Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument and a cooling module. The cooling module includes a fluid reservoir retaining a conductive cooling fluid, a pump configured to pump the conductive cooling fluid along a flowpath, first and second electrodes disposed at first and second positions along the flowpath and configured to sense an electrical property of the conductive cooling fluid at the first and second positions, and a controller configured to determine an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the sensed electrical properties of the first and second electrodes. A method for cooling a surgical instrument includes detecting an electrical property of a conductive cooling fluid at first and second positions along a flowpath and determining an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the detected electrical properties at the first and second positions.

Abstract: An electronic device includes: a multilayered dielectric substrate including a plurality of dielectric layers; a planar magnetic device disposed on at least one internal dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers; and an overlapping shield assembly including a first shield layer and a second shield layer separated by at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers.

Abstract: A dual-output generator is configured to output two or more waveforms at different frequencies. In particular, the dual-output generator is configured to provide low-frequency output, which may be suitable for ultrasonic surgical instruments, and a high-frequency output, which may be suitable for electrosurgical instruments, while reducing the amplitude of all remaining frequencies other than the two selected low and high frequencies to about zero.

Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument and a cooling module. The cooling module includes a fluid reservoir retaining a conductive cooling fluid, a pump configured to pump the conductive cooling fluid along a flowpath, first and second electrodes disposed at first and second positions along the flowpath and configured to sense an electrical property of the conductive cooling fluid at the first and second positions, and a controller configured to determine an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the sensed electrical properties of the first and second electrodes. A method for cooling a surgical instrument includes detecting an electrical property of a conductive cooling fluid at first and second positions along a flowpath and determining an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the detected electrical properties at the first and second positions.

Abstract: A system and method for return electrode monitoring are provided. The system includes an isolation circuit, a first controller, a second controller, and a detection circuit. The isolation circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The first controller is coupled to the primary winding. The second controller and the detection circuit are coupled to the secondary winding. The detection circuit includes an interrogation signal circuit, a resonant tank filter, and a current-to-voltage converter. The interrogation signal circuit provides an interrogation signal to at least one electrode pad. The resonant tank filter filters a response signal received from the electrode pad. The current-to-voltage converter generates a voltage signal based on a current value of the response signal. The second controller generates a digital impedance value based on the voltage signal, and provides the digital impedance value to the first controller by way of the isolation circuit.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator is provided. The electrosurgical generator includes at least one converter configured to output a DC waveform and a nonlinear carrier control current. At least one boost inverter is coupled to the at least one converter and is configured to convert the DC waveform to generate at least one electrosurgical waveform. At least one inductor is connected in series with the at least one converter and at least one boost inverter and is configured to output an inductor current. A controller is coupled to the at least one converter and the at least one boost inverter and is configured to maintain the inductor current at a predetermined value by controlling a pulse duration of a duty cycle of the at least one converter based on a comparison of inductor current and the nonlinear control current.

Abstract: An electronic device includes: a multilayered dielectric substrate including a plurality of dielectric layers; a planar magnetic device disposed on at least one internal dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers; and an overlapping shield assembly including a first shield layer and a second shield layer separated by at least one of the plurality of dielectric layers.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes a power supply configured to output a DC waveform, a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and a power converter coupled to the current or voltage source, the power converter including at least one power switching element and a power inductor having an inductance value during switching of the at least one power switching element. The electrosurgical generator further includes a zero voltage switching (ZVS) inducing circuit coupled to the power converter at a switching node, the ZVS inducing circuit including an inductor having an inductance which is greater than the inductance value of the power inductor of the at least one power switching element.

Abstract: A dual-output generator is configured to output two or more waveforms at different frequencies. In particular, the dual-output generator is configured to provide low-frequency output, which may be suitable for ultrasonic surgical instruments, and a high-frequency output, which may be suitable for electrosurgical instruments, while reducing the amplitude of all remaining frequencies other than the two selected low and high frequencies to about zero.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator and an instrument coupled to the electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical generator includes an output stage configured to generate the electrosurgical energy at a plurality of radio frequencies, a plurality of sensors configured to sense a voltage waveform and a current waveform of the electrosurgical energy, and a controller coupled to the output stage and the plurality of sensors. The instrument supplies the electrosurgical energy to the tissue. The controller of the electrosurgical generator is further configured to calculate at least one parasitic parameter based on the electrosurgical energy at the plurality of frequencies and control the output stage based on the at least one parasitic parameter.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes: a power supply configured to output a direct current; an energy metering stage including at least one metering switching component operated by a metering switching waveform, the energy metering stage configured to generate a metered energy packet from the direct current; a power converter coupled to the energy metering stage, the power converter including at least one power switching element operated by a power switching waveform, the power converter configured to generate a radio frequency half cycle based on the metered energy packet; and a controller coupled to the power converter, the controller is configured to modulate the metering switching waveform and the power switching waveform.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes: a power supply configured to output a DC waveform; a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and configured to output current; and a power converter coupled to the current source. The power converter includes at least one power switching element operated at a switching waveform and configured to generate a radio frequency waveform based on the energy from the current or voltage source. The radio frequency waveform includes at least one pulse having an overshoot peak. The electrosurgical generator further includes a clipper circuit coupled to the current source and the power converter, the clipper circuit configured to generate a clipping voltage to clip the overshoot peak; and a controller coupled to the power converter and configured to modulate the switching waveform to generate the radio frequency waveform.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes a power supply configured to output a DC waveform, a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and a power converter coupled to the current or voltage source, the power converter including at least one power switching element and a power inductor having an inductance value during switching of the at least one power switching element. The electrosurgical generator further includes a zero voltage switching (ZVS) inducing circuit coupled to the power converter at a switching node, the ZVS inducing circuit including an inductor having an inductance which is greater than the inductance value of the power inductor of the at least one power switching element.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for interdigitation of waveforms for dual-output electrosurgical generators. Such methods may comprise outputting DC energy from a power supply, converting DC energy from the power supply, by a plurality of amplifiers coupled to the power supply, into a plurality of RF waveforms, and controlling the plurality of RF amplifiers to interdigitate the first and second RF waveforms.

Abstract: Devices and methods for ablating tissue are disclosed. A method for ablating tissue includes applying a first radio frequency ablation current to a target tissue and applying a second radio frequency ablation current to the target tissue. Additionally, the ratio of the frequency of the first radio frequency ablation current to the second radio frequency ablation current is in the range of 1:2 to 1:400.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for interdigitation of waveforms for dual-output electrosurgical generators. Such methods may comprise outputting DC energy from a power supply, converting DC energy from the power supply, by a plurality of amplifiers coupled to the power supply, into a plurality of RF waveforms, and controlling the plurality of RF amplifiers to interdigitate the first and second RF waveforms.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an end-effector assembly. The proximal end of the shaft is operably associated with the housing. The end-effector assembly is operably coupled to the distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a sealing plate and a bipolar electrode. Either one or both of the first and second jaw members is movable from a position in spaced relation relative to the other jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the sealing plates cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The electrosurgical instrument includes a semiconductor switch operably coupled to at least one of the sealing plates and at least one of the bipolar electrodes. The semiconductor switch is configured to enable user selection between energizing the at least one sealing plate or the at least one bipolar electrode.

Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector assembly includes a first jaw member defining an insulative tissue-contacting surface and first and second electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces disposed on either side of the insulative surface. A second jaw member of the end effector assembly includes an ultrasonic blade body positioned to oppose the insulative surface of the first jaw member, and first and second electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces disposed on either side of the ultrasonic blade body and positioned to oppose the first and second electrically-conductive surfaces, respectively, of the first jaw member. The first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween.

Abstract: A cartridge includes an electrical connection assembly, a first port, a second port, a pumping mechanism, a valve, and a fluid flow sensor. The electrical connection assembly is configured to electrically couple to an electrosurgical unit. The first port is configured to fluidly couple to a fluid source. The second port is configured to fluidly and electrically couple to a surgical instrument. The pumping mechanism is disposed between the first and second ports and is configured to draw fluid from the fluid source and pump the fluid to the surgical instrument. The valve is disposed between the first and second ports and is configured to selectively obstruct the flow of the fluid therethrough. The fluid flow sensor is disposed between the first and second ports and is configured to sense fluid flow therethrough. The fluid flow sensor is configured to electrically communicate with the electrosurgical unit.

Abstract: A plasma system is disclosed. The plasma system includes a plasma instrument having an elongated body defining a lumen therethrough and a first electrode and a second electrode; an ionizable media source in fluid communication with the lumen and configured to supply ionizable media thereto; and a variable frequency energy source adapted to be coupled to the first and second electrodes and configured to supply energy to the first and second electrodes sufficient to ignite ionizable media supplied by the ionizable media source to generate a plasma influent, wherein a frequency of the energy is adjustable to modify at least one property of the plasma effluent.