Abstract: The present invention relates to interferometric detection of particles and optical detection of particles having size dimensions less than or equal to 100 nm. Systems and methods are provided exhibiting enhanced alignment and stability for interferometric detection of particles and/or optical detection of particles having size dimensions less than or equal to 100 nm. Systems and methods are provided that include compensation means for mitigating the impact of internal and external stimuli and changes in operating conditions that can degrade the sensitivity and reliability of particle detection via optical methods, including interferometric-based techniques and/or systems for optical detection of particles having size dimensions less than or equal to 100 nm.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator including housing and an internal circuitry to generate a high-frequency voltage and to output the generated high-frequency voltage to an electrosurgical instrument, further including at least one output socket for connection of a plug of the electrosurgical instrument. The output socket is configured as self-contained unit including: a casing configured for mounting at a front plate of the housing; a plug socket mounted at a frontal face of the casing for plugging of the electrosurgical instrument; a conductor board inserted into the casing and being configured to provide internal connections of the output socket; and a connector provided at the conductor board for a connection to the internal circuitry. Thereby the output socket is modularly exchangeable. Being self-contained, the output socket can be easily exchanged against another output socket of different functionality, allowing for easy re-configuration.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a high resistance condition at an instrument terminal of an electrosurgical generator, which includes current and voltage measuring devices for determining a current and a voltage at the terminal to determine the high resistance condition, and includes a calculation device connected to the measuring devices which is configured to evaluate the determined current and voltage, including: determining a crest factor value from the current and/or voltage, wherein the crest factor value describes a ratio of a peak value to an effective value of the current and/or voltage; comparing the determined crest factor value with a comparison value by means of a comparison device, wherein the comparison value is stored in a data storage device; and signaling a high resistance condition with a signaling device when the determined crest factor reaches or exceeds the predetermined crest factor comparison value. Also, an electrosurgical generator and electrosurgical generator system.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator for supplying power, including an inverter for high voltage, which is led to an output to the connector of an electrosurgical instrument, a measurement system with at least one measurement monitor for a physical parameter at the output or at the electrosurgical instrument, and an operation controller which controls the inverter on the basis of at least one predefined operating sequence. The measurement monitor for the physical parameter is switchable between a plurality of different configurations which differ in the measurement range. The operation controller interacts with the measurement system so one of the different configurations of the measurement monitor is switched in each case, under control by the operating sequence. By switching the configuration, the suitable measurement range is always set during operation.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator which outputs high-frequency AC voltage for an electrosurgical instrument includes a leakage current detecting device for the connected electrosurgical instrument. The leakage current detecting device is embodied as a voltage measuring device, the inputs of which are connected in each case via a capacitive coupling to an active and a neutral line of the output line and which has a bipolar voltage divider having a predetermined fixed ratio. An asymmetry detector connected via a capacitive coupling compares upper and lower voltage at the voltage divider, and outputs a fault signal for leakage current in the case of deviation of the ratio of upper to lower voltage from the predetermined fixed ratio.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator for an electrosurgical instrument includes a DC voltage supply and a high-voltage inverter that generates a high-frequency AC voltage having a variable voltage and frequency that is output at an output for the connection of the electrosurgical instrument. The inverter is configured as a multilevel inverter and includes a plurality of inverter cells connected in a cascaded manner that are driven by a control device. Thanks to the cascading, switching losses incurred in the power semiconductors are reduced, both in terms of value (through the divided and thus lower voltage) and in terms of frequency (through the reduced switching frequency).

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator for an electrosurgical instrument includes DC voltage supply and high-voltage inverter that generates high-frequency AC voltage having variable voltage and frequency. Inverter is multilevel inverter controlled by reference signal and having at least two groups of series-connected inverter cells, wherein each group is supplied with different DC voltage and wherein the voltages output by the two groups are summed to be output at output. Group supplied with higher voltage enables fast and large voltage changes with its inverter cells, while inverter cells of other group supplied with lower voltage allow fine setting with high change speed. Dynamic range is improved both from temporal viewpoint and in terms of increased voltage span. The number of HVC cells to be switched may furthermore be varied by way of modulator, wherein further number of LVC cells are switched in an opposing manner for compensation purposes. Switching losses may be reduced.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator having connectors for an electrosurgical instrument including a high-voltage generator electrically connected to the connectors and produces a high-frequency alternating current in its activated state and output said high-frequency alternating current via the connectors. The electrosurgical generator has an effective power determination unit including a phase shift determination unit that supplies an output signal representing a phase shift between the current and the voltage of an alternating current output during operation. The phase shift determination unit produces a pulsed DC voltage signal, in which the pulse width reflects a time difference between the zero crossings of the current and the voltage—and consequently the phase shift—and to process the pulsed DC voltage signal by way of a low-pass filter to form a low-pass filter output signal, the magnitude of which depends on the pulse width of the pulses of the pulsed DC voltage signal.

Abstract: A medical device includes a medical function unit, an electronic control unit, and a voltage supply for the medical function unit and/or the electronic control unit, wherein the voltage supply is configured to be connected to a wired external supply voltage network, and wherein the electronic control unit includes a data interface in order to exchange data with an external device. The medical device wherein the data interface is configured to transmit and/or to receive data via at least one conductor of the supply voltage network. Furthermore, a medical device system is included.

Abstract: An electrosurgical generator having connectors for an electrosurgical instrument including a high-voltage generator electrically connected to the connectors and produces a high-frequency alternating current in its activated state and output said high-frequency alternating current via the connectors. The electrosurgical generator has an effective power determination unit including a phase shift determination unit that supplies an output signal representing a phase shift between the current and the voltage of an alternating current output during operation. The phase shift determination unit produces a pulsed DC voltage signal, in which the pulse width reflects a time difference between the zero crossings of the current and the voltage—and consequently the phase shift—and to process the pulsed DC voltage signal by way of a low-pass filter to form a low-pass filter output signal, the magnitude of which depends on the pulse width of the pulses of the pulsed DC voltage signal.