Electrosurgical system with selective control of active and return electrodes

Abstract

Electrosurgical system with selective control of active and return electrodes. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising an electrosurgical wand and an electrosurgical controller. The wand comprises a non-conductive outer surface, at least three electrodes disposed on a distal end of the wand, and at least three electrical leads extending from a proximal end of the wand (one electrical lead electrically coupled to each electrode). The controller comprises a voltage generator and a control circuit coupled between the voltage generator and the electrodes of the wand. The control circuit is configured to: selectively electrically couple the active terminal singly and in combination to the electrodes of the wand; and selectively electrically couple the return terminal singly and in combination to electrodes of the wand.

1 . A system comprising:
 a wand comprising a non-conductive outer surface, at least three electrodes disposed on a distal end of the wand, and at least three electrical leads extending from a proximal end of the wand, one electrical lead electrically coupled to each electrode; and   a controller comprising:
 a controller connector coupled to the electrical leads; 
 a voltage generator configured to generate voltage of varying amplitude, the voltage generator has an active terminal and a return terminal; and 
 a control circuit coupled between the controller connector and the voltage generator; 
 the control circuit configured to selectively electrically couple the active terminal singly and in combination to the electrodes of the wand; and 
 the control circuit configured to selectively electrically couple the return terminal singly and in combination to electrodes of the wand. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller further comprises an operator interface device, and wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively electrically couple the active and return terminals to the electrical leads based on commands received through the operator interface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a foot pedal assembly operationally coupled to the controller, and wherein the control circuit is configured to selectively electrically couple the active and return terminals based on actuation of the foot pedal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the wand further comprises an internal passage, and wherein at least one electrode resides within the internal passage proximate to the distal end of the wand. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a wand connector coupled to the electrical leads, the wand connector comprising at least three electrical pins, one pin electrically coupled to each electrical lead;   wherein the controller connector and wand connector are configured to couple in only one orientation.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the wand connector and controller connector further comprise a tab and slot arrangement where the tab and slot are configured to allow the connectors to couple in the only one orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the tab and slot arrangement is at least one selected from the group consisting of: the tab on the wand connector and the slot on the controller connector; and the tab on the controller connector and the slot on the wand connector. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each electrode of the defines a surface area, and at least one electrode has a surface area less than three-quarters the surface area of another electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein distances between centers of each electrode are constant during deployment and use. 
     
     
         10 . An electrosurgical wand comprising:
 an elongate shaft that defines a proximal end and a distal end, at least a portion of the exterior surface comprising non-conductive material;   a connector comprising a plurality of pins;   a first electrode disposed on the distal end of the elongate shaft, and a first electrical lead electrically coupled to the first electrode and a first pin of the connector;   a second electrode disposed on the distal end of the elongate shaft, and a second electrical lead electrically coupled to the second electrode and a second pin of the connector; and   a third electrode disposed on the distal end of the elongate shaft, and a third electrical lead electrically coupled to the third electrode and a third pin of the connector;   each electrode defines a center, and distances between centers are fixed; and   wherein each electrode is configured to be selectively coupled to a high frequency voltage generator as an active electrode and as a return electrode.   
     
     
         11 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 10  further comprising an internal passage at least partially through the elongate shaft and having an aperture at the distal end of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 11  further comprising the first electrode disposed within the internal passage. 
     
     
         13 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 10  wherein the connector is further configured to couple to a connector of a controller in only one orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 13  wherein the connector comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a tab configured to mechanically couple to a slot of the connector of the controller; and a slot configured to mechanically couple to a tab of the connector of the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 10  wherein each electrode of the wand defines a surface area, and at least one electrode has a surface area less than three-quarters the surface area of another electrode. 
     
     
         16 . An electrosurgical controller comprising:
 a first connector disposed on an outer surface of the electrosurgical controller, the first connector configured to couple to a connector of an electrosurgical wand, and the first connector comprising at least three electrical pins;   a voltage generator configured to generate a selectable alternating current (AC) output voltage, the voltage generator has a active terminal and a return terminal;   a control circuit coupled between the first connector and the voltage generator, the control circuit configured to selectively electrically couple the active terminal singly or in combination to the electrical pins of the first connector; and   the control circuit configured to selectively electrically couple the return terminal singly or in combination to the electrical pins of the first connector.   
     
     
         17 . The electrosurgical controller of  claim 16  wherein the connector is further configured to couple to the connector of an electrosurgical wand in only one orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The electrosurgical controller of  claim 17  wherein the connector comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a tab configured to mechanically couple to a slot of the connector of the electrosurgical wand; and a slot configured to mechanically couple to a tab of the connector of the electrosurgical wand. 
     
     
         19 . The electrosurgical controller of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a second connector disposed on the outer surface of the electrosurgical controller, the second connector configured to couple to a pedal device;   the control circuit is configured to select a configuration of electrically coupling the active and return terminals to the electrical pins based on the actuation of the pedal.   
     
     
         20 . The electrosurgical controller of  claim 16  further comprising:
 an interface panel visible on the outer surface of the electrosurgical controller, and the interface panel electrically coupled to the control circuit;   the control circuit is configured to select a configuration of electrically coupling the active and return terminals to the electrical pins based on a user's interaction with the interface panel.   
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 treating a first portion of a target tissue with an electrosurgical wand electrically coupled to a controller by a connector, wherein treating the first portion comprises generating a current path between a first electrode of the wand as an active electrode, and a second electrode and a third electrode of the wand as return electrodes; and without de-coupling the connector from the controller;   electrically isolating the first, second, and third electrodes;   activating the third electrode of the electrosurgical wand as an active electrode;   activating a fourth electrode of the electrosurgical wand and at least one of the first and second electrodes as return electrodes, the fourth electrode different than the first and second electrodes; and then treating a second portion of the target tissue with the electrosurgical wand, wherein treating the second portion comprises generating a current path between the third and fourth electrodes and the at least one of the first and second electrodes.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein electrically isolating and activating further comprises interacting with an operator interface device on a controller. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein electrically isolating and activating further comprises interacting with a foot pedal device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising, concurrently with activating the third electrode as an active electrode, activating a fifth electrode of the electrosurgical wand as an active electrode, the fifth electrode different than the first and second electrode. 
     
     
         25 . An electrosurgical wand comprising:
 an elongate shaft that defines a proximal end and a distal end;   a connector comprising a plurality of pins;   at least two first electrodes disposed on the distal end of the elongate shaft;   at least two second electrodes disposed on the distal end of the elongate shaft;   wherein each of the electrodes is electrically coupled to one of the plurality of pins via an electrical lead;   wherein each of the at least two first electrodes have a surface area less than three-quarters the surface area of each of the at least two second electrodes; and   wherein in a first mode the at least two first electrodes are coupled to a high frequency voltage generator as active electrodes and the at least two second electrodes are coupled to the voltage generator as return electrodes.   
     
     
         26 . The electrosurgical wand of  claim 25  wherein in a second mode at least one of the first electrodes is electrically isolated from the voltage generator.