IP Library Granted Patent US 9,370,314
Granted Patent B2
US 9,370,314 · App. 14/447,888 · Granted Jun 21, 2016

Endoscopic instrument for tissue identification

Inventors: Mani N. Prakash (Boulder, CO); Timothy J. Bahney (Portland, OR); Darren Odom (Longmont, CO)
Assignee: Covidien LP
A61B5/05A61B5/053A61B5/0538A61B5/68A61B18/1445A61B1/018A61B18/1206A61B18/18A61B2018/00875A61B2562/0209A61B2562/043A61B2562/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,370,314
App. No.
14/447,888
Granted
Jun 21, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for identifying and treating tissue includes providing an electrosurgical treatment device including an electrode assembly. One or more electrical property values of target tissue are measured. The measured electrical property values of the target tissue are compared against electrical property values of known tissue types. A tissue type of the target tissue is identified. An energy delivery configuration of the electrosurgical treatment device is adjusted to the type of target tissue. The electrosurgical treatment device is activated to treat the target tissue.

Claims (38)

1. A method for identifying tissue, the method comprising:

applying an electrical signal to target tissue;

determining at least one electrical property of the target tissue based on an electrical signal emitted by the target tissue in response to the application of the electrical signal thereto;

comparing the determined at least one electrical property of the target tissue with at least one electrical property of at least one tissue type to identify a type of the target tissue;

adjusting at least one of a frequency or a wave configuration of the electrical signal applied to the target tissue based on the identified type of the target tissue; and

applying the adjusted electrical signal to the target tissue to identify a condition of the target tissue.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein applying the adjusted electrical signal to the target tissue to identify a condition of the target tissue includes:

determining at least one electrical property value of the target tissue based on an electrical signal emitted by the target tissue in response to the application of the adjusted electrical signal thereto; and

comparing the determined at least one electrical property value of the target tissue with known electrical property values of tissue of a same type as the target tissue.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising adjusting an energy delivery configuration based on at least one of the identified type of the target tissue or the identified condition of the target tissue.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical property of the target tissue is selected from the group consisting of an impedance of the target tissue, a conductance of the target tissue, and a capacitance of the target tissue, and the at least one electrical property of the at least one tissue type is selected from the group consisting of a known impedance of the at least one tissue type, a known conductance of the at least one tissue type, and a known capacitance of the at least one tissue type.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one tissue type corresponds to tissue adjacent the target tissue.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising determining at least one electrical property of tissue adjacent the target tissue by applying an electrical signal thereto.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising alerting a user upon identifying the condition of the target tissue.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

sealing the target tissue;

determining at least one electrical property of the sealed target tissue; and

comparing the determined at least one electrical property of the sealed target tissue with known values of at least one electrical property of sealed tissue.

9. A method for identifying tissue, the method comprising:

applying an electrical signal to target tissue through at least a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes;

receiving, through at least a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, an electrical signal emitted by the target tissue in response to the electrical signal applied to the target tissue;

determining at least one electrical property of the target tissue based on the electrical signal emitted by the target tissue; and

comparing the determined at least one electrical property of the target tissue with at least one electrical property of at least one tissue type to identify a type of the target tissue.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

adjusting at least one of a frequency or a wave configuration of the electrical signal applied to the target tissue based on the identified type of the target tissue; and

applying the adjusted electrical signal to the target tissue to identify a condition of the target tissue.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein applying the adjusted electrical signal to the target tissue to identify a condition of the target tissue includes:

determining at least one electrical property value of the target tissue based on an electrical signal emitted by the target tissue in response to the application of the adjusted electrical signal thereto; and

comparing the determined at least one electrical property value of the target tissue with known electrical property values of tissue of a same type as the target tissue.

12. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising adjusting an energy delivery configuration based on at least one of the identified type of the target tissue or the identified condition of the target tissue.

13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising alerting a user upon identifying the condition of the target tissue.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one electrical property of the target tissue is selected from the group consisting of an impedance of the target tissue, a conductance of the target tissue, and a capacitance of the target tissue, and the at least one electrical property of the at least one tissue type is selected from the group consisting of a known impedance of the at least one tissue type, a known conductance of the at least one tissue type, and a known capacitance of the at least one tissue type.

15. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one tissue type corresponds to tissue adjacent the target tissue.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising determining the at least one electrical property of the tissue adjacent the target tissue by applying an electrical signal thereto.

17. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

sealing the target tissue;

determining at least one electrical property of the sealed target tissue; and

comparing the determined at least one electrical property of the sealed target tissue with known values of at least one electrical property of properly sealed tissue to determine whether the sealed target tissue is properly sealed.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2014
From: PRAKASH, MANI N.; BAHNEY, TIMOTHY J.; ODOM, DARREN
To: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
Reel/Frame 033432/0690 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 31, 2014
From: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LP
To: COVIDIEN LP
Reel/Frame 033451/0962 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13539875 · Jul 2, 2012
Division 12366298 · Feb 5, 2009
Provisional Application 61026788 · Feb 7, 2008
Related Publication 20140343449A1 · Nov 20, 2014