Patent ID: 6039732
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An electric operation apparatus for performing a high frequency treatment on organic tissue, comprising:selection means for selecting one of a plurality of high frequency output modes, said plurality of high frequency output modes including a spray coagulation mode in which a high releasing voltage is generated so that a breakdown is induced in air to thereby cause arc discharging at an output end, and so that a coagulation effect is generated by a high frequency current which flows when the arc discharging occurs, even though the organic tissue being treated is not in contact with an active electrode;high frequency generator means, including a waveform generator section for generating waveforms corresponding to respective modes of the plurality of high frequency output modes, for outputting high frequencies corresponding to respective waveforms;control means for controlling the high frequency generator means in accordance with selection operations performed by the selection means;an active line connected to the high frequency generator means and including an active electrode;a counter plate line connected to the high frequency generator means and including a counter plate; andmonitor means for detecting a current value of the high frequency current which flows between the active line and the counter plate line when the spray coagulation mode is selected by the selection means, and for inputting the current value into the control means;wherein said control means further comprises:means for holding in advance a threshold value at which the arc discharging is generated at the output end;means for comparing the current value input by the monitor means and the threshold value, when the spray coagulation mode is selected by the selection means;means for determining whether arc discharging has occurred at the output end, based on a result of the comparison; andmeans for (i) controlling the high frequency generator means to continuously output a waveform corresponding to the spray coagulation mode generated by the waveform generator section if arc discharging at the output end is detected based on the result of the comparison, and (ii) controlling the high frequency generator means to intermittently output at a predetermined cycle a waveform corresponding to the spray coagulation mode generated by the waveform generator section if arc discharging at the output end is not detected based on the result of the comparison.