Electrosurgical network

Abstract

An electrosurgical system comprising: a plurality of electrosurgical connection units, each electrosurgical connection unit comprising an input port connectable to an electrosurgical channel and an output port connectable to an electrosurgical instrument, the electrosurgical connection unit configured to connect the input port to the output port; an electrosurgical network comprising a plurality of electrosurgical links that connect the input ports of the electrosurgical connection units to an electrosurgical channel; and a control unit configured to: receive information from a device indicating that the device has detected an electrosurgical generator connected to the electrosurgical channel, the device being one of the electrosurgical connection units and an electrosurgical output device connected to the electrosurgical channel; determine a location of the electrosurgical generator in the electrosurgical network based on the received information; and transmit one or more control signals to the electrosurgical connection units and/or one or more electrosurgical output devices connected to the electrosurgical channel to cause the output port of a selected combination of electrosurgical connection units to be connected to the electrosurgical channel based on the determined location of the electrosurgical generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrosurgical connection unit for a surgical robot arm, the electrosurgical connection unit comprising:
 an electrosurgical instrument port configured to transmit electrosurgical signals to an electrosurgical instrument connectable thereto;   a plurality of electrosurgical and data ports which are each configured to receive and transmit electrosurgical signals and data signals;   an electrosurgical switching unit configured to controllably connect electrosurgical elements of any port to electrosurgical elements of any other port; and   an internal control unit configured to control the electrosurgical switching unit in response to a data signal received at an electrosurgical and data port.   
     
     
         2 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 1 , wherein the electrosurgical switching unit comprises one or more switches configured to be controllably enabled or disabled to connect electrosurgical elements of the ports. 
     
     
         3 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 1 , wherein connecting the electrosurgical elements of a first port to the electrosurgical elements of a second port establishes an electrosurgical connection between the first and second ports. 
     
     
         4 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electrosurgical and data ports is configured to receive a single electrosurgical and data cable over which data signals and electrosurgical signals are transmitted and received. 
     
     
         5 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one electrosurgical and data port is keyed such that only an electrosurgical and data cable can be inserted therein. 
     
     
         6 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 1 , wherein the internal control unit is configured to receive and process the data signals received via data elements of the electrosurgical and data ports. 
     
     
         7 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 6 , wherein the internal control unit is configured to receive and process the data signals received via the data elements of the electrosurgical and data ports to control the electrosurgical switching unit. 
     
     
         8 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrosurgical generator port configured to receive electrosurgical signals from an electrosurgical generator connectable thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 8 , wherein the electrosurgical generator port is configured to receive an electrosurgical generator cable over which electrosurgical signals are received. 
     
     
         10 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 9 , wherein the electrosurgical generator port is keyed such that only an electrosurgical generator cable can be inserted therein. 
     
     
         11 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 1 , wherein the internal control unit is configured to, in response to receiving data signals on an electrosurgical and data port, analyse the data signals to determine if data carried on the data signals is intended for the electrosurgical connection unit. 
     
     
         12 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 11 , wherein the internal control unit is further configured to, if the internal control unit determines that the data is intended for the electrosurgical connection unit, process the data. 
     
     
         13 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 11 , wherein the internal control unit is further configured to, if the internal control unit determines that the data is intended for another device, re-transmit the data on data elements of one or more other electrosurgical and data ports. 
     
     
         14 . The electrosurgical connection unit of  claim 1 , wherein the electrosurgical instrument port is keyed so that only an electrosurgical instrument cable can be inserted therein. 
     
     
         15 . An electrosurgical system comprising:
 the electrosurgical connection unit as set forth in  claim 1 ; and   one or more of: another electrosurgical connection unit, an electrosurgical generator, an electrosurgical distribution unit, an electrosurgical control unit and a combined electrosurgical control unit and electrosurgical distribution unit connected to one of the plurality of electrosurgical and data ports.   
     
     
         16 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 15 , comprising:
 an electrosurgical generator connected directly or indirectly to a first electrosurgical and data port of the electrosurgical connection unit such that the electrosurgical connection unit receives a driving electrosurgical signal from the electrosurgical generator on the first electrosurgical and data port; and   a second electrosurgical connection unit connected to a second electrosurgical and data port of the electrosurgical connection unit;   wherein the internal control unit is configured to, in response to one or more data signals, provide the driving electrosurgical signal received on the first electrosurgical and data connection unit to the second electrosurgical connection unit by causing the electrosurgical switching unit to connect the electrosurgical elements of the first electrosurgical and data port to the electrosurgical elements of the second electrosurgical and data port.   
     
     
         17 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 15 , comprising:
 an electrosurgical generator connected directly or indirectly to an electrosurgical and data port of the electrosurgical connection unit such that the electrosurgical connection unit receives a driving electrosurgical signal from the electrosurgical generator on the electrosurgical and data port; and   an electrosurgical instrument attached to the electrosurgical instrument port;   wherein the internal control unit is configured to, in response to one or more data signals, provide the driving electrosurgical signal received on the electrosurgical and data port to the electrosurgical instrument by causing the electrosurgical switching unit to connect the electrosurgical elements of the electrosurgical and data port to the electrosurgical elements of the electrosurgical instrument port.   
     
     
         18 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 15 , wherein the electrosurgical connection unit further comprises an electrosurgical generator port and the system comprises:
 an electrosurgical generator connected to the electrosurgical generator port of the electrosurgical connection unit such that the electrosurgical connection unit receives a driving electrosurgical signal from the electrosurgical generator on the electrosurgical generator port; and   an electrosurgical instrument attached to the electrosurgical instrument port;   wherein the internal control unit is configured to, in response to one or more data signals, provide the driving electrosurgical signal received on the electrosurgical generator port to the electrosurgical instrument by causing the electrosurgical switching unit to connect the electrosurgical elements of the electrosurgical generator port to the electrosurgical elements of the electrosurgical instrument port.   
     
     
         19 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 15 , wherein the electrosurgical connection unit further comprises an electrosurgical generator port and the system comprises:
 an electrosurgical generator connected to the electrosurgical generator port of the electrosurgical connection unit such that the electrosurgical connection unit receives a driving electrosurgical signal from the electrosurgical generator on the electrosurgical generator port; and   a second electrosurgical connection unit connected to an electrosurgical and data port of the electrosurgical connection unit;   wherein the internal control unit is configured to, in response to one or more data signals, provide the driving electrosurgical signal received on the electrosurgical generator port to the second electrosurgical connection unit by causing the electrosurgical switching unit to connect the electrosurgical elements of the electrosurgical generator port to the electrosurgical elements of the electrosurgical connection unit.   
     
     
         20 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 15 , comprising a second electrosurgical connection unit connected to an electrosurgical and data port of the electrosurgical connection unit, and wherein the internal control unit is configured to, in response to receiving a data signal on a different electrosurgical and data port directed to the second electrosurgical connection unit, re-transmit the data signal on data elements of the electrosurgical and data port.