Method and apparatus for the calibration of electrosurgical apparatus

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, characterised by the steps of measuring a selected operating characteristic of the electrosurgical apparatus and adjusting the selected operating characteristic until the level of the operating characteristic is substantially equal to a standard value, and storing adjusted operating characteristic operating value in said non-volatile, read-write storage device (U2) for controlling of the subsequent operation of the electrosurgical apparatus.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the operating characteristic is the RF power output.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 3, characterised in that the RF power output is adjusted until it equals a test power of known value.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the operating characteristic is the patient contact quality measuring means of a return electrode contact monitor (35).

Claim 7

A method according to claim 5, characterised in that said measuring means measures electrical resistance.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 6, characterised in that a first resistance value is connected to said monitor (35) and a key actuated to input said resistance value into the storage device (U2) and a second resistance value is then connected to said monitor (35) and a key actuated to input the value into the storage device (U2).

Claim 10

A method according to claim 9, of calibrating the RF power output from an electrosurgical apparatus including indicating means displaying power output, select means for changing the RF power output, and controllable signal generator means, said method characterised by the steps of providing processing instructions for the microprocessor (U3) and storing initial power output values and drive variable values in the memory, storing calibrated RF power output values and corresponding drive variable values after the power output has been calibrated in the non-volatile read-write storage device (U2), coupling the amplified RF power output to a test box (20) having a resistance load (27), measuring the power consumed by said resistance load (27), said microprocessor (U2) driving said non-volatile, read-write storage device with a test power output value and retrieving a corresponding drive variable value stored in said non-volatile storage device (U2), said drive variable value corresponding to a request for the generation of test power, adjusting the amplified RF power output until the power equals the power measurement of the test box (26), said microprocessor (U3) adjusting the power values in said storage device (U2) to store a new power output value and corresponding drive variable value for a range of power output values for the next electrosurgical operation, thereby calibrating the RF power output.

Claim 11

Apparatus for calibrating selected operating characteristics of electrosurgical apparatus comprising storage means for storing selected calibration parameters establishing corresponding operating characteristics in electrosurgical apparatus, characterised in that the storage means is a non-volatile read-write storage device (U2) capable of being altered in place by electrical means for controlling the operation of said electrosurgical apparatus.

Claim 12

Apparatus for calibrating selected operating characteristics of electrosurgical apparatus comprising storage means for storing selected calibration parameters establishing corresponding operating characteristics in electrosurgical apparatus, characterised in that the storage means is a non-volatile read-write storage device (U2) capable of being altered in place by electrical means for controlling the operation of said electrosurgical apparatus.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that said operating characteristic is a return electrode contact monitor (35).

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised by a microprocessor (U3) for performing a lookup transfer function based on two different values of resistance input into said storage device (U2).

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that said operating characteristic is RF power output.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13, characterised in that said storage device (U2) is controlled by a microprocessor (U3) having a memory (U1) which microprocessor in turn controls a controllable signal generating means (14).

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14, characterised in that said microprocessor (U3) performs a lookup transfer function based on the tables in said storage device (U2) to change output power values to a corresponding drive variable value.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 14, characterised in that said storage device (U2) stores a tabular group of a preselected number of number values per mode corresponding to a range of power in selected watt increments.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 16, characterised in that said preselected number is 17 corresponding to 0 - 192 watts in 16 watt increments.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 16, characterised in that said preselected number is 17 corresponding to 192 - 320 watts in 32 watt increments.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 10, characterised by first means for storing a calibration parameter establishing a corresponding operation level for RF power output in the non-volatile read-write storage device (U2), second means for measuring the selected RF power output during the operation of the electrosurgical apparatus, and third means for adjusting the selected RF power output until the RF power output is substantially equal to a standard value to effect calibration of RF power output whereby the adjusted operating characteristic is stored in said non-volatile read-write storage device (U2) for controlling the subsequent RF power output of said electrosurgical apparatus.

Claim 22

Apparatus for calibrating the RF power output of electrosurgical apparatus including a display (13) for indicating RF power output and up/down select keys (22,23) for changing the RF power output and a RF amplifier (16) providing the RF power output that is coupled to a load resistor (27) of a known value and providing a display of test power, characterised by a controllable signal generating means (14,15) responsive to the setting of said select keys (22,23) and coupled to said RF amplifier (16) to regulate the power output, a non-volatile read-write storage device (U2) for storing calibration drive variables according to the operation of the up/down select keys (22,23) whereby upon the movement of the select keys until the power output equals the test power the power output is calibrated, and a programmed microprocessor (U3) coupled to a memory and to said storage device (U2) for controlling said signal generating means (14) according to the drive variable stored in said storage device (U2).

Claim 23

Apparatus for calibrating the RF power output of electrosurgical apparatus including a display (13) for indicating RF power output and up/down select keys (22,23) for changing the RF power output and a RF amplifier (16) providing the RF power output that is coupled to a load resistor (27) of a known value and providing a display of test power, characterised by a controllable signal generating means (14,15) responsive to the setting of said select keys (22,23) and coupled to said RF amplifier (16) to regulate the power output, a non-volatile read-write storage device (U2) for storing calibration drive variables according to the operation of the up/down select keys (22,23) whereby upon the movement of the select keys until the power output equals the test power the power output is calibrated, and a programmed microprocessor (U3) coupled to a memory and to said storage device (U2) for controlling said signal generating means (14) according to the drive variable stored in said storage device (U2).

Claim 24

Apparatus for calibrating the RF power output of electrosurgical apparatus coupled to a test load having a visual display (13) of power consumed by a load resistance (27) of known value, characterised by a programmed microprocessor (U3), a memory (U1) coupled to said microprocessor (U3) providing the processing instructions for the microprocessor (U3) and storing initial desired power values and corresponding drive variable values, a waveform generator (14) coupled to said microprocessor (U3) and to an RF amplifier (16) for providing a waveform from the RF amplifier (16) of a selected duty cycle, a digital to analog converter (15) coupled to said microprocessor (U3) and to the RF amplifier (16) for controlling the amplitude of the waveform produced by the waveform generator (14), a non-volatile read-write storage device (U2) coupled to said microprocessor (U3) for storing and outputting to the microprocessor (U3) the calibrated RF power output values and corresponding drive variable values after the RF power output has been calibrated, a display (13) for indicating actual RF power output that is coupled to the microprocessor (U3), said display initially indicating a calibration point number in amps corresponding to actual RF power being output, up/down keys (22,23) on the display for changing the RF power output, said microprocessor (U3) receiving a test power output value corresponding to said calibration point number from said storage device (U2), said microprocessor (U3) driving said non-volatile read-write storage device (U2) with said test power value and retrieving a drive variable value from a table stored therein, said microprocessor (U3) providing an output to said converter (15) or waveform generator (14) which in turn causes said RF amplifier (16) to output a corresponding RF power output, said up/down keys (22,23) being adjusted until the display power substantially equals the power reading in the test load, said microprocessor (U3) adjusting the power value in the storage device (U2) according to the new setting to store a new power output value and corresponding drive variable value thereby calibrating the apparatus to deliver the new RF power output during subsequent operations.

Claim 25

Apparatus for calibrating the RF power output of electrosurgical apparatus coupled to a test load having a visual display (13) of power consumed by a load resistance (27) of known value, characterised by a programmed microprocessor (U3), a memory (U1) coupled to said microprocessor (U3) providing the processing instructions for the microprocessor (U3) and storing initial desired power values and corresponding drive variable values, a waveform generator (14) coupled to said microprocessor (U3) and to an RF amplifier (16) for providing a waveform from the RF amplifier (16) of a selected duty cycle, a digital to analog converter (15) coupled to said microprocessor (U3) and to the RF amplifier (16) for controlling the amplitude of the waveform produced by the waveform generator (14), a non-volatile read-write storage device (U2) coupled to said microprocessor (U3) for storing and outputting to the microprocessor (U3) the calibrated RF power output values and corresponding drive variable values after the RF power output has been calibrated, a display (13) for indicating actual RF power output that is coupled to the microprocessor (U3), said display initially indicating a calibration point number in amps corresponding to actual RF power being output, up/down keys (22,23) on the display for changing the RF power output, said microprocessor (U3) receiving a test power output value corresponding to said calibration point number from said storage device (U2), said microprocessor (U3) driving said non-volatile read-write storage device (U2) with said test power value and retrieving a drive variable value from a table stored therein, said microprocessor (U3) providing an output to said converter (15) or waveform generator (14) which in turn causes said RF amplifier (16) to output a corresponding RF power output, said up/down keys (22,23) being adjusted until the display power substantially equals the power reading in the test load, said microprocessor (U3) adjusting the power value in the storage device (U2) according to the new setting to store a new power output value and corresponding drive variable value thereby calibrating the apparatus to deliver the new RF power output during subsequent operations.