal to the target temperature.    
     
     
         8 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 7  wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the target temperature from a storage location.  
     
     
         9 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 7  wherein the processor is configured to receive the target temperature from a user input.  
     
     
         10 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 7  wherein the processor is configured to calculate the first set temperature by subtracting a predetermined value from the target temperature.  
     
     
         11 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 7  wherein the processor is configured to calculate the first set temperature by retrieving a pre-stored value.  
     
     
         12 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 7  wherein the processor is configured to calculate the updated set temperature by subtracting a predetermined value from the target temperature.  
     
     
         13 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 7  wherein the processor is configured to calculate the updated set temperature by adding a predetermined value to the first set temperature.  
     
     
         14 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 7  wherein the processor is configured to calculate the updated set temperature by retrieving a pre-stored value.  
     
     
         15 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 7  wherein the first output power level is greater than the second output power level.  
     
     
         16 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 7  further comprising a user control configured to modify the target temperature.  
     
     
         17 . An electrosurgical generator comprising: a processor configured to: receive a target temperature; command a first output power level until a measured temperature is within a specified value of the target temperature; calculate a second output power level when the measured temperature is within the specified value of the target temperature; command the second output power level; and determine whether the measured temperature is equal to the target temperature.  
     
     
         18 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 17  wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the target temperature from a storage location.  
     
     
         19 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 17  wherein the processor is configured to receive the target temperature from a user input.  
     
     
         20 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 17  wherein the first output power level comprises an output power level based upon an identity of a surgical probe.  
     
     
         21 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 17  wherein the first output power level is greater than the second output power level.  
     
     
         22 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 17  further comprising a user control configured to modify the target temperature.  
     
     
         23 . An electrosurgical generator comprising: a processor configured to: receive a target temperature; receive a first generator output setting corresponding to a first generator output power; command the first generator output setting when a difference between the target temperature and a measured temperature is greater than a specified value; calculate a second generator output setting if the first generator output power is less than a maximum allowed generator output power for an identified surgical probe and if the difference between the target temperature and the measured temperature is greater than the specified value, wherein the second generator output setting corresponds to a second generator output power that is greater than the first generator output power, and command the second generator output setting; calculate a third generator output setting if the first generator output power is greater than the maximum allowed generator output power for the identified surgical probe and the difference between the target temperature and the measured temperature is greater than the specified value, wherein the third generator output setting corresponds to a third generator output power that is less than the first generator output power, and command the third generator output setting; and determine whether the difference between the target temperature and the measured temperature is less than or equal to the specified value.  
     
     
         24 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 23  wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the target temperature from a storage location.  
     
     
         25 . The electrosurgical generator of  claim 23  wherein the processor is configured to receive the target temperature from a user input.