摘要 |
An electrosurgical pencil (100) configured and adapted to support an electrocautery blade (116). A strain gauge (130) is affixed to the proximal, end of the electrocautery blade and measures the displacement of the blade a s a result of resistance and drag acting on the blade. The electrosurgical pencil also includes a meter electrically connected to the strain gauge for monitoring either a change in voltage, a change in electrical current or a change in optical wavelength. The amount of blade displacement as measured b y the strain gauge is available for display to the surgeon and/or as sensory input for a control circuit in the electrosurgical generator (118) that modulates the generator output waveform. The electrosurgical pencil further includes a control circuit electrically coupled between the electrocautery blade and the electrosurgical generator. The control circuit is configured a nd adapted to control power supplied to electrocautery blade based on the displacement measured by the strain gauge. |