Method and system related to electrosurgical procedures

Abstract

Electrosurgical procedures. At least some of the example methods that include: supplying energy to an active electrode of an electrosurgical wand, the supplying energy to the active electrode by an electrosurgical controller; monitoring an electrical parameter associated with the energy; and determining, based on the electrical parameter, the presence of a wand condition of the electrosurgical wand, the wand condition being at least one selected from the group consisting of: a surface area of the active electrode is less than a predetermined threshold surface area; the surface area of the active electrode is approaching the predetermined threshold surface area; and that the electrosurgical wand is affected by a blockage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrosurgical system comprising:
 a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor;   a voltage generator operatively coupled to the processor;   a fluid flow control apparatus operatively coupled to the processor operatively coupled to a tubular member configured to aspirate fluid; and   a sensor in operational relationship with the tubular member; the sensor configured to measure a value indicative of temperature of the fluid drawn through the tubular member, the sensor communicatively coupled to the processor;   wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the controller to:
 monitor the value indicative of temperature; and 
 determine based on the value indicative of temperature an tubular member condition associated with a blockage of fluid flow therethrough. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 1  further comprising an electrosurgical wand, selectively operatively coupled to the voltage generator, the electrosurgical wand having an active electrode at a distal end, a shaft and a handle at a proximal end of the shaft, and wherein the sensor is disposed within the handle. 
     
     
         3 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 2  wherein the tubular member has an opening adjacent the active electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is directly coupled to an outer surface of the tubular member. 
     
     
         5 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 2  wherein the sensor is directly coupled to an outer surface of the tubular member that extends though the electrosurgical wand handle. 
     
     
         6 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 1  wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, further causes the controller to:
 provide an alert when the value indicative of temperature is above a predetermined threshold value. 
 
     
     
         7 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 1  wherein the memory stores at least one value indicative of temperature associated with a blockage of fluid flow therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . An electrosurgical system comprising:
 a controller comprising
 a processor; 
 a memory communicably coupled to the processor; 
 a voltage generator operatively coupled to the processor 
 a fluid flow control apparatus operatively coupled to the processor and configured to control a fluid flow through a fluid flow conduit operatively coupled thereto; 
   an electrosurgical wand operatively coupled to an output of the voltage generator; and   a temperature sensor operatively coupled to the fluid flow conduit, the temperature sensor for detecting an inadequate fluid flow condition through the fluid flow conduit and communicatively coupled to the processor;   wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the controller to:
 deliver a first high frequency voltage to an active electrode of the electrosurgical wand; 
 receive a signal from the temperature sensor; and 
 determine a presence of an inadequate fluid flow condition through the fluid flow conduit. 
   
     
     
         9 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 8  wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, further causes the controller to:
 command the controller to provide an alert when the inadequate fluid flow condition is present. 
 
     
     
         10 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 8  wherein the electrosurgical wand has an elongate shaft and a handle at a proximal end of the shaft, and wherein the temperature sensor is disposed within the handle. 
     
     
         11 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 8  wherein the fluid flow conduit has an opening adjacent the active electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 8  wherein the temperature sensor is directly coupled to an outer surface of the fluid flow conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 8  wherein the temperature sensor is directly coupled to an outer surface of the fluid flow conduit and within a handle of the electrosurgical wand. 
     
     
         14 . An electrosurgical wand comprising:
 an active and return electrode at a distal end of the wand, and handle at a proximal end of the electrosurgical wand and a shaft therebetween;   a suction conduit configured to aspirate fluid therethrough, having an opening adjacent the active electrode and extending through the handle;   a temperature sensor directly coupled to an external surface of the suction conduit configured to determine inadequate flow conditions through the suction conduit.   
     
     
         15 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 14  wherein the temperature sensor is disposed within the wand handle. 
     
     
         16 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 14  further comprising a processor, communicable coupled to the temperature sensor, the processor having a memory that stores a program that, when executed by the processor causes the processor to periodically received values from the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 16  wherein when the processor is communicably coupled to a controller the processor is configured to periodically send the values received from the temperature sensor to the controller. 
     
     
         18 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 16  wherein the memory may store threshold temperature values associated with determining inadequate flow conditions. 
     
     
         19 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 18  wherein when the processor is communicably coupled to a controller, the processor is configured to send alerts to the controller when temperature values exceed the threshold temperature values.