Tri-frequency electrosurgical instrument
View Patent ↗An electrosurgical instrument that is capable of generating high-quality RF energy carriers at one of three different frequencies and combining any of the three carriers with any one of four electrosurgical mode waveform modulations and selectively supplying the modulated carriers to either a monopolar or a bipolar handpiece. In a preferred embodiment, the first carrier frequency is in the range of about 3.8-4.0 MHz, the second carrier frequency is in the range of about 1.7-2.0 MHz, and the third carrier frequency is in the range of about 400-600 KHz.
1. An electrosurgical instrument for selectively providing electrosurgical currents at various carrier frequencies and in different electrosurgical modes to operate an electrosurgical handpiece, comprising:
RF power generating circuitry configured to generate a first carrier frequency, a second carrier frequency, and a third carrier frequency, each frequency being different from any such other frequency;
wherein the RF power generating circuitry includes a modulating circuit configured to generate at least two different modulating waveforms selected from the group of a first modulating waveform, a second modulating waveform, a third modulating waveform, and a fourth modulating waveform, each modulating waveform providing a different desired electrosurgical mode from any other such modulating wave form;
wherein the instrument is configured to selectably output to an electrosurgical handpiece a signal representing any one or more of the two different modulating waveforms for each of at least two of the carrier frequencies, and
wherein any combination of carrier frequency and modulated waveform is selectably outputtable to a connector for either a monopolar or bipolar electrosurgical handpiece.
2. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a footswitch connected to the instrument, said footswitch functioning to turn on and off the RF power generating circuitry.
3. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is in the range of about 3.8-4.0 MHz, the second frequency is in the range of about 1.7-2.0 MHz, and the third frequency is in the range of about 400-600 KHz.
4. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the first frequency is about 4.0 MHz, the second frequency is about 1.7 MHz, and the third frequency is about 500 KHz.
5. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a monopolar or bipolar handpiece.
6. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument includes a first switch section controlling carrier frequency selection, a second switch section controlling mode selection, and a third switch section controlling to which handpiece selected electrosurgical signals are delivered.
7. An electrosurgical instrument according to claim 6 , further comprising a monopolar handpiece connected to a first electrical connector on the instrument, a bipolar handpiece connected to a second electrical connector on the instrument.
8. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the modulating circuit is configured to generate a first modulating waveform that effects an electrosurgical mode for cutting, and the instrument is selectably configured to output the signal for the first waveform to the electrosurgical handpiece.
9. The instrument of claim 8 wherein the modulating circuit is configured to generate a second modulating waveform that effects an electrosurgical mode for coagulation, and the instrument is selectably configured to output the signal for the second waveform to the electrosurgical handpiece.
10. The instrument of claim 8 wherein the modulating circuit is configured to generate a second modulating waveform that effects an electrosurgical mode for a blend of cutting, and coagulating, and the instrument is selectably configured to output the signal for the third waveform to the electrosurgical handpiece.
11. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the instrument is configured for use with a monopolar handpiece.
12. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the first frequency is in the range of about 3.8-4.0 MHz, the second frequency is in the range of about 1.7-2.0 MHz, and the third frequency is in the range of about 400-600 KHz.
13. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the instrument is configured for use with a bipolar handpiece.
14. The instrument of claim 13 wherein the first frequency is in the range of about 3.8-4.0 MHz, the second frequency is in the range of about 1.7-2.0 MHz, and the third frequency is in the range of about 400-600 KHz.
15. The instrument of claim 8 wherein the modulating circuit is configured to generate a second modulating waveform that effects an electrosurgical mode of fulguration, and the instrument is selectably configured to output the signal for the fourth waveform to the electrosurgical handpiece.
16. The instrument of claim 15 wherein the instrument is configured for use with a monopolar handpiece.
17. The instrument of claim 15 wherein the first frequency is in the range of about 3.8-4.0 MHz, the second frequency is in the range of about 1.7-2.0 MHz, and the third frequency is in the range of about 400-600 KHz.
18. The instrument of claim 15 wherein the instrument is configured for use with a bipolar handpiece.
19. The instrument of claim 18 wherein the first frequency is in the range of about 3.8-4.0 MHz, the second frequency is in the range of about 1.7-2.0 MHz, and the third frequency is in the range of about 400-600 KHz.
20. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the modulating circuit is configured to generate a first modulating waveform that effects an electrosurgical mode for a blend of cutting and coagulating, and the instrument is selectably configured to output the signal for the third waveform to the electrosurgical handpiece.
21. The instrument of claim 20 wherein the modulating circuit is configured to generate a second modulating waveform that effects an electrosurgical mode of fulguration, and the instrument is selectably configured to output the signal for the fourth waveform to the electrosurgical handpiece.
22. An electrosurgical instrument for selectively providing electrosurgical currents at various carrier frequencies and in different electrosurgical modes to operate an electrosurgical handpiece, comprising:
RF power generating circuitry configured to generate at least one carrier frequency;
a modulating circuit configured to generate at least three different modulating waveforms on the at least one carrier frequency, each modulating waveform providing a different desired electrosurgical mode selected from the group of: (1) cutting, (2) coagulating, (3) blend of cutting and coagulating, and (4) fulguration;
wherein the instrument is configured to selectably output to an electrosurgical handpiece a signal representing any one or more of the three different modulating waveforms for the carrier frequency; and
wherein any combination of carrier frequency and modulated waveform is selectably outputtable to each of a connector for a monopolar handpiece and a connector for a bipolar electrosurgical handpiece.
23. The instrument of claim 22 wherein the instrument is configured for use with a monopolar handpiece.
24. The instrument of claim 23 wherein the RF generator is configured to generate a first frequency in the range of about (i) 3.8-4.0 MHz and (ii) a second frequency in the range of about 400-600 KHz or in the range of about 1.7-2.0 MHz.
25. The instrument of claim 22 wherein the instrument is configured for use with a bipolar handpiece.
26. The instrument of claim 25 wherein the RF generator is configured to generate a frequency in the range of about 1.7-2.0 MHz.