Patent ID: 11950830
Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An electrosurgical flux supply unit, comprising:
first and second terminals configured to be electrically coupled with first and second electrodes, respectively, of a first end effector of a first bipolar electrosurgical instrument operably coupled to the electrosurgical flux supply unit;
third and fourth terminals configured to be electrically coupled with third and fourth electrodes, respectively, of a second end effector of a second bipolar electrosurgical instrument operably coupled to the electrosurgical flux supply unit;
an electrosurgical flux source terminal;
an electrosurgical flux return terminal; and
an electrical switching mechanism selectively configurable between a first state and a second state, wherein:
in the first state, the electrosurgical flux source terminal is electrically coupled with the first terminal and the electrosurgical flux return terminal is electrically coupled with the second terminal, and
in the second state, the electrosurgical flux source terminal is electrically coupled with the third terminal and the electrosurgical flux return terminal is electrically coupled with the second terminal,

wherein the electrosurgical flux supply unit is configured to:
in the first state, supply bipolar electrosurgical flux to flow between the electrosurgical flux source terminal and the electrosurgical flux return terminal; and
in the second state, supply monopolar electrosurgical flux to flow between the electrosurgical flux source terminal and the electrosurgical flux return terminal.