Patent ID: 7306592

Claim:
An electrosurgical tool having a proximal end and a distal end spaced therefrom, said tool comprising: a handle; an electrode arrangement extending from said handle and including an active electrode disposed at said distal end of said tool, said electrode defining a tissue-contacting end which heats tissue upon electrical actuation of said electrode and causes the tissue to emit infra-red light; an infra-red light transmitting member having an infra-red light output portion disposed proximally of said distal end of said tool and an infra-red light input portion disposed at said distal end of said tool adjacent said tissue-contacting end of said electrode, said input portion including a distal end surface which captures infra-red light generated exteriorly of said tool by tissue heated by said electrode and transmits such infra-red light proximally to said output portion; and a control console including an infra-red sensitive transducer connected to said output portion of said light transmitting member and generating an output indicative of a temperature of tissue heated by said electrode, a power source for providing electrical energy to said electrode, and a control circuit connected to said transducer and configured to regulate an energization signal of said power source based upon said output of said transducer to control an amount of thermal energy generated by said electrode.