Patent ID: 7674261

Claim:
An electrosurgical instrument having a plurality of operating modes and at least one operating condition including power output associated with each of the operating modes comprising: (a) a console unit ( 8 ) having a monopolar output connector ( 16 ) and a bipolar output connector ( 18 ), (b) instrument controllers comprising i) a monopolar fingerswitch handpiece ( 22 ) connected to the monopolar output connector, ii) a footswitch ( 28 ) connected to the instrument, (c) a bipolar handpiece ( 24 ) connected to the bipolar output connector, (d) circuitry in the console unit for generating first ( 108 ) and second ( 102 ) different RF electrosurgical currents each selectively modulated by different selected waveforms, the monopolar output connector being connected ( 84 ) to receive the first RF electrosurgical currents, the bipolar output connector ( 86 ) being connected to receive the second RF electrosurgical currents, the selected waveforms comprising: (i) three waveforms configured when applied to tissue by the monopolar fingerswitch handpiece ( 22 ) connected to the monopolar output connector to perform, respectively, CUT, CUT/COAG, and HEMO procedures, and (ii) two different waveforms configured when applied to tissue by the bipolar handpiece ( 24 ) connected to the bipolar output connector to perform, respectively, two different HEMO procedures, (e) a nonvolatile memory ( 182 ) for storing information representative of the operating condition, (f) the monopolar fingerswitch handpiece and footswitch are connected when operated ( 92 ) to activate the circuitry for generating the first and second RF electrosurgical currents, (g) switch means connected to the console for presetting ( 156 ) into the memory information representative of the operating condition for all of the operating modes, (h) electronic means in response to operation of one of the instrument controllers for retrieving ( 141 ) the stored information representative of the operating condition associated with and setting the operating condition for the operated controller, (i) the selected waveforms being combined with the first and second RF electrosurgical currents to provide operating modes including three monopolar modes ( 110 , 112 , 114 ) for performing, respectively, CUT, CUT/COAG, and HEMO procedures available at the monopolar output connector and two different bipolar modes ( 104 ) for performing, respectively, two different HEMO procedures available at the bipolar output connector.