Patent ID: 6830569
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An electrosurgical generator which delivers electrosurgical output power in response to an activation signal, comprising:an electrosurgical power creation circuit which is operative in response to an enable signal to create the output power; a delivery path connected to the power creation circuit and through which the output power is delivered from the electrosurgical generator; a selectively controllable power flow switch connected in the delivery path to conduct the output power through the delivery path in response to an assertion of a power command signal to the power flow switch and to prevent conduction of the output power through the delivery path in response to the de-assertion of the power command signal; a controller receptive of the activation signal and operative to supply the enable signal to the power creation circuit and to assert the command signal to the power flow switch in response to the activation signal, the controller further operative to withdraw the enable signal from the power creation circuit and to de-assert the command signal to the power flow switch in response to the absence of the activation signal; a sensor connected in the delivery path to sense the flow of the output power through the delivery path and to assert a sense signal upon sensing the presence of the output power flowing in the delivery path and to de-assert the sense signal upon sensing the absence of the output power flowing in the delivery path; and a detection circuit receptive of the command signal and the sense signal and responsive to an inconsistency in one of the simultaneous assertion of the command and sense signals or the simultaneous de-assertion of the command and sense signals, the detection circuit terminating the supply of the enable signal to the electrosurgical power creation circuit upon detection of the inconsistency.