Ultrasonic surgical system

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical system enables connection of a hand switch as well as a foot switch, which is used to operate a driving signal generator, without the necessity of retrofitting a main unit including the driving signal generator used to drive an ultrasonic transducer incorporated in a connected handpiece. An extension unit is included for connecting_the foot switch and hand switch to the main unit. The foot switch and hand switch are connected to the main unit via the extension unit.

1 . A surgical system including:
 i) a surgical generator;   ii) a surgical instrument capable of being attached to the surgical generator; and   iii) a switching device for activating the surgical instrument, the surgical generator including:
 a) at least one source of power; 
 b) an input connection for receiving switching signals from the switching device; 
 c) an output connection for power to the surgical instrument, and 
 d) a controller adapted to supply power to the output connection in response to signals received from the switching device, 
 the input connection being capable of connecting to two or more different types of switching devices, and the controller including means for determining which type of switching device is connected to the input connection. 
   
   
   
       2 . A surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching device connected to the input connection comprises a foot switch. 
   
   
       3 . A surgical system according to  claim 2 , wherein the foot switch is connected to the input connection by means of a cable. 
   
   
       4 . A surgical system according to  claim 3 , wherein the means for determining which type of switching device is connected to the input connection comprises means responsive to the capacitance of the switching device connected to the input connection. 
   
   
       5 . A surgical system according to  claim 2 , wherein the input connection comprises a wireless receiver, and the foot switch is a wireless foot switch. 
   
   
       6 . A surgical system according to  claim 5 , wherein the means for determining which type of switching device is connected to the input connection comprises means for sending and receiving a wireless signal between the generator and the wireless foot switch. 
   
   
       7 . A surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching device comprises a hand switch carried by the surgical instrument. 
   
   
       8 . A surgical system according to  claim 7 , wherein the means for determining which type of switching device is connected to the input connection comprises means for detecting a passive electrical component within the surgical instrument. 
   
   
       9 . A surgical system according to  claim 8 , wherein the passive electrical component is a resistor. 
   
   
       10 . A surgical system according to  claim 8 , wherein the passive electrical component is a capacitor. 
   
   
       11 . A surgical system according to  claim 1 , wherein two or more different types of switching devices are connected to the generator, and the controller includes means for determining the hierarchy in which the two or more types of switching devices operate. 
   
   
       12 . A surgical system according to  claim 11 , wherein the two or more different types of switching devices include a foot switch, and a hand switch carried by the surgical instrument. 
   
   
       13 . A surgical system according to  claim 12 , wherein the hierarchy is such that signals from the hand switch take precedence over signals from the foot switch. 
   
   
       14 . An electrosurgical generator, including:
 a) at least one source of radio frequency (RF) power;   b) one or more input connections for receiving switching signals from one or more switching devices;   c) one or more output connections for supplying RF power to an electro surgical instrument; and   d) a controller adapted to supply RF power to one or more output connections in response to signals received from the one or more switching devices,   the one or more input connections being capable of connecting to two or more different types of switching devices, and the controller including means for determining which type of switching device is connected to the one or more input connections.   
   
   
       15 . An electrosurgical generator according to  claim 14 , wherein two or more different types of switching devices are connected to the generator, and the controller includes means for determining the hierarchy in which the two or more types of switching devices operate. 
   
   
       16 . An electrosurgical generator according to  claim 15 , wherein the hierarchy is such that signals to the controller to supply a coagulating RF waveform take precedence over signals to the controller to supply a cutting RF waveform.