Abstract: An electrosurgical generator is disclosed. The generator includes a microprocessor configured to generate a target impedance trajectory having at least one slope. The target impedance trajectory includes a plurality of target impedance values. The microprocessor is configured to drive tissue impedance along the target impedance trajectory by adjusting the output level to substantially match tissue impedance to a corresponding target impedance value. The microprocessor is further configured to compare tissue impedance to a threshold impedance value and adjust output of the electrosurgical generator when the tissue impedance is equal to or greater than the threshold impedance.

Abstract: A method for executing a target application on a host processor including the steps of translating each target instruction being to be executed into host instructions, storing the translated host instructions, executing the translated host instructions, responding to an exception during execution of a translated instruction by rolling back to a point in execution at which correct state of a target processor is known, and interpreting each target instruction in order from the point in execution at which correct state of a target processor is known.

Abstract: A method for executing a target application on a host processor including the steps of translating each target instruction being to be executed into host instructions, storing the translated host instructions, executing the translated host instructions, responding to an exception during execution of a translated instruction by rolling back to a point in execution at which correct state of a target processor is known, and interpreting each target instruction in order from the point in execution at which correct state of a target processor is known.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for handling nested faults including the steps of determining whether a fault is a first level fault, responding to a determination of a first level fault by saving a first amount of state sufficient to handle a first level fault, and responding to a determination of a nested fault by saving an additional amount of state before handling the fault.

Abstract: In a computer which translates instructions from a target instruction set to a host instruction set, a method for determining validity of a translation of a target instruction linked to an earlier translation including the steps of testing a memory address of a target instruction to be executed against a copy of the memory address of the target instruction from which a translation of the target instruction was made, executing the translation if the addresses compare, and generating an exception if the addresses do not compare.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The system includes one or more variable capacitive pads including one or more pairs of split electrodes arranged in a capacitive configuration, wherein the pair of split electrodes is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator. The system also includes a return electrode monitoring system coupled to the pair(s) of split electrodes and is configured to map an initial capacitance between the split electrodes with substantially full adherence of the variable capacitive pad to the patient and determine an adherence factor of the variable capacitance pad as a function of a change in capacitance between the pair(s) of split electrodes with respect to the map of the initial capacitance indicative of substantially full adherence.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing leakage current in an electrosurgical generator are disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator configured to provide high frequency electrosurgical energy at a fundamental frequency. The generator includes one or more circuit boards having a board ground. The generator further includes a inductor-capacitor filter connected in series with the board ground and an earth ground. The inductor capacitor filter includes a capacitor connected in parallel with an inductor and is tuned to be at an operational frequency which is resonant at or near the fundamental frequency.

Abstract: An electrosurgical electrode assembly and method utilizing the same are disclosed capable of controlling or limiting the current per arc in real-time during an electrosurgical procedure. The conductive electrosurgical electrode is configured for being connected to an electrosurgical generator system and has a non-conductive, porous ceramic coating that “pinches” or splits the arc current generated by the electrosurgical generator system into the smaller diameter pores of the coating, effectively keeping the same current and voltage, but creating several smaller diameter arcs from one larger diameter arc. This has the effect of separating the arc current, effectively increasing the current frequency, resulting in a finer cut or other surgical effect. That is, the non-conductive, porous ceramic coating enables a low frequency current to achieve surgical results indicative of a high frequency current, while minimizing or preventing thermal damage to adjacent tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an electrosurgical generator through a patient isolation barrier are disclosed. The system includes a control assembly disposed within a surgical hand piece configured to control the generator. The control assembly has one or more input devices and one ore more resistor assemblies in electrical communication with a DC voltage source which supplies a control current. The input devices are configured to adjust resistance of the resistor assemblies and voltage of the control current passing therethrough. The system also includes an isolation barrier transmitter having a voltage-to-frequency converter which converts the voltage passing through the resistor assembly into a corresponding frequency. The transmitter transmits the frequency across the patient isolation barrier.

Abstract: A closed-loop control system is disclosed for use with an electrosurgical generator that generates electrosurgical energy. The closed loop control system includes a user interface for allowing a user to select at least one pre-surgical parameter, such as the type of surgical instrument operatively connected to the generator, the type of tissue and the desired surgical effect. A sensor module is also included for continually sensing at least one of electrical and physical properties proximate a surgical site and generating at least one signal relating thereto. The system also includes a control module for continually receiving the at least one selected pre-surgical parameter from the user interface and each of the signals from the sensor module, and processing each of the signals in accordance with the at least one pre-surgical parameter using at least one of a microprocessor, computer algorithm and a mapping.

Abstract: A closed-loop control system has a user interface for allowing a user to select at least one pre-surgical parameter. The system also has a sensor module for continually sensing at least one of electrical and physical properties proximate a surgical site and generating at least one signal and a control module for continually receiving the selected parameter from the user interface and the at least one signal from the sensor module. The system processes the signal in accordance with the parameter using at least one of a microprocessor, computer algorithm and a mapping. The control module generates a corresponding control signal relating to the signal from the sensor module, and provides the control signal to the generator. The control module has number of loop control modules with a first loop control module providing a ratio of a real time parameter value to a desired parameter value. The real time parameter value is from the signal from the sensor module.

Abstract: A circuit is disclosed which minimizes the amount of tissue vaporized during a first half (positive half cycle) of an electrosurgical current cycle and minimizes the amount of current applied to tissue during a second half (negative half cycle) of the electrosurgical current cycle to control thermal spread. The circuit is preferably provided within an electrosurgical generator which is capable of controlling the amount of energy delivered to a patient during electrosurgery on a per arc basis.

Abstract: An electrosurgical electrode assembly and method utilizing the same are disclosed capable of controlling or limiting the current per arc in real-time during an electrosurgical procedure. The conductive electrosurgical electrode is configured for being connected to an electrosurgical generator system and has a non-conductive, porous ceramic coating that “pinches” or splits the arc current generated by the electrosurgical generator system into the smaller diameter pores of the coating, effectively keeping the same current and voltage, but creating several smaller diameter arcs from one larger diameter arc. This has the effect of separating the arc current, effectively increasing the current frequency, resulting in a finer cut or other surgical effect. That is, the non-conductive, porous ceramic coating enables a low frequency current to achieve surgical results indicative of a high frequency current, while minimizing or preventing thermal damage to adjacent tissue.

Abstract: In a computer which translates instructions from a target instruction set to a host instruction set, a method for determining validity of a translation of a target instruction linked to an earlier translation including the steps of testing a memory address of a target instruction to be executed against a copy of the memory address of the target instruction from which a translation of the target instruction was made, executing the translation if the addresses compare, and generating an exception if the addresses do not compare.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for handling nested faults including the steps of determining whether a fault is a first level fault, responding to a determination of a first level fault by saving a first amount of state sufficient to handle a first level fault, and responding to a determination of a nested fault by saving an additional amount of state before handling the fault.

Abstract: An information control pipeline (13) parallels the processor's instruction pipeline (3), contains digital control information in respect of the instruction placed in the instruction pipeline and accompanies that instruction until all component operations prescribed within the instruction have been executed. When at the end of the pipeline, the instruction is presented for execution to a respective functional execution unit (7) of the processor, the respective functional execution unit accesses and uses the control information as a condition to instruction execution. Depending upon the processor, the control information may contain one or more bits, referred to as enable bits, as may be set enabled, indicating that an associated operation in the instruction is to be executed, or by software set disabled, indicating that the associated operation is masked, such as by an exception handler (9) when returning from a resolved exception.

Abstract: A method for modifying operating conditions within a computer which translates instructions from a target instruction set to a host instruction set including the steps of monitoring an event occurring within a component of the computer, counting events occurring within a selected interval, generating an exception if a total of events within the selected interval exceeds a prescribed limit, and responding to the exception by modifying a translated sequence of host instructions.

Abstract: A closed-loop control system is disclosed for use with an electrosurgical generator that generates electrosurgical energy. The closed loop control system includes a user interface for allowing a user to select at least one pre-surgical parameter, such as the type of surgical instrument operatively connected to the generator, the type of tissue and the desired surgical effect. A sensor module is also included for continually sensing at least one of electrical and physical properties proximate a surgical site and generating at least one signal relating thereto. The system also includes a control module for continually receiving the at least one selected pre-surgical parameter from the user interface and each of the signals from the sensor module, and processing each of the signals in accordance with the at least one pre-surgical parameter using at least one of a microprocessor, computer algorithm and a mapping.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for generating an interrupt when a direct memory access by an I/O device is desired, suspending the operation of the microprocessor in response to the interrupt, placing state of the morph host to a last known correct state in response to the interrupt, determining the memory operation commanded by the I/O device, and utilizing the microprocessor to execute the memory operation commanded by the I/O device.

Abstract: Processing exceptions that might occur upon the processor's execution of an instruction (13), such as a load or store instruction, may be anticipated and resolved in advance of execution of the instruction by first executing a check instruction (1) that mimics the aforementioned instruction in all material respects, except that the check instruction excludes and is unable to perform the final operation prescribed by the mimicked instruction. A variety of those check instructions are provided to respectively mimic the multiple types of loads and stores (and other operations) normally occurring in processing of computer instructions. The check instructions are particularly useful to check instructions that call for input-output operations.