A method includes recognizing an electrosurgical probe coupled to an electrosurgical generator, selecting a mode of the electrosurgical generator based upon the recognized probe, setting a therapy profile based upon the selected mode, and displaying the therapy profile. The generator can include user inputs for modifying the therapy profile. A computer implemented method for achieving a target temperature includes: a) receiving the target temperature; b) calculating a first set temperature; c) commanding a first output power level until a measured temperature is equal to or greater than the first set temperature; d) calculating an updated set temperature based upon the target temperature; e) commanding a second output power level until the measured temperature is equal to or greater than the updated set temperature; and repeating d and e until the updated set temperature is equal to the target temperature.
A virtual control panel controls the functionality of an electrosurgical generator in response to interrogating, preferably optically, an object, such as a user's finger, interacting with a control panel image as an act of control input over the functionality of the generator. The control panel image is presented, preferably by optical projection, on a display surface of a display surface structure. The control panel image may include, in addition to a contact control area where interaction with the object is interrogated, a display area where information describing the functionality of the generator is presented, preferably by optical projection. A virtual pad can be used with the virtual control panel to divide and separate control and display functionality.
A virtual control system for an operating room establishes virtual control devices to control surgical equipment and patient monitoring equipment and to display control, status and functionality information concerning the surgical equipment and condition information of the patient. The virtual control devices permit direct interaction by the surgeon while maintaining a sterile field, and avoid the use of actual physical devices and electrical cables connecting them to the surgical equipment.
