Patent ID: 7758575

Claim:
An APC device to operate a plurality of instruments for argon plasma coagulation, each instrument comprising an actuation means for production of an actuation signal upon actuation, the APC device comprising: a high-frequency generator that produces a coagulation current; a control device that controls an amplitude of a high-frequency voltage output by the high-frequency generator by setting the high-frequency voltage at an ignition voltage level in response to an actuation signal and by automatically setting the high-frequency voltage at an operational voltage level once a plasma has been ignited, wherein said ignition voltage level is higher than said operational voltage level; a first instrument hub connecting a first said instrument of the plurality of instruments to said control device; and a second instrument hub respectively connecting a second instrument of the plurality of instruments to said control device, and wherein said control device allows simultaneous connection and simultaneous operation of said plurality of said instruments such that, when said actuation means of one of said plurality of instruments is actuated to generate the respective actuation signal, the high-frequency voltage is interrupted for a predetermined interruption period and is then set to said ignition voltage level and, after ignition of the plasma on all of said instruments for which the actuation means is actuated, is then set to said operational voltage level.