Patent ID: 9649143
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An electrosurgical system comprising: a plasma generator including a noble gas conduit and an electrode disposed within the noble gas conduit, the electrode configured to at least partially ionize a carrier gas fed through the noble gas conduit to create a plasma discharge at a distal end of the noble gas conduit; an electrosurgical generator including a high voltage power supply and a controller, the high voltage power supply configured to supply power to the electrode to enable the plasma generator to create the plasma discharge; a first flow controller having a first flow entry passage and a first flow exit passage, the first flow entry passage connected directly to an exit passage of a unitary gas source for receiving carrier gas directly from the unitary gas source, the first flow exit passage connected to a composite flow passage; a second flow controller arranged in parallel with the first flow controller, the second flow controller having a second flow entry passage and a second flow exit passage, the second flow entry passage connected directly to the exit passage of the unitary gas source for receiving carrier gas directly from the unitary gas source; and a valve having a third flow entry passage and a third flow exit passage, the third flow entry passage connected directly to the second flow exit passage, the third flow exit passage connected to the composite flow passage; wherein the composite flow passage is configured to feed carrier gas from at least one of the first flow controller and second flow controller through the noble gas conduit of the plasma generator; wherein the controller of the electrosurgical generator is configured to provide control signals to the first flow controller, the second flow controller, and the valve to thereby automatically create multiple pulses of a flow of the carrier gas through the noble gas conduit without user intervention; and wherein, when the high voltage power supply supplies power to the electrode of the plasma generator to energize the electrode, the multiple pulses of the flow of the carrier gas creates multiple pulses of plasma discharge at the distal end of the noble gas conduit.