Patents by Inventor Donald W. Heckel
Donald W. Heckel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20190132062Abstract: Methods and system are provided to mitigate RF interferences during operation of an electrosurgical system. An electrosurgical system configured to output therapeutic RF energy may refrain from outputting RF energy in order to measure an RF interference for a group of candidate frequencies, and to select a frequency from the group of candidate frequencies for which the measured RF interference is below a threshold value, and to produce a feedback signal (a control signal) at the selected frequency to control operation of the electrosurgical system. During operation of the electrosurgical system the feedback signal may be filtered by a BPF whose fundamental frequency is set to the selected frequency, to thus obtain an interference free feedback signal and, consequently, a reliable control of the electrosurgical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: DONALD W. HECKEL, WILLIAM D. FAULKNER, DONALD L. TONN, FRED B. PELTON
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Patent number: 10172665Abstract: An electrosurgical system including or connected to an output circuitry comprising an electrosurgical device and an electrical cable is modelled during a cable interrogation phase using a transfer matrix in order to determine a leakage capacitance in the electrosurgical system. After the leakage capacitance is assigned or set to a virtual capacitor in the transfer matrix, an output parameter of the electrosurgical system, such as output voltage, output current, output impedance or output electrical power, may be determined by applying an actual input voltage to the output circuitry and measuring a resulting input current, and multiplying the input voltage and measured current by the transfer matrix.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Donald W. Heckel, Katherine Wagle, William D. Faulkner, Kenneth C. Brockmann
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Patent number: 10172666Abstract: An electrosurgical system including or connected to an output circuitry comprising an electrosurgical device and an electrical cable is modelled during a cable interrogation phase using a transfer matrix in order to determine a leakage capacitance in the electrosurgical system. After the leakage capacitance is assigned or set to a virtual capacitor in the transfer matrix, an output parameter of the electrosurgical system, such as output voltage, output current, output impedance or output electrical power, may be determined by applying an actual input voltage to the output circuitry and measuring a resulting input current, and multiplying the input voltage and measured current by the transfer matrix.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Donald W. Heckel, Katherine Wagle, William D. Faulkner, Kenneth C. Brockmann
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Patent number: 9987068Abstract: A method for optimizing emissions from simultaneous activation of electrosurgery generators is presented including delivering first energy to a first target tissue via a first energy module, the first energy represented as a first waveform having a first phase, delivering second energy to a second target tissue via a second energy module, the second energy represented as a second waveform having a second phase, applying the first energy in a first energy mode, and applying the second energy in a second energy mode. The method further includes the steps of comparing the first phase of the first energy waveform with the second phase of the second energy waveform and adjusting a relative phase between the first and second energy waveforms based on the comparison step.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Randall L. Anderson, Donald W. Heckel
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Patent number: 9974595Abstract: A modular electrosurgical generator platform is presented including a power supply module configured to output power, a first energy module configured to receive the power and convert the power into a first waveform having a first phase, and to deliver the power in a first energy mode, and a second energy module configured to receive the power and convert the power into a second waveform having a second phase, and to deliver the power in a second energy mode. The modular electrosurgical generator platform also includes a host controller module to control a type and a number of energy modalities, a comparator for comparing the first phase of the first waveform with the second phase of the second waveform in one or more of a plurality of sub-periods and an adjustment module for adjusting a relative phase between the first and second waveforms based on results obtained from the comparator.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Randall L. Anderson, Donald W. Heckel
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Patent number: 9949783Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is presented including a power supply module configured to output power, a first energy module configured to receive the power and convert the power into a first waveform having a first phase, and to deliver the power in a first energy mode, and a second energy module configured to receive the power and convert the power into a second waveform having a second phase, and to deliver the power in a second energy mode. A host controller module is configured to control a type and a number of energy modalities provided by the generator platform and a comparator compares the first phase of the first waveform with the second phase of the second waveform in one or more of a plurality of sub-periods. An adjustment module adjusts a relative phase between the first and second waveforms based on results obtained from the comparator.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Randall L. Anderson, Donald W. Heckel
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Patent number: 9844404Abstract: An electrosurgical system for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided and includes an electrosurgical generator and a calibration computer system. The electrosurgical generator includes one or more processors and a measurement module including one or more log amps that are in operative communication with the processor. The calibration computer system configured to couple to a measurement device and is configured to measure parameters of an output signal generated by the electrosurgical generator. The calibration computer system is configured to compile the measured parameters into one or more data look-up tables and couple to the electrosurgical generator for transferring the data look-up table(s) to memory of the electrosurgical generator. The microprocessor is configured to receive an output from the log amp(s) and access the data look-up table(s) from memory to execute one or more control algorithms for controlling an output of the electrosurgical generator.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2015Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Robert J. Behnke, II, Donald W. Heckel, Robert B. Smith, James E. Krapohl
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Patent number: 9480523Abstract: The systems and methods of the present disclosure calibrate impedance loss model parameters associated with an electrosurgical system and compensate for impedance losses in an electrosurgical system using the calibrated impedance loss model parameters. A computer system stores voltage and current sensor data for different test loads and calculates impedance values for each test load. The computer system predicts a phase value for each test load using a respective load impedance value. The computer system back calculates impedance loss model parameters based upon the voltage and current sensor data, the predicted phase values, and the impedance values of the test loads. During operation, the electrosurgical device senses a voltage and a current, predicts a phase value based upon the sensed voltage and current, and calculates metrics at the tissue site based upon the sensed voltage and current, the predicted phase value, and the impedance loss model parameters.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventor: Donald W. Heckel
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Publication number: 20160081740Abstract: An electrosurgical system including or connected to an output circuitry comprising an electrosurgical device and an electrical cable is modelled during a cable interrogation phase using a transfer matrix in order to determine a leakage capacitance in the electrosurgical system. After the leakage capacitance is assigned or set to a virtual capacitor in the transfer matrix, an output parameter of the electrosurgical system, such as output voltage, output current, output impedance or output electrical power, may be determined by applying an actual input voltage to the output circuitry and measuring a resulting input current, and multiplying the input voltage and measured current by the transfer matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: DONALD W. HECKEL, KATHERINE WAGLE, WILLIAM D. FAULKNER, KENNETH C. BROCKMANN
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Publication number: 20160081739Abstract: An electrosurgical system including or connected to an output circuitry comprising an electrosurgical device and an electrical cable is modelled during a cable interrogation phase using a transfer matrix in order to determine a leakage capacitance in the electrosurgical system. After the leakage capacitance is assigned or set to a virtual capacitor in the transfer matrix, an output parameter of the electrosurgical system, such as output voltage, output current, output impedance or output electrical power, may be determined by applying an actual input voltage to the output circuitry and measuring a resulting input current, and multiplying the input voltage and measured current by the transfer matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: DONALD W. HECKEL, KATHERINE WAGLE, WILLIAM D. FAULKNER, KENNETH C. BROCKMANN
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Publication number: 20150327908Abstract: An electrosurgical system for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided and includes an electrosurgical generator and a calibration computer system. The electrosurgical generator includes one or more processors and a measurement module including one or more log amps that are in operative communication with the processor. The calibration computer system configured to couple to a measurement device and is configured to measure parameters of an output signal generated by the electrosurgical generator. The calibration computer system is configured to compile the measured parameters into one or more data look-up tables and couple to the electrosurgical generator for transferring the data look-up table(s) to memory of the electrosurgical generator. The microprocessor is configured to receive an output from the log amp(s) and access the data look-up table(s) from memory to execute one or more control algorithms for controlling an output of the electrosurgical generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventors: ROBERT J. BEHNKE, II, DONALD W. HECKEL, ROBERT B. SMITH, JAMES E. KRAPOHL
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Publication number: 20150282861Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is presented including a power supply module configured to output power, a first energy module configured to receive the power and convert the power into a first waveform having a first phase, and to deliver the power in a first energy mode, and a second energy module configured to receive the power and convert the power into a second waveform having a second phase, and to deliver the power in a second energy mode. A host controller module is configured to control a type and a number of energy modalities provided by the generator platform and a comparator compares the first phase of the first waveform with the second phase of the second waveform in one or more of a plurality of sub-periods. An adjustment module adjusts a relative phase between the first and second waveforms based on results obtained from the comparator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: RANDALL L. ANDERSON, DONALD W. HECKEL
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Publication number: 20150282857Abstract: A method for optimizing emissions from simultaneous activation of electrosurgery generators is presented including delivering first energy to a first target tissue via a first energy module, the first energy represented as a first waveform having a first phase, delivering second energy to a second target tissue via a second energy module, the second energy represented as a second waveform having a second phase, applying the first energy in a first energy mode, and applying the second energy in a second energy mode. The method further includes the steps of comparing the first phase of the first energy waveform with the second phase of the second energy waveform and adjusting a relative phase between the first and second energy waveforms based on the comparison step.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: RANDALL L. ANDERSON, DONALD W. HECKEL
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Publication number: 20150282863Abstract: An electrosurgical generator and associated methods determine a real part of the impedance of treated tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes an output stage, a plurality of sensors, and a controller that controls the output stage. The controller includes a signal processor that determines an RMS voltage, an RMS current, an average power, and a real part of the impedance of the treated tissue based on measured voltage and current by using a plurality of averaging filters. The controller controls the output stage to generate electrosurgical energy based on at least the determined real part of the impedance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: Donald W. Heckel, Andrey Belous
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Publication number: 20150282860Abstract: A modular electrosurgical generator platform is presented including a power supply module configured to output power, a first energy module configured to receive the power and convert the power into a first waveform having a first phase, and to deliver the power in a first energy mode, and a second energy module configured to receive the power and convert the power into a second waveform having a second phase, and to deliver the power in a second energy mode. The modular electrosurgical generator platform also includes a host controller module to control a type and a number of energy modalities, a comparator for comparing the first phase of the first waveform with the second phase of the second waveform in one or more of a plurality of sub-periods and an adjustment module for adjusting a relative phase between the first and second waveforms based on results obtained from the comparator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: RANDALL L. ANDERSON, DONALD W. HECKEL
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Patent number: 9113887Abstract: An electrosurgical system for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided and includes an electrosurgical generator and a calibration computer system. The electrosurgical generator includes one or more processors and a measurement module including one or more log amps that are in operative communication with the processor. The calibration computer system configured to couple to a measurement device and is configured to measure parameters of an output signal generated by the electrosurgical generator. The calibration computer system is configured to compile the measured parameters into one or more data look-up tables and couple to the electrosurgical generator for transferring the data look-up table(s) to memory of the electrosurgical generator. The microprocessor is configured to receive an output from the log amp(s) and access the data look-up table(s) from memory to execute one or more control algorithms for controlling an output of the electrosurgical generator.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2012Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Robert J. Behnke, II, Donald W. Heckel, Robert B. Smith, James E. Krapohl
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Patent number: 9037447Abstract: The systems and methods of the present disclosure calibrate impedance loss model parameters associated with an electrosurgical system having no external cabling or having external cabling with a fixed or known reactance, and obtain accurate electrical measurements of a tissue site by compensating for impedance losses associated with the transmission line of an electrosurgical device using the calibrated impedance loss model parameters. A computer system stores voltage and current sensor data for a range of different test loads and calculates sensed impedance values for each test load. The computer system then predicts a phase value for each load using each respective load impedance value. The computer system back calculates impedance loss model parameters including a source impedance parameter and a leakage impedance parameter based upon the voltage and current sensor data, the predicted phase values, and the impedance values of the test loads.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventor: Donald W. Heckel
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Publication number: 20130267945Abstract: An electrosurgical system for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided and includes an electrosurgical generator and a calibration computer system. The electrosurgical generator includes one or more processors and a measurement module including one or more log amps that are in operative communication with the processor. The calibration computer system configured to couple to a measurement device and is configured to measure parameters of an output signal generated by the electrosurgical generator. The calibration computer system is configured to compile the measured parameters into one or more data look-up tables and couple to the electrosurgical generator for transferring the data look-up table(s) to memory of the electrosurgical generator. The microprocessor is configured to receive an output from the log amp(s) and access the data look-up table(s) from memory to execute one or more control algorithms for controlling an output of the electrosurgical generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: TYCO HEALTHCARE GROUP LPInventors: Robert J. BEHNKE, II, Donald W. HECKEL, Robert B. SMITH, James E. KRAPOHL
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Publication number: 20130197874Abstract: The systems and methods of the present disclosure calibrate impedance loss model parameters associated with an electrosurgical system having no external cabling or having external cabling with a fixed or known reactance, and obtain accurate electrical measurements of a tissue site by compensating for impedance losses associated with the transmission line of an electrosurgical device using the calibrated impedance loss model parameters. A computer system stores voltage and current sensor data for a range of different test loads and calculates sensed impedance values for each test load. The computer system then predicts a phase value for each load using each respective load impedance value. The computer system back calculates impedance loss model parameters including a source impedance parameter and a leakage impedance parameter based upon the voltage and current sensor data, the predicted phase values, and the impedance values of the test loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: TYCO Healthcare Group LPInventor: Donald W. Heckel
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Publication number: 20130197510Abstract: The systems and methods of the present disclosure calibrate impedance loss model parameters associated with an electrosurgical system and compensate for impedance losses in an electrosurgical system using the calibrated impedance loss model parameters. A computer system stores voltage and current sensor data for different test loads and calculates impedance values for each test load. The computer system predicts a phase value for each test load using a respective load impedance value. The computer system back calculates impedance loss model parameters based upon the voltage and current sensor data, the predicted phase values, and the impedance values of the test loads. During operation, the electrosurgical device senses a voltage and a current, predicts a phase value based upon the sensed voltage and current, and calculates metrics at the tissue site based upon the sensed voltage and current, the predicted phase value, and the impedance loss model parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: TYCO Healthcare Group LPInventor: Donald W. Heckel