Transformer for RF voltage sensing
An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes a multiple-secondary transformer configured for sensing voltage. The multiple-secondary transformer includes a primary winding coupled to an active terminal and a return terminal of the electrosurgical system and a plurality of secondary windings. Each of the secondary windings is configured to transform the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage. Each of the secondary windings includes an output coupled to a sensor circuit and configured to transmit the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit.
1. An electrosurgical system for producing a radio frequency voltage, comprising:
a multiple-secondary transformer configured for sensing voltage, the multiple-secondary transformer including:
a primary winding having a first lead and a second lead, the first lead is coupled to an active terminal and the second lead is coupled to a return terminal of the electrosurgical system, wherein the active terminal and the return terminal are coupled to a load; and
a plurality of secondary windings, each of the secondary windings being configured to transform the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage, each of the secondary windings including an output coupled to a sensor circuit and configured to transmit the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit.
2. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the secondary windings steps down the radio frequency voltage.
3. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the secondary windings includes the same number of turns.
4. An electrosurgical system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of secondary windings is modular and is configured to be selectively engageable with the multiple-secondary transformer.
5. A method for performing electrosurgery, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a multiple-secondary transformer configured for sensing voltage, the multiple-secondary transformer including a primary winding, the primary winding having a first lead and a second lead, the first lead is coupled to an active terminal and the second lead is coupled to a return terminal of the electrosurgical system and a plurality of secondary windings, each of the secondary windings including an output coupled to a sensor circuit, wherein the active terminal and the return terminal are coupled to a load;
generating a radio frequency voltage at a radio frequency output stage including an active terminal and a return terminal; and
transforming the radio frequency voltage into a sensed voltage at each of the secondary windings and transmitting the sensed voltage to the sensor circuit via the output.
6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the secondary windings steps down the radio frequency voltage.
7. A method according to claim 5 , wherein each of the secondary windings includes the same number of turns.
8. A method according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of secondary windings is modular and is configured to be selectively engageable with the multiple-secondary transformer.
9. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of delivering the radio frequency voltage to tissue through an electrosurgical instrument coupled to the active terminal.