Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Sturm

Thomas A. Sturm 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).

  • Patent number: 8303580
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The electrosurgical generator system includes an RF stage to output at least one waveform of electrosurgical energy; a sensor module having at least one sensor to sense electrical or physical properties related to the output electrosurgical energy and generate sensor data; and at least one control module executable on at least one processor that controls at least one parameter of the output electrosurgical energy. The at least one control module includes an outer loop controller to generate a control signal in accordance with at least a first subset of the sensor data and an inner loop controller to generate a setpoint control signal and provide the setpoint control signal to the RF stage for controlling at least an amplitude of the energy output by the RF stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Thomas A. Sturm, William D. Faulkner
  • Patent number: 8298223
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The programmable electrosurgical generator system has an RF output stage for outputting at least one RF operating waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The programmable electrosurgical generator system includes an inner loop system to change at least one parameter of the at least one RF operating waveform; an outer loop system to provide at least one operating command to the inner loop system; and a configuration control system that modifies at least one of the inner and outer loop systems based on received data from a sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Robert H Wham, Thomas A Sturm, William D Faulkner
  • Patent number: 8267929
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator system includes an electrical generator having an RF stage for outputting electrical energy having at least one waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The system further includes at least one control module executable on at least one processor which controls at least one parameter of the outputted electrical energy and a configuration controller operably associated with the electrical generator which generates configuration data to configure the at least one control module to provide at least one modality of control of the outputted electrical energy based on the configuration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Thomas A. Sturm, William D. Faulkner
  • Publication number: 20120089139
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator system includes an electrical generator having an RF stage for outputting electrical energy having at least one waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The system further includes at least one control module executable on at least one processor which controls at least one parameter of the outputted electrical energy and a configuration controller operably associated with the electrical generator which generates configuration data to configure the at least one control module to provide at least one modality of control of the outputted electrical energy based on the configuration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Thomas A. Sturm, William D. Faulkner
  • Patent number: 8080008
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator system includes an electrical generator having an RF stage for outputting electrical energy having at least one waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The system further includes at least one control module executable on at least one processor which controls at least one parameter of the outputted electrical energy and a configuration controller operably associated with the electrical generator which generates configuration data to configure the at least one control module to provide at least one modality of control of the outputted electrical energy based on the configuration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Thomas A. Sturm, William D. Faulkner
  • Patent number: 8012150
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The system includes an outer loop controller for generating a control signal in accordance with at least a first subset of sensor data from at least one sensor; an inner loop controller for generating a setpoint control signal which is provided to an RF stage in accordance with at least the control signal generated by the outer loop controller and a second subset of sensor data from the at least one sensor; and a configuration controller for generating configuration data and providing first and second configuration data sets of the configuration data to the inner loop and outer loop controllers, respectively, for configuration thereof to provide a type of control selectable from a variety of types of control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Thomas A. Sturm, William D. Faulkner
  • Patent number: 7972328
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Rebecca Coulson, Kari Leidich, David A. Schechter, Chelsea Shields, Thomas A. Sturm, Craig Weinberg
  • Patent number: 7938825
    Abstract: A multiple RF return pad contact detection system is provided which is adaptive to different physiological characteristics of patients without being susceptible to electrosurgical current interference (e.g., interference or measurement interaction between components of the detection system). The detection system can measure or sense the contact resistance or impedance between the patient and pairs of RF return pads or return electrodes where multiple pairs of RF return pads are utilized due to the high current frequently needed during electrosurgery while eliminating or minimizing the risk of measurement interaction between the RF return pad pairs. The system allows for the independent and simultaneous measurement of the pad contact impedance for each pair of RF return pads. If the impedance of any pad pair is above a predetermined limit, the system turns off or reduces the electrosurgical output of the electrosurgical generator to prevent excess heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Thomas A. Sturm, William N. Gregg, Raymond A. Fredricks
  • Publication number: 20100211063
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The electrosurgical generator system includes an RF stage to output at least one waveform of electrosurgical energy; a sensor module having at least one sensor to sense electrical or physical properties related to the output electrosurgical energy and generate sensor data; and at least one control module executable on at least one processor that controls at least one parameter of the output electrosurgical energy. The at least one control module includes an outer loop controller to generate a control signal in accordance with at least a first subset of the sensor data and an inner loop controller to generate a setpoint control signal and provide the setpoint control signal to the RF stage for controlling at least an amplitude of the energy output by the RF stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Thomas A. Sturm, William D. Faulkner
  • Publication number: 20100191233
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The programmable electrosurgical generator system has an RF output stage for outputting at least one RF operating waveform for performing an electrosurgical procedure. The programmable electrosurgical generator system includes an inner loop system to change at least one parameter of the at least one RF operating waveform; an outer loop system to provide at least one operating command to the inner loop system; and a configuration control system that modifies at least one of the inner and outer loop systems based on received data from a sensor module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Thomas A. Sturm, William D. Faulkner
  • Patent number: 7722601
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed enabling configuration of a control system for an electrosurgical generator system for creating new surgical applications without changing the underlying software system. The system includes an outer loop controller for generating a control signal in accordance with at least a first subset of sensor data from at least one sensor; an inner loop controller for generating a setpoint control signal which is provided to an RF stage in accordance with at least the control signal generated by the outer loop controller and a second subset of sensor data from the at least one sensor; and a configuration controller for generating configuration data and providing first and second configuration data sets of the configuration data to the inner loop and outer loop controllers, respectively, for configuration thereof to provide a type of control selectable from a variety of types of control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Covidien AG
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Thomas A. Sturm, William D. Faulkner
  • Patent number: 7300435
    Abstract: An automatic control system for an electrosurgical generator is herein disclosed. The automatic control system includes voltage and current sensing circuits, a processing circuit, an output determining circuit, and a control circuit. Samples of the voltage and current outputs are supplied to the processing circuit and the output determining circuit to generate an output signal. The output signal is compared to a reference signal to generate a feedback signal for controlling a drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sherwood Services Ag
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Thomas A. Sturm
  • Publication number: 20070173804
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Robert H. Wham, Rebecca Coulson, Kari Leidich, David A. Schechter, Chelsea Shields, Thomas A. Sturm, Craig Weinberg
  • Patent number: 7160293
    Abstract: A multiple RF return pad contact detection system is provided which is adaptive to different physiological characteristics of patients without being susceptible to electrosurgical current interference (e.g., interference or measurement interaction between components of the detection system). The detection system can measure or sense the contact resistance or impedance between the patient and pairs of RF return pads or return electrodes where multiple pairs of RF return pads are utilized due to the high current frequently needed during electrosurgery while eliminating or minimizing the risk of measurement interaction between the RF return pad pairs. The system allows for the independent and simultaneous measurement of the pad contact impedance for each pair of RF return pads. If the impedance of any pad pair is above a predetermined limit, the system turns off or reduces the electrosurgical output of the electrosurgical generator to prevent excess heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
    Inventors: Thomas A. Sturm, William N. Gregg, Raymond A. Fredricks
  • Patent number: 6860881
    Abstract: A multiple RF return pad contact detection system is provided which is adaptive to different physiological characteristics of patients without being susceptible to electrosurgical current interference (e.g., interference or measurement interaction between components of the detection system). The detection system can measure or sense the contact resistance or impedance between the patient and pairs of RF return pads or return electrodes where multiple pairs of RF return pads are utilized due to the high current frequently needed during electrosurgery while eliminating or minimizing the risk of measurement interaction between the RF return pad pairs. The system allows for the independent and simultaneous measurement of the pad contact impedance for each pair of RF return pads. If the impedance of any pad pair is above a predetermined limit, the system turns off or reduces the electrosurgical output of the electrosurgical generator to prevent excess heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
    Inventors: Thomas A. Sturm, William N. Gregg, Raymond A. Fredricks
  • Publication number: 20040059323
    Abstract: A multiple RF return pad contact detection system is provided which is adaptive to different physiological characteristics of patients without being susceptible to electrosurgical current interference (e.g., interference or measurement interaction between components of the detection system). The detection system can measure or sense the contact resistance or impedance between the patient and pairs of RF return pads or return electrodes where multiple pairs of RF return pads are utilized due to the high current frequently needed during electrosurgery while eliminating or minimizing the risk of measurement interaction between the RF return pad pairs. The system allows for the independent and simultaneous measurement of the pad contact impedance for each pair of RF return pads. If the impedance of any pad pair is above a predetermined limit, the system turns off or reduces the electrosurgical output of the electrosurgical generator to prevent excess heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas A. Sturm, William N. Gregg, Raymond A. Fredricks
  • Patent number: 5239243
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system having a memory mapped deflection to control the position of an electron beam within a CRT used to project a color image onto a photographic medium for printing. A horizontal position counter is incremented at a linear rate, and the counter value is translated, using a translation table stored in memory, into a current used to drive the yoke of the CRT. The translation introduces non-linearities into the output voltage which results in a linear forward sweep across the CRT. A sweep direction signal is used as an address bit of the translation table, to allow an optimized retrace motion profile which results in an improved linear beam motion across the face of the CRT during the forward sweep immediately following retrace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems, Inc.,
    Inventors: Rick Rothe, Thomas A. Sturm
  • Patent number: 5084656
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system having a vertical position register and a horizontal deflection controller to position an electron beam within a CRT used to project an image onto a photographic medium for printing. When data is being displayed on the CRT, the beam is positioned vertically to the desired color phosphor row and then swept across the face of the CRT while the data is used to modulate the beam. During retrace, the beam is stopped at the center of the CRT and displaced vertically to a home position while waiting for the next dot row of information. The home position is located above the center of the phosphor area so that no leakage occurs if the beam remains in the home position for extended periods. Furthermore, while in the home position at the center of the CRT, the horizontal deflection amplifier dissipates a minimum amount of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Sturm, James L. Martin
  • Patent number: 5077680
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for controlling the print speed of a color graphics printer to allow the printer to track the host data rate adjusted for image resolution. The print speed adjusts automatically to match the effective host data rate in print lines per second, and maintains a well behaved speed response characteristic independent of data resolution. The system filters abrupt changes in the rate of the data being received from the host so that the printer operates within its slew rate limitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Sturm, Kerry L. Shaklee, James I. Martin
  • Patent number: 5077502
    Abstract: A circuit which compensates for the effects of drift that occur during the operation of a cathode ray tube because of temperature changes or aging and which produces changes in intensity of the picture on the cathode ray tube by sensing the intensity changes and varying the bias on the second grid of the cathode ray tube to restore the desired intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry L. Shaklee, Thomas A. Sturm, John C. Wittenberger