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Abstract

The present invention provides for an electro-surgical instrument with a rich graphical user interface (GUI) capability and a verifiable hardware and software platform meeting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. The rich GUI makes for a device which is more easily operated than prior art devices which lacked a sophisticated user interface. The increased functionality is achieved without sacrificing the ability to validate the device for FDA purposes. This goal is achieved by a dual processor design. In the dual processor design a control or master processor with verifiable source code implements the functions of: power delivery, temperature measurement, power measurement and power control. A display or slave processor, is functionally isolated from the first processor receiving only messages from the first processor. In a first embodiment of the invention an electro-surgical instrument is disclosed. The electro-surgical instrument includes a power delivery channel, at least one electrode and a display. The electro-surgical instrument also includes a control unit and a display unit. The control unit controls the operation of the power delivery channel and at least one electrode to deliver power to the surgical site. The control unit also determines at least one parameter of the power delivery channel and passing the parameter to the display unit. The display unit is coupled to the control unit and the display. The display unit accepts the at least one parameter, generates the graphical user interface on the display and displays the at least one parameter on the graphical user interface. In another embodiment of the invention a method for providing a graphical user interface in an electro-surgical instrument is disclosed.

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First Claim