HF generator for supplying power to one or more medical devices

Abstract

We provide HF generators for supplying medical devices. [Solution] The HF generator (10) comprises an output block (11), an oscillator block (12), a communication block (13), and a grid block (14). The output block supplies HF current to a medical device. The oscillator block supplies HF current to the output block via a first power coupler (28). The oscillator block is connected to the output block via a first data coupler (22). The communication block is connected to the output block via a second power coupler and to the oscillator block via a second data coupler (35). A unique feature of the HF generator is that the first power coupler and the first data coupler have a higher isolation voltage than the remaining power couplers (29, 30) and data couplers.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 The present invention relates to a high-frequency generator (HF generator) for supplying at least one medical instrument, in particular at least one HF surgical instrument for incising, coagulating, and obtaining further tissue effects of a living tissue of a human or animal patient as desired. 【Background Art】 【0002】 HF generators for supplying one or more medical instruments are generally known from the prior art. 【0003】 Patent Document 1 describes an electrosurgical generator for supplying one or more medical devices. These medical devices enable actions on a patient's living tissue, such as incising or coagulating tissue. For this purpose, the medical device is at least temporarily attached to the patient or in contact with the patient. Therefore, it is particularly important to ensure that an uncontrolled current does not flow from the medical device through the patient. A patient capacitively coupled to ground with respect to the power supply grid must be maintained in an insulated state. To ensure this, Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of insulating locations configured with high electrical strength respectively between the power supply grid, the control unit of the generator, and the oscillator. The means for obtaining the high electrical strength of the individual insulating locations is structurally complex. Therefore, when there are a plurality of such insulating locations, the system architecture becomes relatively complex. Further, for example, when a plurality of insulating locations with unequal dielectric withstand voltages are arranged in parallel due to manufacturing reasons, the insulating location with the lowest dielectric withstand voltage becomes a weakness of the system architecture. Therefore, despite the relatively complex system architecture, the safety of the system can be considered somewhat precarious in part. 【Prior Art Documents】 【Patent Documents】 【0004】 【Patent Document 1】 International Publication No. 2004 / 030552 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve] 【0005】 Based on these considerations, the object of the present invention is to provide an HF generator having an improved and simplified insulation scheme. In particular, the HF generator requires insulation points that are at least equivalent or improved in safety, and are not dielectrically strong, or at least not strong. [Means for solving the problem] 【0006】 This objective is achieved by the HF generator described in claim 1. 【0007】 The HF generator according to the present invention functions to supply power to at least one medical instrument, which is at least one HF surgical instrument. The HF generator according to the present invention comprises an output block, an oscillator block, a communication block, and a grid block. 【0008】 The output block supplies HF current to one or more medical devices. The HF current is an alternating current that may have a frequency above 100 kHz, preferably above 300 kHz, for example, between 300 kHz and 4 MHz. The output block includes a sensor unit that determines sensor data of the HF current, particularly current values, voltage values, apparent power values, active power values ​​and / or reactive power values, as well as the complex impedance of the device or tissue, the change in that complex impedance and / or the linearity of that complex impedance. The output block may further include a preprocessing unit that preprocesses the sensor data, preferably in real time. 【0009】 The oscillator block supplies HF current to the output block via a first power coupler. Furthermore, the oscillator block is connected to the output block via a first data coupler. The oscillator block includes, in particular, an HF control unit that receives desired parameters for the HF current and sensor data from the output block, and controls the HF current in a closed-loop manner based on those parameters and sensor data. 【0010】 The communication block is connected to the output block via a second power coupler and to the oscillator block via a second data coupler. The grid block is coupled to supply power to the oscillator block and to supply power to the communication block via a third power coupler. 【0011】 A unique feature of the HF generator according to the present invention is that the first power coupler has a higher insulation voltage than the remaining power couplers, preferably all of the remaining power couplers. It is also preferable that the first data coupler has a higher insulation voltage than the remaining data couplers, preferably all of the remaining data couplers. Higher insulation voltages for the first power coupler and the first data coupler mean that the first power coupler and the first data coupler have higher dielectric strength against peak voltages and potential differences between the grid, the HF generator, and the patient. 【0012】 In the insulation concept of the present invention, the output block and the oscillator block are clearly isolated in order to reduce the number of insulating points, particularly the number of insulating points with high dielectric strength. The output block is strongly protected from the oscillator block, but the oscillator block is only slightly or not at all protected from the grid block, which means that the insulating points between the output block and the oscillator block have a high insulating voltage or dielectric strength. 【0013】 In this way, the output block can be isolated from the oscillator block by only two couplers with high dielectric strength, namely the (first) power coupler and the (first) data coupler, thereby increasing the degree of dielectric strength. The isolation scheme of the HF generator can be significantly simplified in this way. The input and output sections of the first power coupler and the first data coupler are galvanically isolated from each other with high dielectric strength in each coupler. Thus, the dielectric strength of the coupler is defined by the maximum isolation voltage or breakdown voltage that can be applied between its primary and secondary sides without causing voltage breakthrough or current flow. The first power coupler can be, for example, a transformer with separate windings that are insulated from each other and galvanically and spatially separated. The first power coupler has particularly high electrical insulation strength between its primary and secondary sides. For example, this can be achieved by placing the primary and secondary windings in separate sealed insulating material chambers of the first power coupler. By reducing the number of power couplers with high safety against voltage breakthrough (high insulation strength) to just one, the technical effort required for the HF generator can be reduced while providing equivalent or even higher safety. 【0014】 The isolation voltages of the first power coupler and the first data coupler are preferably greater than the sum of twice the output peak voltage of the oscillator block and any additional voltages that may exist on the operating voltage of the oscillator block in the form of a maximum peak voltage. This maximum peak voltage is the sum of the operating DC voltage of the oscillator block and twice the grid peak voltage, and this sum is further multiplied by a safety factor. The safety factor can be, for example, a minimum of 1, 2, 3, 4, or higher. By designing a relatively large safety factor, the risk of the AC current from the grid block breaking through to the output block and, consequently, to the patient and / or surgeon through connected medical devices is reduced. 【0015】 The following clearly applies to all couplers: Power couplers transmit power between two blocks, and the two blocks are galvanically isolated from each other. Data couplers transmit data, i.e., information, between two blocks, and similarly, the blocks are galvanically isolated from each other. 【0016】 Between the output block and the oscillator block, a first isolation path can be formed, in particular, in which a first power coupler and a first data coupler are arranged in parallel with each other. The isolation path is a hypothetical path, but this path is interrupted by one or more insulating barriers, and current cannot and should not flow along the path from one end to the other. For this purpose, one or more barriers present in the isolation path each have a specified insulating voltage that determines the insulating voltage of the isolation path. Preferably, the first power coupler and the first data coupler have equal insulating voltages. 【0017】 Preferably, a second isolation path is further formed between the output block and the oscillator block, in which a second power coupler and a second data coupler are arranged in series, and as a result, the isolation voltage of the second power coupler and the isolation voltage of the second data coupler are added together along the second isolation path. 【0018】 The first and second insulation paths are arranged in parallel with each other. Preferably, the insulation voltages of the first and second insulation paths are equal. 【0019】 In particular, the isolation voltage of the first power coupler and the isolation voltage of the first data coupler are higher than, and preferably considerably higher than, the isolation voltage of the second power coupler and the isolation voltage of the second data coupler, respectively, for example, 1.5 times, 2 times, or 2.5 times higher. 【0020】 The sum of the insulation voltage of the second power coupler and the insulation voltage of the second data coupler preferably corresponds to, and more preferably matches, the insulation voltage of the first power coupler. Similarly, the sum of the insulation voltage of the second power coupler and the insulation voltage of the second data coupler preferably corresponds to, and more preferably matches, the insulation voltage of the first data coupler. As a result, the first and second insulation paths have equal insulation voltages, and because the first insulation path is arranged in parallel with the second insulation path, in the event of overvoltage, neither insulation path is destroyed, and both can withstand the peak voltage without voltage breakthrough. 【0021】 The first and second data couplers are preferably configured as inductive or capacitive data couplers, or as optocouplers. However, the first, second, and third power couplers can all be configured as transformers. 【0022】 The oscillator block preferably includes an HF unit, an HF control unit, a grid unit, and a second data unit. The HF control unit controls the HF unit in particular to generate an HF current that is sent to the output block via a first power coupler. The HF current may have different variable HF characteristics that can be modified using the HF control unit during the operation of the HF generator. For example, the HF characteristics may include different current values, voltage values, frequency values, waveforms, crest factor, clocking, etc., to define different operating modes. 【0023】 The grid unit, in particular, supplies grid power from the grid block to the HF unit. The grid unit may include a power factor correction unit to make the current drawn to the grid side approximately sinusoidal and to reduce its high frequencies. The HF unit may also pre-control the grid unit's power factor correction unit as needed to ensure that sufficient power is always supplied, especially in the case of sudden load fluctuations. 【0024】 The output block preferably includes a distribution unit. The distribution unit distributes the HF voltage, which is increased by transformation and received via the first power coupler, to one or more medical devices. The magnitude of the HF voltage can be made greater than, for example, 2 kV, 3 kV or 4 kV. 【0025】 The distribution unit particularly includes at least one sensor unit that detects the HF current as sensor data within the output block. For example, the sensor data can include at least a current value, a voltage value, a skin power value, an active power value, and / or a reactive power value. 【0026】 Furthermore, the output block can include a preprocessing unit communicatively coupled to the sensor unit. In the simplest case, the preprocessing unit can be only an analog / digital converter, and using this analog / digital converter, analog sensor data can be converted into digital sensor data. However, the preprocessing unit can also perform complex preprocessing steps such as determining the complex impedance of the tissue, determining the change in the complex impedance of the tissue, and / or determining the linearity value of the complex impedance of the tissue. The preprocessing unit preferably processes the sensor data in real time. 【0027】 The output block can further include a first data unit that buffers the (digital) sensor data and supplies the sensor data to the oscillator block. The first data unit is communicatively connected to a second data unit via a first data coupler so that the sensor data can be exchanged between the first data unit and the second data unit. 【0028】 The communication block can include an operation control unit and a communication interface connected to the control unit and to a plurality of operation and display units. The user of the HF generator, i.e., the surgeon, the operating surgeon, the assistant surgeon, or the surgical assistant, can set the desired parameters for the HF control unit via the operation and display units. 【0029】 The motion control unit is communicatively connected to the second data unit via a second data coupler, so that the second data unit can receive pre-configured parameters for the HF control unit from the motion control unit via the second data interface. Furthermore, the second data unit can receive detected sensor data from the output block via the first data coupler and buffer the detected sensor data. The pre-configured parameters and detected sensor data can be transferred to the HF control unit that controls the HF unit, so that the HF current in the output block is equipped with pre-configured HF characteristics (parameters) and is controlled in a feedback manner. 【0030】 The first power coupler and the first data coupler are preferably assigned to a first isolation class in which the coupler can withstand particularly high voltages such as 8kV, 10kV, 12kV, or higher. However, the remaining power couplers and data couplers are assigned to a second isolation class in which the coupler can withstand only relatively low voltages such as 4kV, 5kV, 6kV, or lower, without voltage breakthrough occurring between the primary and secondary sides. 【0031】 The output block can be protected from the grid block via the second and third power couplers. 【0032】 The HF generator's innovative system architecture divides its blocks into different isolation zones relative to the grid block, such as a high-isolation zone, an intermediate-isolation zone, and a low-isolation zone. The high-isolation zone provides the best protection against voltage breakthroughs resulting from the sum of the grid-side peak voltage and the voltage generated by the HF generator. The output block is located in the high-isolation zone, the communication block in the intermediate-isolation zone, and the oscillator block in the low-isolation zone. 【0033】 Further details of preferred embodiments of the present invention are derived from the dependent claims, drawings, or description. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0034】 [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of an HF generator according to the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an insulation diagram illustrating the insulation concept of the HF generator according to the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is another insulation diagram illustrating the insulation concept of the HF generator according to the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of the first data coupler and the first power coupler. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows another example of the first data coupler and the first power coupler. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of a grid unit within an oscillator block. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows an example of an HF unit, including the connections between the oscillator block and the output block. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0035】 Figure 1 shows an exemplary diagram of an HF generator 10 according to the present invention. The HF generator 10 comprises an output block 11, an oscillator block 12, a communication block 13, and a grid block 14. 【0036】 The output block 11 supplies the HF current generated by the oscillator block 12 to the medical device. The grid voltage is supplied to the oscillator block 12 by the grid block 14. The communication block 13 acts as an interface for the HF generator 10 to the operator, through which the operator can adjust the HF current generated by the oscillator block 12. 【0037】 The output block 11 includes a distribution unit 15 having a sensor unit 16, a preprocessing unit 17, and a first data unit 18. Furthermore, the output block 11 shown in Figure 1 includes a first instrument interface 19, a second instrument interface 20, and a neutral electrode interface 21. 【0038】 The first instrument interface 19 and the second instrument interface 20 connect the first and second medical instruments to the output block 11 of the HF generator 10. The neutral electrode interface 21 connects to a neutral electrode that can be attached to the patient. The medical instruments can be monopolar HF surgical instruments and / or bipolar HF surgical instruments. HF current is supplied to the instrument interfaces 19, 20 and the neutral electrode interface 21 by the distribution unit 15. The instrument interfaces 19, 20 and the neutral electrode interface 21 can determine whether a medical instrument is connected and transmit this to the first data unit. The instrument interfaces 19, 20 and the neutral electrode interface 21 can further identify the connected instrument. 【0039】 The sensor unit 16 detects sensor data of the generated HF current. For example, such sensor data may include current value, voltage value, power value, complex impedance, etc. The sensor unit 16 is connected to the preprocessing unit 17. 【0040】 In its simplest form, the preprocessing unit 17 can be an analog-to-digital converter that creates discrete data from received analog sensor data. However, the preprocessing unit 17 can also perform more complex preprocessing steps that allow the sensor data to be preprocessed as close to real-time as possible. For example, the trend of sensor values ​​can be smoothed using a moving average filter. Other preprocessing of the sensor data is also possible, such as noise suppression, data normalization, and filtering. The preprocessing unit 17 is connected to the first data unit 18 and transfers the digital sensor data to the first data unit 18. 【0041】 Alternatively, the sensor unit 16 may already include an analog-to-digital converter. In this case, the sensor unit 16 can be directly connected to the first data unit 18. Digital sensor data can be directly transferred from the sensor unit 16 to the first data unit 18. 【0042】 The first data unit 18 buffers digital sensor data. The first data unit 18 is connected to the oscillator block 12 via the first data coupler 22. More specifically, the first data unit 18 is communicably connected to the second data unit 23 of the oscillator block 12 via the first data coupler 22. 【0043】 The oscillator block 12 includes a second data unit 23, an HF control unit 24, an HF unit 25, and a grid unit 26. 【0044】 The grid unit 26 is supplied with a grid voltage from the grid block 14. The grid voltage is a typical AC grid voltage depending on the country in which the HF generator 10 operates, for example, a sinusoidal AC voltage with an effective value of 230V between the phase conductors and the neutral conductor and a grid frequency of 50Hz. The grid unit 26 may include a power factor correction unit 27, which can be used to increase the power factor of the oscillator block 12 and thereby reduce interfering high frequencies to the grid. The power factor correction unit 27 is controlled by the HF control unit 24. 【0045】 The grid unit 26 can rectify the grid voltage and transfer the generated DC voltage to the HF unit 25. The generated DC voltage can be higher or lower than the grid voltage of the grid block. The grid unit 26 may have, for example, a boost converter, which may also be called a step-up converter, for converting the rectified grid voltage. 【0046】 The HF unit 25 is equipped with an oscillator circuit, which generates a high-frequency voltage signal from a rectified and boosted DC voltage. From this HF voltage signal, an HF current is generated by a power amplifier, preferably operating in switching mode, and supplied to a medical device. The HF unit 25 is then controlled by the HF control unit 24. 【0047】 The HF current generated by the HF unit 25 is sent from the oscillator block 12 to the output block 11 via the first power coupler 28. This allows the first power coupler 28 to act as part of the power amplifier for generating the HF current. 【0048】 The isolation concept of the HF generator 10 according to the present invention provides that the first power coupler 28 and the first data coupler 22 have significantly higher isolation voltages compared to the remaining data couplers and power couplers of the HF generator 10, and that the dielectric strength of the components is determined by these isolation voltages. As a result, the output block 11 can be effectively protected against breakthrough of peak voltages in the grid block 14 to the output block 11 via the oscillator block 12. For example, the isolation voltages of the first data coupler and the first power coupler can be twice that of the remaining data couplers and power couplers. Because the isolation between the output block 11 and the oscillator block 12 is enhanced, the number of isolation points between blocks can be reduced, thereby simplifying the overall architecture of the HF generator 10. 【0049】 The communication block 13 includes a second power coupler 29 and a third power coupler 30. The second power coupler 29 and the third power coupler 30 have lower isolation voltages than the first power coupler 28. For example, the sum of the isolation voltages of the second power coupler 29 and the third power coupler 30 is equivalent to the isolation voltage of the first power coupler 28. The second power coupler 29 and the third power coupler 30 supply operating voltages to the connected blocks, namely the units included in the communication block 13 and the output block 11. 【0050】 The communication block 13 includes an operation control unit 31 connected to the communication interface 32, and the operation control unit 31 includes a plurality of operation and display interfaces 33a to 33g. The operation and display interfaces 33a to 33g may include, for example, a speaker interface 33a, a pedal interface 33b, and auxiliary input interfaces 33c, 33d, 33e, 33f (e.g., a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or other communication bus), and a display interface 33g. The operation and display interfaces 33a to 33g allow the operator to input operating parameters for the HF generator 10 and output (current) sensor data, operating parameters, etc., via an operation unit such as a touch screen. This can be done via a display unit 34, for example, a display. Control of the communication block 13 is performed using the operation control unit 31. 【0051】 The operation control unit 31 is connected to the second data unit 23 via a second data coupler 35. The second data coupler 35 also has a lower isolation voltage than the first data coupler 22. The first data coupler 22 and the second data coupler 35 can be configured, for example, as optocouplers. 【0052】 A fourth power coupler 36 may be further positioned between the oscillator block 12 and the grid block 14. The fourth power coupler 36 can have a considerably lower isolation voltage than the other power couplers 28, 29, and 30. During surgery, there is no risk of the patient, operator, or surgeon coming into contact with the oscillator block 12, which significantly reduces the dielectric strength requirements between the grid block 14 and the oscillator block 12. If the fourth power coupler 36 is provided, it can serve to supply operating voltage to the units contained in the oscillator block 12. Alternatively, the units of the oscillator block 12 may be supplied directly by the grid block 14. 【0053】 Isolation paths are defined between the individual blocks 11, 12, 13, and 14 of the HF generator 10 via a first power coupler 28, a second power coupler 29, a third power coupler 30, a fourth power coupler 36, a first data coupler 22, and a second data coupler 35, which will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2 and 3. 【0054】 Figures 2 and 3 show the isolation scheme of the HF generator 10 according to the present invention. In Figures 2 and 3, the vertical distance between blocks, i.e., in the height direction, represents the isolation voltage of the individual power couplers and data couplers between them. 【0055】 In both examples shown in Figures 2 and 3, the isolation voltage of the first power coupler 28 and the first data coupler 22 is twice the isolation voltage of the second data coupler 35 and the second power coupler 29. 【0056】 The HF generator 10 is divided into multiple insulation zones, namely a high-insulation zone 37, an intermediate-insulation zone 38, and a low-insulation zone 39. 【0057】 In the example shown in Figure 2, both the oscillator block 12 and the grid block 14 are located in the low-isolation zone 39. This means that there is no isolation voltage between the two blocks, or only a negligibly low isolation voltage is provided. The output block 11 is assigned to the high-isolation zone 37. In contrast, the communication block 13 is assigned to the intermediate-isolation zone 38. 【0058】 A first isolation path 40 is formed between the output block 11 and the oscillator block 12, in which the first data coupler 22 and the first power coupler 28 are arranged in parallel with each other. 【0059】 A second isolation path 41 is further formed between the output block 11 and the oscillator block 12 via a second power coupler 29, a communication block 13, and a second data coupler 35 (in series). The first isolation path 40 and the second isolation path 41 are arranged in parallel with each other. Furthermore, the communication block 13 is isolated and protected from the grid block 14 by a third power coupler 30. 【0060】 Figure 3 shows another isolation scheme for the HF generator 10 according to the present invention. The above description applies mutatis mutandis with reference to the reference numerals already introduced. The example in Figure 3 is distinguished from the example in Figure 2 in that the fourth power coupler 36 is located between the grid block 14 and the oscillator block 12. 【0061】 Figure 4 shows a detailed diagram of an example of a first data coupler 22 and a first power coupler 28. In this example, the first data coupler 22 is configured as an optocoupler. The first power coupler 28 is configured as a transformer in the example shown. The isolation voltage of the transformer represents its ability to withstand voltage breakthroughs between the primary and secondary windings. For example, the transformer is designed to have an isolation voltage of 12kV. This means that the voltage difference between the primary and secondary sides of the transformer can be up to 12kV without short circuits occurring between the primary and secondary sides of the transformer. In this way, the primary and secondary sides are reliably electrically isolated from each other. In the example shown in Figure 4, an autotransformer is provided on the secondary side to provide one or more taps, and power can be supplied from this autotransformer to medical devices. 【0062】 Figure 5 shows a detailed diagram of an alternative example of the first data coupler 22 and the first power coupler 28. In this example, the first data coupler 22 includes an oscillator block-side optocoupler 42 and an output block-side optocoupler 43, which are connected to each other via a plurality of optical connection lines 44. 【0063】 In the example shown in Figure 4, the isolation voltage of the first data coupler 22 is obtained from the sum of the isolation voltage of the oscillator block-side optocoupler 42 and the isolation voltage of the output block-side optocoupler 43. For example, the oscillator block-side optocoupler 42 may have an isolation voltage of 6kV, and the output block-side optocoupler 43 may also have an isolation voltage of 6kV. In this case, the first data coupler 22 has an overall isolation voltage of 12kV. 【0064】 The first power coupler 28 includes an oscillator block-side transformer 45 and an output block-side transformer 46. The secondary side of the oscillator block-side transformer 45 is connected to the primary side of the output block-side transformer 46 via a transmission line 47. 【0065】 In this example, both the oscillator block-side transformer 45 and the output block-side transformer 46 have magnitudes set for their isolation voltages, and since the two transformers are connected in series, their isolation voltages are added together. For example, the isolation voltages of the two transformers are 6kV in magnitude, such that the first power coupler 28 has an overall isolation voltage of 12kV. In this embodiment, it is advantageous that the two transmission transformers 45 and 46 each have matching parasitic capacitances between their respective primary and secondary windings. This is true even though the two transformers 45 and 46 cannot, by definition, have identical structures for the required voltage transmission ratio or voltage reduction ratio. However, because the parasitic capacitances match, the peak voltage between the primary side of transformer 45 and the secondary side of transformer 46 is evenly distributed between the two transformers 45 and 46. This avoids a series voltage breakthrough through the power coupler 28. If necessary, one or more capacitors can be switched in parallel with the parasitic capacitance to achieve the indicated voltage balance. 【0066】 Figure 6 shows the grid unit 26 of the oscillator block 12. In the example shown in Figure 6, the grid unit 26 includes a rectifier 48 that converts the input grid voltage into a DC voltage. The grid unit 26 further includes a boost converter 49, which can be used to boost the generated DC voltage. 【0067】 The boost converter 49 includes a switch 50, an inductor 54, a diode 55, and a capacitor 56. Due to the inductance of the inductor 54, current still flows even when the switch 50 is open. Therefore, the voltage at the output terminal rises sharply, exceeding the voltage applied to the capacitor 56, and consequently the diode 55 becomes conductive. Thus, in the first example, the current continues to flow unchanged, further charging the capacitor 56. As a result, the magnetic field of the inductor is reduced and energy is output, as current is fed to the capacitor 56 through the diode 55. The capacitance of the capacitor 56 is designed so that the output voltage remains approximately constant throughout the operating cycle. 【0068】 Switch 50 is controlled by a power factor correction unit 27. The power factor correction unit 27 receives the absolute value of the rectified grid voltage (input voltage Ue), the output voltage (Ua) of the boost converter 49, and a reference voltage Uref from the HF control unit 24. In the power factor correction unit 27, the difference between the output voltage Ua and the reference voltage is multiplied by the absolute value of the input voltage Ue in order to calculate the desired current used to control switch 50. In this way, the power factor can be set to a value close to 1. 【0069】 Figure 7 shows a detailed view of the HF unit 25 having the first power coupler 28 and the distribution unit 15 of the output block 11. The HF unit 25 includes an oscillator circuit including a capacitor 51, an inductor 52, and a switch 53. The switch 53 is controlled by the HF unit 24. 【0070】 The inductor 52 of the HF unit 25 can be located on one side of the first power coupler 28, which is already configured as a transformer, for example. In Figure 7, the inductor 52 is the primary winding of the transformer of the first power coupler 28. A distribution unit 15 is connected to the secondary side of the first power coupler 28. This allows different HF currents with different voltage levels to be tapped using the secondary winding of the transformer. The distribution unit 15 is equipped with a sensor unit 16, which can detect the current, voltage, composite resistance, etc., applied to the output side. The sensor unit 16 is connected to a pre-processing unit 17, which pre-processes the sensor data and transfers it to the control unit 24 via the first data unit through the first data coupler. 【0071】 The present invention relates to an HF generator 10 for supplying at least one medical device, in particular an HF surgical instrument for, for example, incising and coagulating biological tissue of a human or animal patient as desired and obtaining further tissue effects of said biological tissue. The HF generator 10 according to the present invention comprises an output block 11, an oscillator block 12, a communication block 13, and a grid block 14. The output block 11 supplies HF current to one or more medical devices. The oscillator block 12 supplies HF current to the output block 11 via a first power coupler 28. Furthermore, the oscillator block 12 is connected to the output block 11 via a first data coupler 22. The communication block 13 is connected to the output block 11 via a second power coupler 29 and to the oscillator block 12 via a second data coupler 35. A unique feature of the HF generator according to the present invention is that the first power coupler 28 and the first data coupler 22 have a higher isolation voltage than the remaining power couplers 29, 30 and data coupler 35, so that the output block 11 is protected from the oscillator block 12 by only two couplers, and these couplers are provided with means for increasing the isolation voltage while providing similar functionality and equal dielectric strength. [Explanation of Symbols] 【0072】 10 HF Generator 11 Output Blocks 12 Oscillator Block 13 Communication Blocks 14 Grid Blocks 15 distribution units 16 Sensor Unit 17 Pre-processing unit 18. Data Unit 1 19. First Instrument Interface 20. Second device interface 21 Neutral electrode interface 22 First Data Coupler 23. Data Unit 2 24 HF control unit 25 HF Unit 26 grid units 27 Power Factor Correction Unit 28. First power coupler 29. Second power coupler 30 Third Power Coupler 31. Motion control unit 32 Communication Interfaces 33a~33g Operation and display interface 34 Display Unit (Display) 35. Second Data Coupler 36. Fourth Power Coupler 37 High-insulation zones 38 Intermediate Insulation Zones 39 Low Insulation Zones 40. First Insulation Path 41 Second Insulation Path 42 Optocoupler on the oscillator block side 43 Output block side optocoupler 44 Optical connection lines 45 Oscillator block side transformer 46 Output block side transformer 47 Transmission Line 48 Rectifier 49 Boost Converter 50 Boost Converter Switch 51 Capacitors in the oscillator circuit 52 Inductor in an oscillator circuit 53 Switches in the oscillator circuit 54 Boost converter inductor 55 Boost converter diodes 56 Boost converter capacitor UE Boost Converter Input Voltage Ua boost converter output voltage Uref Reference Voltage

Claims

[Claim 1] An HF generator (10) for supplying power to one or more medical devices, particularly one or more HF surgical instruments, An output block (11) that supplies HF current to one or more of the aforementioned medical devices, An oscillator block (12) supplies the HF current to the output block (11) via a first power coupler (28) and is connected to the output block (11) via a first data coupler (22), A communication block (13) is connected to the output block (11) via a second power coupler (29) and to the oscillator block (12) via a second data coupler (35), The system comprises a grid block (14) connected to supply power to the oscillator block (12) and connected to supply power to the communication block (13) via a third power coupler (30), The first power coupler (28) has a higher insulation voltage than the remaining power couplers (29, 30). HF generator (10). [Claim 2] The first data coupler (22) has a higher isolation voltage than the second data coupler (35). The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 3] A first isolation path (40) is formed between the output block (11) and the oscillator block (12), in which the first power coupler (28) and the first data coupler (22) are arranged in parallel with each other. The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 4] A second isolation path (41) is formed between the output block (11) and the oscillator block (12), in which the second power coupler (29) and the second data coupler (35) are arranged in series with respect to each other. The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 5] The insulating strength of the first power coupler (28) and the insulating strength of the first data coupler (22) are, in each case, at least equal to the sum of the insulating strength of the second power coupler (29) and the insulating strength of the second data coupler. The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 6] The first data coupler (22) and the second data coupler (35) are configured as inductive or capacitive data couplers, or as optocouplers (42, 43). The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 7] The oscillator block (12) includes an HF unit (25), an HF control unit (24), a grid unit, and a second data unit (23), wherein the HF control unit (24) controls the HF unit (25) to generate an HF current having different parameters, such as different current values, voltage values, waveforms, crest factor, clocking, and modes. The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 8] The grid unit (26) includes a power factor correction unit (27), and the HF control unit (24) adjusts the power factor by the power factor correction unit (27). The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 9] The output block (11) includes a distribution unit (15) that distributes the HF current received via the first power coupler (28) to one or more devices. The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 10] The distribution unit (15) includes at least one sensor unit (16) that detects the HF current as sensor data in the output block (11), wherein the sensor data preferably includes at least measured values ​​of current, voltage, apparent power, active power and / or reactive power, particularly preferably the complex impedance of the tissue, the change in the complex impedance of the tissue and / or the linearity value of the complex impedance of the tissue. The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 11] The output block (11) includes a first data unit (18) which is communicatively connected to the sensor unit and distributes and buffers the sensor data. The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 12] The first data unit (18) is communicably connected to the second data unit (23) via the first data coupler (22). The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 13] The communication block (13) includes an operation control unit (31) and one or more operation / display interfaces (33a, ..., 33g) connected to the operation control unit (31), and the user can input parameters for the HF control unit (24) via the operation / display interfaces (33a, ..., 33g). The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 14] The operation control unit (31) is communicated to the second data unit (23) via the second data coupler (35). The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 15] The blocks (11, 12, 13) are assigned to different insulation zones relative to the grid block (14), and the insulation zones (37, 38, 39), for example, the high-insulation zone (37), the intermediate-insulation zone (38), and the low-insulation zone (39), have different insulation voltages. The HF generator (10) according to claim 1. [Claim 16] The output block (11) is protected from the grid block (14) by the second power coupler (29) and the third power coupler (30). The HF generator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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