Abstract:
A system and method for determining the location of an electrosurgical generator using a geo-location device within the generator. The geo-location device determines the location of the generator and the controller sets a default language of the generator based on the determined location. The default language may be overridden by a user when necessary. The geo-location device is coupled to a communication port. The communication port allows for a wireless signal to be sent upon the generator being reported stolen or for tracking location of the generators. The communication port is coupled to the controller to allow for remote disablement, for example in response to the generator being stolen. Alternatively, the controller may disable the generator when the geo-location device determines that the generator has moved outside a predetermined location.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical generators. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for determining a location of an electrosurgical generator. 
         [0003]    2. Background of Related Art 
         [0004]    Energy-based tissue treatment is well known in the art. Various types of energy (e.g., electrical, ultrasonic, microwave, cryogenic, heat, laser, etc.) are applied to tissue to achieve a desired result. Electrosurgery involves application of high radio frequency electrical current to a surgical site to cut, ablate, coagulate or seal tissue. 
         [0005]    In bipolar electrosurgery, one of the electrodes of the hand-held instrument functions as the active electrode and the other as the return electrode. The return electrode is placed in close proximity to the active electrode such that an electrical circuit is formed between the two electrodes (e.g., electrosurgical forceps). In this manner, the applied electrical current is limited to the body tissue positioned between the electrodes. When the electrodes are sufficiently separated from one another, the electrical circuit is open and thus inadvertent contact with body tissue with either of the separated electrodes does not cause current to flow. 
         [0006]    Bipolar electrosurgical techniques and instruments can be used to coagulate blood vessels or tissue, e.g., soft tissue structures, such as lung, brain and intestine. A surgeon can either cauterize, coagulate/desiccate and/or simply reduce or slow bleeding, by controlling the intensity, frequency and duration of the electrosurgical energy applied between the electrodes and through the tissue. In order to achieve one of these desired surgical effects without causing unwanted charring of tissue at the surgical site or causing collateral damage to adjacent tissue, e.g., thermal spread, it is necessary to control the output from the electrosurgical generator, e.g., power, waveform, voltage, current, pulse rate, etc. 
         [0007]    In monopolar electrosurgery, the active electrode is typically a part of the surgical instrument held by the surgeon that is applied to the tissue to be treated. A patient return electrode is placed remotely from the active electrode to carry the current back to the generator and safely disperse current applied by the active electrode. The return electrodes usually have a large patient contact surface area to minimize heating at that site. Heating is caused by high current densities that directly depend on the surface area. A larger surface contact area results in lower localized heat intensity. Return electrodes are typically sized based on assumptions of the maximum current utilized during a particular surgical procedure and the duty cycle (i.e., the percentage of time the generator is on). 
         [0008]    The electrosurgical generator incorporates software and firmware for monitoring and control. One of the features of the software is a language setting where a user can choose from over twenty five languages. However, selecting a language through menus may be cumbersome or the language selected may be inadvertently changed by a user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for determining the location of an electrosurgical generator using a geo-location device within the generator. The geo-location device determines the location of the generator and the controller sets a default language of the generator based on the determined location. The default language may be overridden by a user when necessary. The geo-location device is coupled to a communication port. The communication port allows for a wireless signal to be sent upon the generator being reported stolen or for tracking location of the generators. The communication port is coupled to the controller to allow for remote disablement, for example in response to the generator being stolen. Alternatively, the controller may disable the generator when the geo-location device determines that the generator has moved outside a predetermined location. 
         [0010]    According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for operating an electrosurgical generator includes the steps of connecting a geo-location device to a controller within the generator and determining a location of the generator. The method further includes the steps of automatically selecting a default language based on the determined location, and modifying a display screen based on the default language. 
         [0011]    According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrosurgical generator includes a power supply and a RF output state configured to generate an electrosurgical waveform. The generator further includes a geo-location device configured to determine a location of the electrosurgical generator and a controller coupled to the geo-location device. The controller configured to automatically set a default language based on the location determined by the geo-location device. 
         [0012]    According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of operating an electrosurgical generator includes the steps of installing a geo-location device within the generator, and mapping the geo-location device to a generator ID of the generator. The method further includes the steps of determining a location of the generator, and sending, wirelessly, the location of the generator to a remote device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an electrosurgical system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an electrosurgical generator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the electrosurgical generator of  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. 
         [0019]    The generator according to the present disclosure can perform monopolar and bipolar electrosurgical procedures, including vessel sealing procedures. The generator may include a plurality of outputs for interfacing with various electrosurgical instruments (e.g., a monopolar active electrode, return electrode, bipolar electrosurgical forceps, footswitch, etc.). Further, the generator includes electronic circuitry configured to generate radio frequency power specifically suited for various electrosurgical modes (e.g., cutting, blending, division, etc.) and procedures (e.g., monopolar, bipolar, vessel sealing). 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a bipolar and monopolar electrosurgical system  1  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The system  1  includes one or more monopolar electrosurgical instruments  2  having one or more electrodes  3  (e.g., electrosurgical cutting probe, ablation electrode(s), etc.) for treating tissue of a patient. Electrosurgical RF energy is supplied to the instrument  2  by a generator  20 . The instrument  2  includes an active electrode  3  that is connected via a supply line  4  to an active terminal  30  of the generator  20 , allowing the instrument  2  to coagulate, ablate and/or otherwise treat tissue. The energy is returned to the generator  20  through a return electrode  6  via a return line  8  at a return terminal  32  of the generator  20 . The system  1  may include a plurality of return electrodes  6  that are arranged to minimize the chances of tissue damage by maximizing the overall contact area with the patient. In addition, the generator  20  and the return electrode  6  may be configured for monitoring so-called “tissue-to-patient” contact to insure that sufficient contact exists therebetween to further minimize chances of tissue damage. 
         [0021]    The system  1  may also include a bipolar electrosurgical forceps  10  having one or more electrodes for treating tissue of a patient. The electrosurgical forceps  10  includes opposing jaw members  15  and  17  having one or more active electrodes  14  and a return electrode  16  disposed therein, respectively. The active electrode  14  and the return electrode  16  are connected to the generator  20  through cable  18  that includes the supply and return lines  4 ,  8  coupled to the active and return terminals  30 ,  32 , respectively. The electrosurgical forceps  10  is coupled to the generator  20  at a connector having connections to the active and return terminals  30  and  32  (e.g., pins) via a plug disposed at the end of the cable  18 , wherein the plug includes contacts from the supply and return lines  4 ,  8 . 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , front face  40  of the generator  20  is shown. The generator  20  may be any suitable type (e.g., electrosurgical, microwave, etc.) and may include a plurality of connectors  50 - 62  to accommodate various types of electrosurgical instruments (e.g., multiple instruments  2 , electrosurgical forceps  10 , etc.). The generator  20  includes one or more display screens  42 ,  44 ,  46  for providing the user with a variety of output information (e.g., intensity settings, treatment complete indicators, etc.). Each of the screens  42 ,  44 ,  46  is associated with a corresponding connector  50 - 62 . The generator  20  includes suitable input controls (e.g., buttons, activators, switches, touch screen, etc.) for controlling the generator  20 . The display screens  42 ,  44 ,  46  are also configured as touch screens that display a corresponding menu for the electrosurgical instruments (e.g., multiple instruments  2 , electrosurgical forceps  10 , etc.). The user then makes inputs by simply touching corresponding menu options. The controls allow the user to select desired output modes as well as adjust operating parameters of the modes, such as power, waveform parameters, etc. to achieve the desired output suitable for a particular task (e.g., cutting, coagulating, tissue sealing, etc.). Additionally, the user can override a default setting for language by touching corresponding menu options. 
         [0023]    The generator  20  is configured to operate in a variety of modes. In one embodiment, the generator  20  may output the following modes, cut, blend, division with hemostasis, fulgurate and spray. Each of the modes operates based on a preprogrammed power curve that dictates how much power is outputted by the generator  20  at varying impedance ranges of the load (e.g., tissue). Each of the power curves includes a constant power, constant voltage and constant current ranges that are defined by the user-selected power setting and the measured minimum impedance of the load. 
         [0024]    In the cut mode, for example, the generator  20  supplies a continuous sine wave at a predetermined frequency (e.g., 472 kHz) having a crest factor of 1.5 or less in the impedance range of 100Ω to 2,000Ω. The cut mode power curve may include three regions: constant current into low impedance, constant power into medium impedance and constant voltage into high impedance. In the blend mode, the generator supplies bursts of a sine wave at the predetermined frequency, with the bursts reoccurring at a first predetermined rate (e.g., about 26.21 kHz). In one embodiment, the duty cycle of the bursts may be about 50%. The crest factor of one period of the sine wave may be less than 1.5. The crest factor of the burst may be about 2.7. 
         [0025]    The division with hemostasis mode includes bursts of sine waves at a predetermined frequency (e.g., 472 kHz) reoccurring at a second predetermined rate (e.g., about 28.3 kHz). The duty cycle of the bursts may be 25%. The crest factor of one burst may be 4.3 across an impedance range of 100Ω to 2,000Ω. The fulgurate mode includes bursts of sine waves at a predetermined frequency (e.g., 472 kHz) reoccurring at a third predetermined rate (e.g., about 30.66 kHz). The duty cycle of the bursts may be 6.5% and the crest factor of one burst may be 5.55 across an impedance range of 100Ω to 2,000Ω. The spray mode may be bursts of sine wave at a predetermined frequency (e.g., 472 kHz) reoccurring at a third predetermined rate (e.g., about 21.7 kHz). The duty cycle of the bursts may be 4.6% and the crest factor of one burst may be 6.6 across the impedance range of 100Ω to 2,000Ω. 
         [0026]    The screen  46  controls bipolar sealing procedures performed by the forceps  10  that may be plugged into the connectors  60  and  62 . The generator  20  outputs energy through the connectors  60  and  62  suitable for sealing tissue grasped by the forceps  10 . The screen  46  also controls a system tray  47  to allow the user to access and adjust system settings. The system tray  47  may include a brightness icon  43 , a menu icon  48 , an error disabled icon  41 . The brightness icon  43  allows the user to adjust the brightness of the screens  42 ,  44 ,  46 . The error disabled icon  41  indicates that the error warnings have been disabled using the service menu. The menu icon  48  allows access to the main menu where the user can change options for language, appearance, and other operations. 
         [0027]    The screen  42  controls monopolar output and the devices connected to the connectors  50  and  52 . The connector  50  is configured to couple to the instrument  2  and the connector  52  is configured to couple to a foot switch (not shown). The foot switch provides for additional inputs (e.g., replicating inputs of the generator  20  and/or instrument  2 ). For example, in standard monoploar mode, the power output modes  72 ,  74  are indicted on interface  70 . The user adjusts the power controls using up and down arrows  76 ,  78  for each mode respectively. 
         [0028]    The screen  44  controls monopolar and bipolar output and the devices connected to the connectors  56  and  58 . Connector  56  is configured to couple to the instrument  2 , allowing the generator  20  to power multiple instruments  2 . Connector  58  is configured to couple to a bipolar instrument (not shown). When using the generator  20  in monopolar mode (e.g., with instruments  2 ), the return electrode  6  is coupled to the connector  54 , which is associated with the screens  42  and  44 . The generator  20  is configured to output the modes discussed above through the connectors  50 ,  56 ,  58 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic block diagram of the generator  20  having a controller  24 , a high voltage DC power supply  27  (“HVPS”) and an RF output stage  28 , a geo-location chip  36 , and a communication port  38 . The HVPS  27  is connected to an AC source (e.g., electrical wall outlet) and provides high voltage DC power to an RE output stage  28 , which then converts high voltage DC power into RF energy and delivers the RF energy to the active terminal  30 . The energy is returned thereto via the return terminal  32 . In particular, the RF output stage  28  generates sinusoidal waveforms of high RF energy. The RF output stage  28  is configured to operate in a plurality of modes, during which the generator  20  outputs corresponding waveforms having specific duty cycles, peak voltages, crest factors, etc. In another embodiment, the generator  20  may be based on other types of suitable power supply topologies. 
         [0030]    The controller  24  includes a microprocessor  25  operably connected to a memory  26 , which may be volatile type memory (e.g., RAM) and/or non-volatile type memory (e.g., flash media, disk media, etc.). The microprocessor  25  includes an output port that is operably connected to the HVPS  27  and/or RF output stage  28  allowing the microprocessor  25  to control the output of the generator  20  according to either open and/or closed control loop schemes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the microprocessor  25  may be substituted by any logic processor (e.g., control circuit) adapted to perform the calculations discussed herein. 
         [0031]    A closed loop control scheme is a feedback control loop, in which one or more sensors  23  measure a variety of tissue and/or energy properties (e.g., tissue impedance, tissue temperature, output current and/or voltage, etc.), and provide feedback to the controller  24 . Such sensors may include voltage and current sensors that are coupled to the output terminals  30  and  32  of the generator  20 , which are within the purview of those skilled in the art. In response to the sensor signals, the controller  24  controls the HVPS  27  and/or RF output stage  28 , which then adjusts the DC and/or RF power supply, respectively. The controller  24  also receives input signals from the input controls of the generator  20 , the instrument  2  or forceps  10 . The controller  24  utilizes the input signals to adjust power outputted by the generator  20  and/or performs other control functions thereon. 
         [0032]    The memory  26  includes software for operating the generator  20 . The software includes a choice of over twenty five languages. The geo-location chip  36  determines the location of the generator  20  anywhere in the world. The location given by the geo-location ship  36  may be a country, state, region, address, and/or coordinates. The geo-location chip  36  passes the information to the microprocessor  25  and the microprocessor  25  determines the appropriate default language based on the location determined by the geo-location chip  36 . 
         [0033]    The geo-location chip  36  may also be connected to a communication port  38 . The communication port  38  provides wired and/or wireless communication with an external device (not shown), such as an inventory control system or a theft monitoring system. The communication port  38  may provide remote access to the controller  24  from the external device to remotely disable the generator  20 . For example, if the generator  20  is reported stolen, then a theft monitoring system may remotely access controller  24  through communication port  38  and disable the generator  20 . In another example, during a clinical trial, the generator  20  may be programmed to stay within set boundaries and may automatically be disabled upon the geo-location chip  36  and the controller  24  determines the location is outside the set boundaries. Additionally, the communication port  38  may be used to track the location of the generator  20  by a remote user accessing the generator  20  through the communication port  38  and reading data from the geo-location chip  36 . Alternatively, the communication port  38  may be accessed to remotely update or repair the generator  20 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flow diagram  400  for using a geo-location chip  36  within a generator  20 . The process  400  starts at step  405 , when a geo-location chip  36  is installed within a generator  20 . The geo-location chip  36  is connected to controller  24  and communication port  38 . The go-location chip  36  determines the location of the generator  20  at step  415 . The location may be a country, state, region, address, and/or coordinates of the generator  20 . The controller  24  then at step  420  sets the default language of the generator  20  based on the location determined by the geo-location chip  36 . The controller adjusts screens  42 ,  44 ,  46  to display the default language at step  425 . If a user chooses to change the language displayed from the geo-location set default language, the user selects the menu icon  48  on the system tray  47  and picks a different language from a menu. 
         [0035]    Next, at step  430 , the GPS chip  36  is mapped to a generator ID in a database. The generator ID may be the serial number of the generator  20 . The database may be operated and controlled by the manufacturer, a hospital, or other group. Step  430  may take place prior to step  415  and/or after step  425 . 
         [0036]    For inventory control, the location of the generator  20  is determined by the geo-location chip  36  at step  435 . The location is then sent to an inventory control system at step  440  to monitor the location of each generator  20 . The location of the generator  20  may be in a warehouse or while shipping. Then, when the generator  20  is turned on for the first time, the generator  20  can set a default language using steps  415 - 425 . 
         [0037]    In response to a stolen generator  20 , a user may report the generator  20  stolen to the manufacturer of the generator, the hospital, and/or a local authority that may remotely access data from the geo-location chip  36  at step  445 . The geo-location chip  36  determines the location of the generator  20  at step  450 . The location determined by the geo-location chip  36  is sent to the manufacturer, hospital, and/or local authority using communication port  38  at step  455 . Alternatively or in combination with steps  450 - 455 , the manufacturer, hospital, and/or local authority may remotely disable the generator  20  using the communication port  38  at step  460 . 
         [0038]    In some situations, there may be a need for the generator  20  to be limited to a certain location, such as in a clinical trial or an area with theft problems. Predetermined boundaries for the generator  20  are stored within the memory  26  of the controller  24  at step  465 . Next, the geo-location chip  36  determines the location of the generator  20  at step  470 . The geo-location chip  36  may check the location periodically, such as once a minute, hour, or day. The controller  24  then determines if the generator  20  is located outside the predetermined boundaries at step  475 . If the generator  20  is not outside the location limitations, then the geo-location chip  36  determines the location of the generator  20  again at step  470 . If the generator  20  is outside the location limitations, then the generator may be automatically disabled at step  480 . Alternatively, a user may be notified of the generator&#39;s location and the user may remotely disable the generator  20 . 
         [0039]    While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings and/or discussed herein, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.