Electrosurgical system with a generator comprising an instrument identification unit, electrosurgical generator and method for operating an electrosurgical system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an electrosurgical system comprising: an electrosurgical generator (10), wherein the electrosurgical generator (10) has an instrument identification unit (140) and an activation switching unit (120), and an electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) configured to be connected to the electrosurgical generator (10) via a three-pin connector (20, 30); wherein the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) comprises an electrosurgical electrode (17, 27) connected to a first terminal of the three-pin connector (20, 30), and one or more activation switching circuits (22) and instrument identification circuits (35) connected to a second terminal and / or a third terminal of the three-pin connector (20, 30);wherein the electrosurgical generator (10) is configured such that, upon connection of the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) to the electrosurgical generator (10), it detects whether the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) includes an instrument identification circuit (35), and, if the electrosurgical instrument (12) includes an instrument identification circuit (35): connect or maintain the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (30) to the instrument identification unit (140), communicate data with the instrument identification circuit (35), and, after communicating data with the instrument identification circuit (35), connect the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to the activation switch unit (120).

Description

Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical systems. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to electrosurgical systems including an electrosurgical generator and an electrosurgical instrument, and to methods of operating the same. background

[0002] The way surgery is performed has evolved over time. While traditional surgery used standalone mechanical instruments such as scalpels, forceps, scissors, and the like for various invasive and non-invasive procedures, the mechanical function of these instruments has been replaced or supplemented by energy functions such as monopolar or bipolar electrosurgery, ultrasonic surgery, microwave surgery, and the like. Electrosurgical generators have been developed that supply surgical energy, usually in the form of an electrical current, to the respective instruments. The surgical energy provided by electrosurgical generators is also referred to as the electrosurgical therapy signal.

[0003] The connection between an electrosurgical generator and an electrosurgical instrument is typically made via an electrosurgical cable, which is permanently or detachably connected to the electrosurgical instrument and can be connected to the electrosurgical generator via a connector. While many connector types exist in practice, the use of a three-pin connector is very common, especially for monopolar applications.

[0004] Three-pin connectors were originally designed for use with monopolar instruments with one or more activation switches. In such instruments, a first pin of the three-pin connector typically connects to an electrosurgical electrode of the instrument, while a second and third pin of the three-pin connector connect to an activation circuit containing the one or more activation switches.

[0005] When connected to the electrosurgical generator, the first pin is connected to a patient circuit, which delivers the electrosurgical therapy signal. In monopolar applications, the patient circuit is typically completed by a large-area return electrode patch, which is applied to the patient's body at a location remote from the surgical site. Such a return electrode patch is typically connected to the electrosurgical generator via a separate connector.

[0006] The second and third pins of the three-pin connector are connected to an activation switch unit of the electrosurgical generator. The activation switch unit is configured to provide an interrogation signal to the application switch circuit of the electrosurgical instrument and to receive a response signal from the activation switch circuit, wherein the response signal varies depending on the activation state of the one or more activation switches. The activation switch unit of the electrosurgical generator is further configured to analyze the response signal and provide a control signal, which is then used to control the activation of the electrosurgical therapy signal by the electrosurgical generator.In some examples, the activation switch circuit of an electrosurgical instrument may include a "Coag" switch and a "Cut" switch, wherein the electrosurgical generator is configured to provide a first electrosurgical signal suitable for coagulation of tissue when the "Coag" switch is activated and a second electrosurgical therapy signal suitable for cutting tissue when the "Cut" switch is activated.

[0007] For some time now, advanced electrosurgical instruments have been developed that require sophisticated electrosurgical therapy signals. To prevent such instruments from being supplied with inappropriate electrosurgical therapy signals, some modern instruments incorporate instrument identification circuits that can be detected and / or read by an instrument identification unit of an electrosurgical generator when the instrument is connected. The electrosurgical generator can then use the information obtained by detecting or reading the instrument identification circuit to select an appropriate electrosurgical therapy waveform to deliver to the instrument. While some instrument identification circuits consist of simple resistive or reactive electronic elements, instrument identification often includes microchips, e.g.,EEPROM memory modules that can also be written to by an electrosurgical generator to store usage information or similar data. WO 2008 / 142398 A1 describes an electrosurgical system in which the generator has a unit for identifying a connected instrument based on a passive electrical component provided in the instrument. US 2018 / 0338789 A1 discloses an electrosurgical instrument with a circuit that prevents the instrument from being reactivated after a specified usage period or number of uses has elapsed.

[0008] Conventional electrosurgical generators typically feature proprietary connectors with additional contacts for connecting the electrosurgical generator's instrument identification unit to the instrument identification circuit of an electrosurgical instrument. Such proprietary connectors require additional space on the front panel of the electrosurgical generator and make it difficult to locate the correct connector, especially in stressful situations during surgical procedures.

[0009] It would be advantageous to have an electrosurgical system in which both electrosurgical instruments with an activation circuit and electrosurgical instruments with an instrument identification circuit can be connected to the same port of an electrosurgical generator. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to have an electrosurgical system that can be operated with electrosurgical instruments that have both an instrument identification circuit and an activation switch circuit. Summary of Revelation

[0010] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an electrosurgical system comprising: an electrosurgical generator, wherein the electrosurgical generator has an instrument identification unit and an activation switch unit, and an electrosurgical instrument configured to be connectable to the electrosurgical generator via a three-pin connector; wherein the electrosurgical instrument comprises an electrosurgical electrode connected to a first pin of the three-pin connector, and one or more of an activation switch circuit and an instrument identification circuit connected to a second pin and / or a third pin of the three-pin connector;wherein the electrosurgical generator is configured to detect, upon connection of the electrosurgical instrument to the electrosurgical generator, whether the electrosurgical instrument includes an instrument identification circuit, and, if the electrosurgical instrument includes an instrument identification circuit: connect or maintain the connection of the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to the instrument identification unit, communicate data with the instrument identification circuit, and, after communicating data with the instrument identification circuit, connect the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to the activation switch unit.

[0011] In an electrosurgical system according to the present disclosure, both standard monopolar electrosurgical instruments including an activation switch circuit and electrosurgical instruments including an instrument identification circuit can be alternately connected to the electrosurgical generator via the same three-pin connector. Instruments can also be operated with both an instrument identification circuit and an activation switch circuit.

[0012] The electrosurgical generator may be further configured to repeatedly switch the second and third pins of the three-pin connector between the activation switch unit and the instrument identification unit if the electrosurgical instrument includes an instrument identification circuit. This may be useful for updating the instrument usage data in the instrument identification circuit during longer procedures.

[0013] The electrosurgical generator may be further configured to connect or maintain a connection between the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to the activation switch unit when the electrosurgical instrument does not include instrument identification circuitry.

[0014] The electrosurgical generator may include a plug detection unit configured to detect the insertion of a three-pin plug into a receptacle of the electrosurgical generator. The plug detection unit may include a microswitch, a light barrier, a split contact along the length or circumference of a pin-receiving receptacle, or any other suitable means for detecting the insertion of a pin into a receptacle of the receptacle.

[0015] The electrosurgical generator may include a relay switching unit for connecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to either the instrument identification unit or the activation switching unit. The relay switching unit may provide galvanic isolation between the instrument identification unit and the activation switching unit of the electrosurgical generator.

[0016] The electrosurgical generator may be configured to connect the second and third terminals of the three-pin connector to the instrument identification unit when the electrosurgical instrument is connected to the electrosurgical generator.

[0017] The electrosurgical generator may be further configured to transmit an instrument identification interrogation signal to the electrosurgical instrument upon connection of the electrosurgical instrument to the electrosurgical generator and to receive an instrument identification response signal via the instrument identification unit. If no instrument identification response signal is received in response to the instrument identification interrogation signal, the electrosurgical generator may be further configured to disconnect the second and third pins of the three-pin connector from the instrument identification unit and connect the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to the activation switch unit.

[0018] The electrosurgical generator may be further configured to maintain the connection of the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to the activation circuit until the three-pin connector is removed from the receptacle.

[0019] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides an electrosurgical generator configured for operation in an electrosurgical system as described above.

[0020] In some further embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods of operating an electrosurgical system comprising the steps of detecting connection of an electrosurgical instrument to an electrosurgical generator via a three-pin connector, detecting whether the electrosurgical instrument includes instrument identification circuitry, and if the electrosurgical instrument includes instrument identification circuitry, connecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to an instrument identification unit of the electrosurgical generator, communicating data with the instrument identification unit, and after communicating data with the instrument identification unit, connecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to an activation switch unit of the electrosurgical generator.

[0021] If the electrosurgical instrument includes an instrument identification circuit, the method may further include repeatedly switching the second and third pins of the three-pin connector between the activation switch unit and the instrument identification unit.

[0022] The method may further comprise the following steps: after detecting the connection of the electrosurgical instrument to the electrosurgical generator, connecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to the instrument identification unit, sending an instrument identification interrogation signal to the electrosurgical instrument and attempting to receive an instrument identification response signal via the instrument identification unit.

[0023] If no instrument identification response signal is received in response to the instrument identification interrogation signal, the method may further comprise disconnecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector from the instrument identification unit and connecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector to the activation switch unit.

[0024] The method may further comprise maintaining the connection of the second and third pins of the three-pin plug to the activation circuit until the three-pin plug is removed from the receptacle. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Some examples of the present disclosure are described below with reference to illustrative drawings. The described examples are provided for convenience and are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the scope of the appended claims in any way.

[0026] The drawings show: Fig. 1: an electrosurgical system, Fig. 2: an electrosurgical generator, Fig. 3: a method for operating an electrosurgical system, Fig. 4: Another method for operating an electrosurgical system.

[0027] Fig. 1 shows an electrosurgical system 1 comprising an electrosurgical generator 10 and electrosurgical instruments 11, 12.

[0028] The electrosurgical instrument 11 is a monopolar pin electrode with a handle 15, a shaft 16, and a distal electrode 17. Two activation switches 18, 19 are located on the handle 15. The electrosurgical instrument 11 further includes a three-pin plug 20 for connecting the instrument to a connection socket 21 of the electrosurgical generator 10.

[0029] When the electrosurgical instrument 11 is connected to the electrosurgical generator 10, actuation of the activation switches 18, 19 causes the electrosurgical generator 10 to deliver different electrosurgical therapy signals to the electrosurgical instrument 11. In one example, actuation of the activation switch 18 may cause the provision of a first electrosurgical therapy signal intended for cutting tissue, while actuation of the activation switch 19 may cause the provision of a second electrosurgical therapy signal intended for coagulating or cauterizing tissue. To communicate the status of the activation switches 18, 19 with the electrosurgical generator 10, the electrosurgical instrument 11 includes an activation switch circuit 22.The activation circuit 22 can be connected between the first and second pins or between the first and third pins of the three-pin connector 20 and can be configured to modify an interrogation signal received from the electrosurgical generator 10 depending on the activation status of the activation switches 18, 19.

[0030] The electrosurgical instrument 12 is a monopolar forceps with a main body 25, a shaft 26, jaws 27, and handle levers 28, 29 that serve to open and / or close the jaws 27. Electrosurgical electrodes (not shown) can be attached to one or both jaws 27, or the jaws 27 can be made of conductive material and serve as electrodes themselves. Similar to the electrosurgical instrument 11, the electrosurgical instrument 12 includes a three-pin connector 30 for connecting the instrument to the electrosurgical generator 10.

[0031] Unlike the electrosurgical instrument 11, the electrosurgical instrument 12 does not have an activation switch. Instead, an instrument identification circuit 35 is provided in the three-pin connector 30.

[0032] When the electrosurgical instrument 12 is connected to the electrosurgical generator 10, the generator 10 can use the information stored in the instrument identification circuit 35 to determine appropriate parameters for electrosurgical therapy signals to be delivered to the electrosurgical instrument 12. To activate such electrosurgical therapy signals, the electrosurgical generator can be connected to other activation devices, such as a wireless footswitch 40. The wireless footswitch 40 can include first and second pedals 41 (only one of which is visible) for activating various electrosurgical therapy signals for cutting, coagulating, and / or cauterizing tissue.

[0033] The electrosurgical system 1 further includes a neutral patch electrode 50 for closing a patient circuit. The patch electrode 50 includes a simple plug 51 for connection to the electrosurgical generator 10 via a socket 52. In other examples, the electrosurgical system may include a split neutral electrode patch (not shown), which can be used to monitor the contact quality between the electrode patch and the patient's skin.

[0034] The electrosurgical system 1 may further include an electrosurgical instrument (not shown) having both an instrument identification circuit connected between the second and third pins of the three-pin connector and an activation circuit connected between the first and second or third pins of the two-pin connector.

[0035] Fig. Figure 2 shows the schematic structure of the electrosurgical generator 10 used in the electrosurgical system 1. The electrosurgical generator 10 includes a signal generation unit 110 configured to generate a variety of electrosurgical therapy signals. The signal generation unit 110 includes known circuits for generating alternating current, e.g., high-frequency current with predetermined characteristics such as voltage, current, waveform, duty cycle, and the like, from a DC voltage supply. The signal generation unit 110 may include digital circuits for generating alternating currents such as multivibrators, PLL circuits, or the like, analog circuits for generating alternating currents such as resonant loops, or a combination thereof.The signal generation unit 110 may further comprise sensors for determining the properties of the electrosurgical therapy signal, such as voltage sensors, current sensors, or the like, and feedback control loops for maintaining the properties of the electrosurgical therapy signals within certain limits.

[0036] The electrosurgical therapy signal is provided by the signal generating unit 110 between a first pin socket 31a of the connection socket 31 and the pin socket 52a of the socket 52. Furthermore, a relay switch 115 is provided to selectively disconnect the sockets 31, 52 from the signal generating unit 110.

[0037] Associated with the signal generation unit 110 is an activation switch unit 120, which can be connected to the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c of the connection socket 31 and is permanently connected to the first pin receptacle 31a to form a closed circuit. The activation switch unit 120 is configured to deliver an interrogation signal to an activation circuit of an electrosurgical instrument connected to the connection socket 31 and to analyze a response signal received from the activation circuit 22.In some embodiments, the activation switching unit 120 may supply a constant or low-frequency AC voltage to the activation circuit 22, and the activation circuit 22 may include predetermined resistive or reactive elements that are coupled to or decoupled from a circuit formed between the activation switching unit and the activation circuit 22 depending on the activation state of one or more activation switches of the activation circuit 22. In some embodiments, the activation switch circuit 22 may include various resistors coupled into the circuit, resulting in different currents flowing in the circuit depending on the activation states.In other embodiments, the activation switch circuit 22 may include diodes of opposite polarities coupled into the circuit so that either positive or negative half-cycles of an interrogation signal are passed through the circuit.

[0038] Since the activation circuit 22 is typically located in the handle 15 of an electrosurgical instrument 11, the wires connecting the activation circuit run parallel to a wire that transmits the electrosurgical therapy signal between the handle 15 and the three-pin connector 20. Therefore, the interrogation signal must have a certain signal strength so that the response signal can still be detected.

[0039] For operation with instruments that include both an instrument identification circuit 35 and an activation switch circuit, the activation switch unit can be configured to connect only to one of the second and third pin sockets 31b, 31c and to the first pin socket 31a. In such a configuration, the instrument identification circuit 35 cannot be damaged by the interrogation signal sent by the activation switch unit, since no closed circuit is formed by the instrument identification circuit 35.

[0040] The electrosurgical generator 10 further includes a control unit 130 configured for communication with the signal generation unit 110. The control unit 130 provides parameters for electrosurgical therapy signals to be generated in the signal generation unit 110 and receives status information from the signal generation unit 110. The control unit 130 may also receive activation and / or deactivation signals from the activation switch unit 120 and translate such signals into commands to be sent to the signal generation unit 110.

[0041] The control unit 130 may include a processor and associated circuitry such as memory elements, bus systems, and the like. The control unit 130 may be a standard, industrial, or medical computer running an operating system such as Windows®, McOS®, or the like, or a proprietary operating system. The control unit 130 may include a user interface for communicating status information to an operator of the electrosurgical generator and for accepting operator inputs such as parameter settings for electrosurgical therapy waveforms or the like.

[0042] The electrosurgical generator 10 further includes an instrument identification unit 140, which can also be connected to the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c of the connection socket 31. The instrument identification unit 140 is configured to send an instrument identification query signal to an instrument identification circuit 35 of an electrosurgical instrument 12 connected to the electrosurgical generator 10 and to receive an instrument identification response signal from the instrument identification circuit 35.

[0043] The communication signals exchanged between the instrument identification unit 140 and the instrument identification circuit 35 are typically low-voltage signals in the range of 3 V to 5 V. In many electrosurgical instruments, the instrument identification circuit is arranged in the three-pin connector 30 so that interference from signal lines can be minimized.

[0044] The device identification circuit 35 may include a "1-wire" chip, such as an EEPROM or FLASH memory chip, that can be read and written by the device identification unit.

[0045] For safety reasons, the signal generation unit 110 and the activation switch unit 120 are galvanically isolated from the control unit 130 and the device identification unit. This isolation is represented by the dashed line 150. An AC / DC converting power supply unit 151 includes separate power outputs for supplying the separated units. All signal lines crossing the isolation can be provided with optocouplers or other suitable means to maintain galvanic isolation.

[0046] To prevent interruption of the separation, a relay switching unit 152 is provided between the activation switching unit 120, the device identification unit 140, and the connection socket 31. The relay switching unit 152 may include switches configured to alternately connect either the activation switching unit 120 or the device identification unit 140 to the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c of the connection socket 31, or to disconnect the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c from both the activation switching unit 120 and the device identification unit 140. The relay switching unit 152 and the relay switch 115 are controlled by the control unit 130.

[0047] The electrosurgical generator 10 further includes a plug detection unit 160 connected to one or more of the pin receptacles 31a, 31b, 31c. The plug detection unit 160 may include, among other things, a microswitch that is activated when a plug is inserted into a plug receptacle, a light barrier that is blocked, or split contacts along the length of a plug receptacle that are connected upon insertion of a plug. The plug detection unit 160 includes a circuit configured to output a signal to the control unit 130 indicating whether or not a plug is inserted into one or more of the pin receptacles 31a, 31b, 31c.

[0048] An exemplary method 200 for operating an electrosurgical system as described in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is shown in Fig. 3 shown.

[0049] In a first step 201, the insertion of a three-pin plug into the connection socket 31 is detected by the plug detection unit 160, and a corresponding control signal is sent from the plug detection unit 160 to the control unit 130. The control signal can comprise a logic signal that is maintained at a "high" state while no plug is inserted into at least one of the pin receptacles 31a, 31b, 31c of the connection socket 31, and that changes to "low" when a plug is inserted into the respective pin receptacle 31a, 31b, 31c, or vice versa. The control signal can consist of a logic signal that is permanently "low" and only changes to "high" for a short pulse when the insertion of a plug into or removal of a plug from the respective pin receptacle 31a, 31b, 31c is detected.The shape of the pulse can be designed so that the insertion of a plug from the removal of a plug can be distinguished.

[0050] In a second step 202, the type of electrosurgical instrument connected to the connection socket is determined. To detect the instrument type, the control unit 130 can, in some embodiments, control the relay switch unit 152 to connect the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c of the connection socket 31 to the instrument identification unit 140. At the same time, the control unit 130 can control the relay switch 115 to disconnect the connection between the connection socket 31 and the socket 52 to prevent electrosurgical therapy signals from interfering with the instrument identification unit 140. The control unit 130 then controls the instrument identification unit 140 to send an instrument identification interrogation signal to the electrosurgical instrument through the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c.

[0051] If the electrosurgical instrument connected to the connector socket 31 is of a type having an instrument identification circuit 35, the instrument identification query signal is received by the instrument identification circuit 35, and the instrument identification circuit sends an instrument identification response signal to the instrument identification unit 140. The device identification query and response signals may include various signal components such as device identification data, device characterization data, device authentication data, and the like.

[0052] If the instrument identification response signal is received from the instrument identification unit 140, the control unit 130 determines that the electrosurgical instrument connected to the connection socket 31 is of an instrument type that includes an instrument identification circuit, such as the electrosurgical instrument 12. If no instrument identification response signal is received from the instrument identification unit 140, the control unit 130 determines that the electrosurgical instrument connected to the connection socket 31 is of an instrument type that does not include an instrument identification circuit, but rather an activation switch circuit, such as the electrosurgical instrument 11. This distinction is made by block 203 in Fig. 3 shown.

[0053] If the device is equipped with a device identification circuit, a connection is established or maintained between the device identification unit 140 and the device identification circuit in step 204. If the device type was determined using the method described above, this connection is already established and only needs to be maintained. Other possible methods for detecting the device type may not require establishing a connection with the device identification unit. If such methods have been used, the connection must still be established. In parallel, the control unit 130 can control the relay switch 115 to connect the connection socket 31 and the socket 52 to the signal generation unit 110 so that electrosurgical therapy signals can be delivered to the electrosurgical instrument.

[0054] In step 205, after the connection between the instrument identification circuit 35 and the instrument identification unit 140 has been established or maintained, the control unit 130 may control the instrument identification unit 140 to communicate with the instrument identification circuit 35 to read information useful for providing appropriate electrosurgical therapy signals to the electrosurgical instrument and to write instrument usage data to the instrument identification circuit 35.

[0055] If the device is equipped with an activation switch, the control unit controls the relay switching unit 152 in step 207 to connect the second and third pin sockets 31b, 31c to the activation switch unit 120. If the second and third pin sockets 31b, 31c were previously connected to the device identification unit 140 in step 202, such a connection is automatically interrupted by the relay switching unit 152. In parallel, the control unit 130 can again control the relay switch 115 to connect the connection socket 31 and the socket 52 to the signal generation unit 110, so that electrosurgical therapy signals can be delivered to the electrosurgical instrument.

[0056] In step 208, the control unit 130 may control the activation switch unit 120 to communicate with the activation switch circuit of the instrument and control the signal generation unit 110 to provide electrosurgical therapy signals to the instrument according to the activation state of the instrument's activation switches.

[0057] After completion of an electrosurgical procedure or part of an electrosurgical procedure, the disconnection of the three-pin plug 20, 30 from the connection socket 31 can optionally be detected in step 209. After the disconnection of the three-pin plug has been detected, the control unit 130 can control the relay switch unit 152 to disconnect the activation switch unit 120 and / or the instrument identification unit from the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c of the connection socket 31. At the same time, the control unit 130 can control the relay switch 115 to disconnect the connection socket 31 and the socket 52 from the signal generation unit 110.

[0058] Fig. 4 shows another method 300 for operating an electrosurgical system. Unlike method 200, method 300 is suitable for operating an electrosurgical instrument that has both an instrument identification circuit and an activation switch circuit.

[0059] In a first step 301, the insertion of a three-pin plug into the connection socket 31 is detected by the plug detection unit 160, and a corresponding control signal is sent from the plug detection unit 160 to the control unit 130. The control signal can comprise a logic signal that is maintained at a "high" state while no plug is inserted into at least one of the pin receptacles 31a, 31b, 31c of the connection socket 31, and changes to a "low" state when a plug is inserted into the respective pin receptacle 31a, 31b, 31c, or vice versa. The control signal can consist of a logic signal that is permanently "low" and only changes to "high" for a short pulse when the insertion of a plug into or removal of a plug from the respective pin receptacle 31a, 31b, 31c is detected.The shape of the pulse can be designed so that the insertion of a plug from the removal of a plug can be distinguished.

[0060] In a second step 302, the type of electrosurgical instrument connected to the connection socket is determined. To detect the instrument type, the control unit 130 can, in some embodiments, control the relay switch unit 152 to connect the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c of the connection socket 31 to the instrument identification unit 140. At the same time, the control unit 130 can control the relay switch 115 to disconnect the connection socket 31 and the socket 52 to prevent electrosurgical therapy signals from interfering with the instrument identification unit 140. The control unit 130 then controls the instrument identification unit 140 to send an instrument identification interrogation signal to the electrosurgical instrument through the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c.

[0061] If the electrosurgical instrument connected to the connector socket 31 is of a type having an instrument identification circuit 35, the instrument identification query signal is received by the instrument identification circuit 35, and the instrument identification circuit sends an instrument identification response signal to the instrument identification unit 140. The device identification query and response signals may include various signal components such as device identification data, device characterization data, device authentication data, and the like.

[0062] If the instrument identification response signal is received from the instrument identification unit 140, the control unit 130 determines that the electrosurgical instrument connected to the connection socket 31 belongs to an instrument type that includes an instrument identification circuit, such as the electrosurgical instrument 12. If no instrument identification response signal is received from the instrument identification unit 140, the control unit 130 determines that the electrosurgical instrument connected to the connection socket 31 is of an instrument type that does not include an instrument identification circuit, but possibly an activation switch circuit, such as the electrosurgical instrument 11. This distinction is in Fig. 4 is represented by block 303.

[0063] If the device includes a device identification circuit, a connection is established or maintained between the device identification unit 140 and the device identification circuit in step 304. If the device type was determined using the method described above, this connection is already established and only needs to be maintained. With other possible methods for detecting the device type, it may not be necessary to establish a connection with the device identification unit. If such methods were used, the connection still needs to be established. In parallel, the control unit 130 can control the relay switch 115 to connect the connection socket 31 and the socket 52 to the signal generation unit 110 so that electrosurgical therapy signals can be delivered to the electrosurgical instrument.

[0064] In step 305, after the connection between the instrument identification circuit 35 and the instrument identification unit 140 has been established or maintained, the control unit 130 may control the instrument identification unit 140 to communicate with the instrument identification circuit 35 to read information useful for providing appropriate electrosurgical therapy signals to the electrosurgical instrument and to write instrument usage data to the instrument identification circuit 35.

[0065] After communication with the device identification circuit 35 is completed, the control unit controls the relay switching unit 152 in step 307 to connect the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c to the activation switching unit 120. While the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c were previously connected to the instrument identification unit 140 in step 304, this connection is automatically interrupted by the relay switching unit 152. In parallel, the control unit 130 can again control the relay switch 115 to connect the connection socket 31 and the socket 52 to the signal generation unit 110, so that electrosurgical therapy signals can be delivered to the electrosurgical instrument.

[0066] However, if it was determined in step 303 that the electrosurgical instrument does not contain an instrument detection circuit, steps 304 and 305 may be skipped and the method may branch directly from step 303 to step 307.

[0067] In step 308, the control unit 130 may control the activation switch unit 120 to communicate with the activation switch circuit of the instrument and control the signal generation unit 110 to deliver electrosurgical therapy signals to the instrument according to the activation state of the instrument's activation switches.

[0068] During an electrosurgical procedure, the control unit 130 may repeatedly perform steps 304 and 305, e.g., to update the instrument usage data in the instrument identification circuit 35.

[0069] After completion of an electrosurgical procedure or part of an electrosurgical procedure, the disconnection of the three-pin plug 20, 30 from the connection socket 31 can optionally be detected in step 309. After the disconnection of the three-pin plug has been detected, the control unit 130 can control the relay switching unit 152 in step 310 to disconnect the activation switching unit 120 and / or the instrument identification unit from the second and third pin receptacles 31b, 31c of the connection socket 31. At the same time, the control unit 130 can control the relay switch 115 to disconnect the connection socket 31 and the socket 52 from the signal generation unit 110.

Claims

[1] Electrosurgical system comprising: an electrosurgical generator (10), wherein the electrosurgical generator (10) has an instrument identification unit (140) and an activation switch unit (120), and an electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) configured to be connected to the electrosurgical generator (10) via a three-pin connector (20, 30); wherein the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) comprises an electrosurgical electrode (17, 27) connected to a first pin of the three-pin connector (20, 30), and one or more of - an activation switch circuit (22) and - a circuit for identifying the instrument (35) connected to a second pin and / or a third pin of the three-pin connector (20, 30); wherein the electrosurgical generator (10) is configured to detect, upon connection of the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) to the electrosurgical generator (10), whether the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) comprises an instrument identification circuit (35), and, if the electrosurgical instrument (12) comprises an instrument identification circuit (35): - to connect or maintain a connection between the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (30) and the instrument identification unit (140), - communicate data with the instrument identification circuit (35), and - after data transmission with the instrument identification circuit (35), connect the second and third pins of the three-pole connector to the activation switch unit (120). [2] The electrosurgical system of claim 1, wherein the electrosurgical generator is further configured to, when the electrosurgical instrument includes an instrument identification circuit (35), repeatedly switch the second and third pins of the three-pin connector between the activation switch unit (120) and the instrument identification unit (35). [3] The electrosurgical system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrosurgical generator is further configured to, when the electrosurgical instrument does not include an instrument identification circuit (35), connect or maintain the connection of the second and third pins of the three-pole connector to the activation switch unit (120). [4] Electrosurgical system according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrosurgical generator (10) comprises a plug detection unit (160) which is configured to detect the insertion of a three-pin connector (20, 30) into a connection socket (31) of the electrosurgical generator (10). [5] The electrosurgical system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprises a relay switching unit (152) for connecting the second and third pins of the three-pole connector (20, 30) to either the instrument identification unit (140) or the activation switching unit (120). [6] Electrosurgical system according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the electrosurgical generator (10) is arranged to connect the second and third pins of the three-pin plug (20, 30) to the instrument identification unit (140) when the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) is connected to the electrosurgical generator (10). [7] Electrosurgical system according to claim 6, wherein the electrosurgical generator (10) is adapted to, upon connection of the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) to the electrosurgical generator (10) - to send an instrument identification interrogation signal to the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12), and - attempting to receive an instrument identification response signal via the instrument identification unit (140). [8] The electrosurgical system of claim 7, wherein the electrosurgical generator (10) is configured to, if no instrument identification response signal is received in response to the instrument identification interrogation signal, - to disconnect the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (20) from the instrument identification unit (140), and - to connect the second and third pins of the three-pole connector (20) to the activation switching unit (120). [9] The electrosurgical system of claim 8, wherein the electrosurgical generator is further configured to, if no instrument identification response signal is received in response to the instrument identification interrogation signal, maintain the connection of the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (30) to the activation switch circuit (120) until the three-pin connector (20) is removed from the receptacle (31). [10] An electrosurgical generator for a system according to any one of claims 1 to 9. [11] A method of operating an electrosurgical system comprising the following steps: - detecting the connection of an electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) to an electrosurgical generator (10) via a three-pin connector (20, 30), - detecting whether the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) comprises an instrument identification circuit (35), and if the electrosurgical instrument comprises an instrument identification circuit, - connecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (30) to an instrument identification unit (140) of the electrosurgical generator (10), - communicating data with the instrument identification unit (35), and - Connecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (20, 30) to an activation switching unit (120) of the electrosurgical generator after data has been communicated with the instrument identification unit (35). [12] The method of claim 11, further comprising, if the electrosurgical instrument includes an instrument identification circuit (35), repeatedly switching the second and third pins of the three-pole connector between the activation switch unit (120) and the instrument identification unit (35). [13] The method of claim 11 or 12, further comprising the steps - after detecting the connection of the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) to the electrosurgical generator (10), connecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (20, 30) to the instrument identification unit (140), - sending an instrument identification query signal to the electrosurgical instrument (11, 12) and - attempting to receive an instrument identification response signal via the instrument identification unit (140). [14] The method of claim 13, further comprising: If an instrument identification reply signal is not received in response to the instrument identification interrogation signal: - Disconnecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (20) from the instrument identification unit (140), and - Connecting the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (20) to the activation switching unit (120). [15] The method of claim 14, further comprising: Maintaining the connection of the second and third pins of the three-pin connector (20) to the activation switch circuit (120) until the three-pin connector (20) is removed from the receptacle (31).

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