Combined Bipolar and Monopolar Electrosurgical Instrument and Method

Abstract

An electrical switching system for use in various types of electrosurgical instruments and related tools comprises a system adapted to automatically determine which of at least two electrical current modes to deliver through an electrosurgical instrument based on a condition sensed by the electrosurgical instrument. In another embodiment, the electrical switching system comprises a generator, the generator including a first electrical distribution systems for delivering monopolar electrical energy, and a second electrical distribution system for delivering bipolar electrical energy, a controller coupled to the generator for selecting based on an input which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate.

1 . A electrical switching system for selectively delivering either bipolar or monopolar electrical energy through a surgical instrument, comprising:
 a generator, the generator comprising a first electrical distribution system for delivering monopolar electrical energy, and a second electrical distribution system for delivering bipolar electrical energy;   a controller coupled to the generator, for selecting based on an electrical condition at a tine of a surgical instrument, which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate, the electrical condition indicating a mode of operation of the surgical instrument, the controller comprising:
 a first pair of relays actively coupled to-the first electrical distribution system; 
 a second pair of relays actively coupled to-the second electrical distribution system; 
 a switch for selecting either the first electrical distribution system or the second electrical distribution system; and 
 a keying circuit coupled to the switch for selectively engaging either the first or second electrical distribution systems. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the keying circuit comprises:
 an isolator for segregating the monopolar electrical energy from the bipolar electrical energy; and   control logic for determining which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the generator and the controller are distinct units. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the generator and the controller are within a single unit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring device coupled to the keying circuit for determining whether a fault condition exists in the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the monitoring device obtains a voltage reference in order to ascertain a phase comparison. 
     
     
         7 . An electrical connection system for selectively delivering one of a plurality of electrical energy modes through a surgical instrument, comprising:
 a generator comprising a first electrical distribution system for delivering a electrical energy in a first mode, and a second electrical distribution system for delivering electrical energy in a second mode;   a controller coupled to the generator, for selecting based on an electrical condition at a tine of a surgical instrument, which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate, the electrical condition indicating a mode of operation of the surgical instrument, the controller comprising:
 a first pair of relays electrically coupled to the first electrical distribution system; 
 a second pair of relays electrically coupled to the second electrical distribution system; 
 a switch for selecting either the first electrical distribution system or the second electrical distribution system; 
 a keying circuit coupled to the switch for selectively engaging either the first or second electrical distribution systems based on the mode of operation of the surgical instrument; 
 a third set of relays coupled to the first and second set of relays; and 
 an impedance sensing circuit coupled to and disposed between the keying circuit and the third set of relays. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the keying circuit comprises:
 an isolator for segregating the first electrical energy mode from the second electrical energy mode; and   control logic for determining which of the first and second electrical distribution systems to activate.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the impedance sensing circuit is coupled to the control logic. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the generator and the controller are distinct units. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the generator and the controller are within a single unit. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a monitoring device coupled to the keying circuit for determining whether a fault condition exists in the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the monitoring device is an active electrode monitoring device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the monitoring device obtains a voltage reference in order to ascertain a phase comparison. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a second switch for activating or deactivating the flow of electrical energy from the generator to the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein one of the first and second sets of relays are selected from the group consisting of high voltage reed relays, field effect transistor relays, and solid state relays. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the impedance sensing circuit senses a property associated with the surgical instrument and instructs the controller to select either the first or second electrical distribution systems based on the property associated with the electrosurgical instrument. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of electrical energy modes comprises bipolar electrical energy and monopolar electrical energy. 
     
     
         19 . A method of selectively delivering bipolar or monopolar electrical current through a surgical instrument, comprising:
 sensing an electrical condition at a tine of the surgical instrument, the electrical condition indicating a mode of operation of the surgical instrument;   selecting, based on the electrical condition, whether to deliver the bipolar or monopolar electrical current through the surgical instrument; and   providing instructions to an electrosurgical generator to deliver the selected bipolar or monopolar electrical current through the surgical instrument.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the electrical condition is impedance.