Integrated cold plasma and high frequency plasma electrosurgical system and method

Abstract

An integrated gas-enhanced electrosurgical generator. The generator comprises a high frequency power module, a low frequency power module and a gas module. The high frequency power module adapted to generate an electrical energy having a band of frequencies centered around a first frequency, wherein the electrical energy has a first power as the first frequency and a second power lower than the first power at a second frequency lower than the first frequency. The low frequency power module having an input connected to an output of the high frequency module. The low frequency module comprises a resonant transformer comprising a ferrite core, a primary coil and a secondary coil, the secondary coil having a larger number of turns than the primary coil, wherein the resonant transformer has a resonant frequency equal to the second frequency. The gas module is adapted to control a flow of an inert gas.

Claims

1. An integrated gas-enhanced electrosurgical generator comprising: a high frequency power module adapted to generate an electrical energy having a band of frequencies centered around a first frequency, wherein said electrical energy has a first power at said first frequency and a second power lower than said first power at a second frequency lower than said first frequency; a low frequency power module having an input connected to an output of said high frequency power module, said low frequency module comprising: a resonant transformer comprising a ferrite core, a primary coil and a secondary coil, the secondary coil having a larger number of turns than the primary coil, wherein said resonant transformer has a resonant frequency equal to said second frequency; and a gas module adapted to control a flow of an inert gas; a first electro-gas connector connected to said output of said high frequency power module and an output of said gas module; and a second electro-gas connector connected to an output of said low frequency power module and said output of said gas module.

2. An electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said low frequency power module further comprises: a first insulation between said primary coil and said secondary coil; and a second insulation between said primary and secondary coils and the ferrite core; wherein said first insulation is greater than said second insulation.

3. An electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first frequency is greater than or equal to 400 KHz and said second frequency is less than or equal to 300 KHz.

4. An electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second frequency is less than 300 kHz.

5. An electrosurgical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first power is greater than or equal to 70 W and said second Power is less than or equal to 10 W.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1A is a diagram of a first embodiment of a system for producing cold plasmas in accordance with the present invention.

(3) FIG. 1B is a diagram of a second embodiment of a system for producing cold plasmas in accordance with the present invention.

(4) FIG. 1C is a diagram of a third embodiment of a system for producing cold plasmas in accordance with the present invention.

(5) FIG. 2 is a diagram of a low frequency (LF) module and Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) Probe in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIGS. 3A and 3B show converted waveforms output from an LF Module in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 4 is an illustration of a LF MODULE with attached CAP Probe in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 5A is an illustration of free cold plasma generated in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 5B is an illustration a cold plasma generated in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in contact with finger.

(10) FIG. 6 is a graph of RMS output voltage of Conversion Unit vs. input power setting on an electrosurgical unit (ESU) unit.

(11) FIG. 7 is a diagram of a Conversion Unit in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a CAP Probe in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(13) In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. The preferred embodiment of the invention is described for illustrative purposes, it being understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms not specifically shown in the drawings.

(14) The present invention produces cold plasmas which are thermally harmless for the living biological tissue and cannot cause burns. The cold plasma produced by the present invention, however, is deadly for cancer cells while leaving normal cells unaffected.

(15) A first embodiment of a system for producing cold plasmas is shown in FIG. 1A. The system has a high frequency (HF) electrosurgical generator or ESU, a low frequency (LF) converter 200, a gas unit 120, a gas supply 130 and a cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) probe 300. The CAP probe 300 is connected to an output of the LF power converter 200 and the gas unit 120. The gas supply 130 is a source of an inert gas such as helium. The gas unit 120 controls the flow of the inert gas to the CAP probe 300. The HF electrosurgical generator 110 supplies high frequency (HF) energy for performing electrosurgical procedures such as electrocautery, argon plasma coagulation and others. The HF energy, for example, may have a frequency of 500 kHz, meaning that the generator outputs energy at a range of frequencies centered at 500 kHz. If the generator is set, for example, at a power of 100 W, the 100 W power at the center frequency of 500 kHz will dominate the signal. Power levels at frequencies surrounding that center frequency will be lower the further those surrounding frequencies are from the center frequency. Conventional electrosurgical generators operate in this manner and would be known to those of skill in the art. In conventional electrosurgical generators, the dominant central frequency typically is in the range of 300 kHz-600 kHz. This dominant central frequency sometimes may be referred to as the “rated frequency.”

(16) The LF converter 200 utilizes a high voltage transformer connected to an output from ESU 110 as shown in FIG. 2. The transformer is a tuned transformer and is tuned to a lower frequency than the central frequency output from the ESU. In other words, the transformer operates as a resonant transformer with a resonant frequency lower than the output frequency of the ESU. For example, if the ESU outputs energy centered at 500 kHz, the transformer may have a resonant frequency of less than 300 kHz.

(17) In a preferred embodiment, the transformer utilizes a primary coil 208 with N.sub.1=60-70 turns and secondary coil 210 with about N.sub.2=300 turns. The coils are wound on a ferrite core. The specific number of turns utilized in the transformer is given for illustrative purpose only and can be varied in a very wide range. The number N.sub.2 should be larger than N.sub.1 in order to produce step-up conversion of the voltage. The LF converter output waveform in the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 3.

(18) The LF converter up-converts voltage. In the preferred embodiment voltage of about 4 kV is produced. Other embodiments of the LF converter can be used to up-convert the voltage. The output voltage of the LF converter should be in a range 1.5-50 kV.

(19) The LF converter down-converts frequency because the resonant transformer amplifies primarily its own resonant frequency, and, therefore, that resonant frequency dominates the output. In the preferred embodiment an output frequency of about 295 kHz is produced. Outputted frequencies for CAP should be less than about 300 kHz.

(20) The LF converter additionally down-converts power due to the power being lower at the resonant frequency of the transformer and due to load mismatch. In the preferred embodiment, secondary coil can output power <10 Watt even when the ESU is set on a power of 120 W. The LF converter output power should not exceed 20-30 Watt.

(21) A CAP Probe 300 is connected to Electro-Gas output connector 206 of the LF Module. Probe length was about 0.5 meter in the preferred embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited solely to this CAP Probe length, and probe can be up to 5-10 meters long. Output voltage of the transformer should be increased if longer probes are used.

(22) The CAP Probe 300 is made of flexible tube and equipped with wire electrode. The probe 300 may have at its distal end a housing or other structure 310 for use in holding the distal end of the probe. Other structures such as a handle may be used but are not necessary. Wire electrode in the preferred embodiment is located inside the tube. However, it can also be placed outside the tube.

(23) The cold plasma 500 is triggered, for example, by pressing the foot pedal in Coagulation mode. Any Coagulation powers can be used, however increase of the Coagulation Power setting will result in brighter and more intense cold plasma

(24) In the preferred embodiment, the CAP Probe has no control buttons on it and cold plasma is turned on directly by pressing the foot pedal. However, the CAP Probe may be equipped with control buttons in order to ignite cold plasma and adjust helium flow by pressing buttons on the CAP Probe itself.

(25) The length of free cold plasma jet in experiments was up to 3-4 cm as shown in in FIG. 5A. Placing finger into the cold plasma without any damage is shown in FIG. 5B.

(26) A variety of different configurations of the system are possible. In FIG. 1A the system is set up with the ESU 110, LF converter 200 and gas unit 120 as separate units. With such an arrangement, one could use a conventional electrosurgical generator and conventional gas unit in the system with a converter unit in accordance with the present invention to produce col atmospheric plasma. In FIG. 1A, the CAP probe has a gas connector to connect to the gas unit and an electrical connector to connect to the converter unit.

(27) In another embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the LF converter 200 is equipped with 3 connectors, namely a gas connector 204 (to helium tank 120), an electrical connector 202 (to electrosurgical unit 110) and an electro-gas connector 206 (to CAP probe 300) as shown in FIG. 2.

(28) The gas connector 204 is an input connection. It connects an inert gas such as Helium tank 120 to the LF Module 200 and delivers the inert gas to the LF Module. For example, different grades of the Helium can be used to the helium tank. Flow rates less than 1-15 L/min should be used.

(29) The electrical connector 202 is an input connection. It connects between the ESU 110 and the LF Module 200 and delivers power to the LF Module 200. A high voltage output 112 of the ESU and a patient output 114 of the ESU 110 are used as inputs to the LF Module 200.

(30) The electro-gas connector 206 is the output of the LF Module 200 and is connected to the CAP Probe 300. The electro-gas connector 206 supplies an output electrical signal and helium to the CAP probe.

(31) Another embodiment of a system for performing CAP in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1B. In this embodiment, an electrosurigical generator 100b has an HF module 110b for producing high frequency energy and an LF power module connected to the HF module 110b for converting HF power to LF power for use in CAP. In such an embodiment, the electrosurgical generator may have two electrical output ports, one for CAP and one for HF electrosurgery. The CAP probe would have an electrical connector for connecting to the LF port and the gas connector for connecting to the gas unit.

(32) In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 1C, an integrated gas-enhanced electrosurgical unit 110c has an HF power module 110c, an LF power module 200c, and a gas module 120c. The integrated electrosurgical unit 100c has a plurality of connector ports, for example a port 102 for connecting an argon plasma probe to a gas supply from gas module 120c and power from HF power module 110c and a port 104 for connecting a CAP probe to a gas supply from gas unit 120c and an LF power supply from LF module 200c.

Example

(33) The transformer in the LF Module utilizes primary coil with N.sub.1=30 turns of AWG 30 magnet wire and secondary coil with about N.sub.2=250 turns of AWG 36 magnet wire. Ferroxcube core UR64/40/20-3C90 was used. Insulation between the windings was up to 10 kV and between the windings to the core—up to 7 kV.

(34) The Conversion Unit in this embodiment produced high voltage with RMS up to about 2 kV and frequency about 150 kHz. Power delivered into cold plasmas was <5 Watt. The dependence of RMS output voltage of Conversion Box vs. input power setting on ESU is show in FIG. 2.

(35) CAP Probe shown in FIG. 8 can utilize one-electrode or two-electrode configuration. In one-electrode configuration—high voltage electrode can be placed inside the flexible tube used for the Helium supply or embedded in the tube's wall. In two-electrode configuration high voltage electrode is placed inside the tube and grounded shield is embedded in the tube walls.

(36) The schematic view of the Conversion Box and 3 meter long CAP Probe are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively. Preferred Helium flow rate for this embodiment was about 5 LPM. The probe 800 has handle 810, an elongated tube 820 and a connector 830 for connecting the probe to the LF Module.

(37) The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. The entirety of each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated by reference herein.