Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An electrosurgical system includes a generator (10) for generating radio frequency power, an electrosurgical instrument (12) including at least two electrodes, and an identification element (80) representative of at least the number of electrodes present on the instrument. The generator (10) comprises an RF output stage having three or more output connections (62A, 62B, 62C), and a power supply (66) coupled to the output stage for supplying power to the output stage. The generator (10) also includes a controller (72) capable of varying the RF signal supplied to at least one of the three or more output connections (62A, 62B, 62C), and a switching circuit (62) for varying the connections between the power supply (66) and the three or more output connections. The generator (10) also includes a sensing circuit capable of sensing the identification element (80) carried by the instrument, and of sending a signal to the switching circuit (62) to set the switching circuit to a mode of operation depending on the number of electrodes present on the instrument (12).

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim