Methods of delayed energy activation for electrosurgical tools in robotic surgical systems

Abstract

Methods for minimally invasive electro-surgical systems are disclosed. One method includes determining if an input device is selected at a control console. If the input device is selected then, providing feedback to a user of the selection of the input device, delaying a first predetermined period of time for the user to receive the feedback, determining if the input device is deselected, and if not deselected, then activating an electrosurgical device to couple energy to tissue. If deselected, the method skips activation of the electrosurgical device. While active, a method includes determining if the input device is deselected, and if so, then deactivating the electrosurgical device, determining if the input device is reselected and if the input device is not reselected, then waiting and determining if a second predetermined period of time has lapsed prior to reselection of the input device and if not, then repeating the reselected determining step.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for a minimally invasive electro-surgical system, the method comprising:
 determining if a user input device is selected at a control console;   if the user input device is selected then,
 providing feedback to a user of the selection of the user input device, 
 delaying a first predetermined period of time for the user to receive the feedback, 
 determining if the user input device is deselected, and 
 if the user input device is not deselected, then activating an electrosurgical device to couple electrosurgical energy to tissue. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 if the user input device is deselected, then skipping activation of the electrosurgical device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein if the user input device is deselected, further comprising:
 swapping energy control from a first electrosurgical tool to a second electrosurgical tool; and   repeating the determining if the user input device is selected at the control console.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the feedback provided to the user is visual feedback provided by a graphical user interface displayed by a video display device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein
 the feedback provided to the user is visual feedback provided by an activated energy strip border displayed by a graphical user interface on a video display device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the feedback provided to the user is an audible feedback generated by a speaker of the surgeon console.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 the feedback provided to the user is an audible feedback generated by a speaker of the surgeon console.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the feedback provided to the user is a tactile feedback generated by a vibration device of the control console.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 while the electrosurgical device is active, determining if the user input device is deselected, and   if the user input device is deselected, then
 deactivating the electrosurgical device, 
 determining if the user input device is reselected; 
 if the user input device is not reselected, then waiting and determining if a second predetermined period of time has lapsed prior to reselection of the input device and if not, then repeating the determining if the user input device is reselected. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 if the user input device is reselected before the second predetermined period of time lapses, then providing feedback to the user and repeating the activating of the electrosurgical device to couple electrosurgical energy to tissue without a lapse of the second predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 if the second predetermined period of time lapses without reselection of the input user device, then repeating the determining if the user input device is selected at the control console.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrosurgical device is an electrosurgical energy generator, and   an electrosurgical tool couples the electrosurgical energy to tissue.