Tektronix, Inc.

Baylis Medical Company Inc.

Jonathan S Dandy

Michael J Mende

Daniel G Knierim

Taras Juzkiw

Jason Woo

Kerry A Stevens

Albert S Crane, Jr

Thomas J Sharp

Michael Duane Stevens

Kevin A Robertson

Disclosed is a signal isolating test instrument, such as an electronics test probe. The instrument includes an input to receive a floating analog signal. An upconverter is employed to modulate the floating analog signal to a microwave frequency analog signal. An isolation barrier prevents coupling of the floating analog signal to an earth ground. The instrument employs a microwave structure to transmit the microwave frequency analog signal across the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling. A downconverter is then employed to demodulate the microwave frequency analog signal to obtain a ground referenced test signal corresponding to the floating analog signal.

Analog signal isolator

Disclosed is a signal isolating test instrument, such as an electronics test probe. The instrument includes an input to receive a floating analog signal. An upconverter is employed to modulate the floating analog signal to a microwave frequency analog signal. An isolation barrier in the instrument prevents coupling of the floating analog signal to an earth ground. The instrument employs a microwave structure to transmit the microwave frequency analog signal across the isolation barrier via electromagnetic coupling. A downconverter is then employed to demodulate the microwave frequency analog signal to obtain a ground referenced test signal corresponding to the floating analog signal.

A method is disclosed for delivering energy to a region of tissue within a patient's body using a medical treatment system. The medical treatment system comprises an energy delivery device coupled to an energy source and the method includes steps of delivering energy, measuring an energy delivery parameter, determining distance of the energy delivery device from a conductive object and optionally adjusting a position of the energy delivery device based on the determined distance.

Monitoring and controlling energy delivery of an electrosurgical device

Disclosed is a test and measurement probe including a signal channel having an input series resistor with a series parasitic capacitance. The probe also includes an amplifier coupled to the signal channel. The amplifier includes a shunt parasitic capacitance. A variable shunt resistor is coupled to the signal channel and a ground. The variable shunt resistor can be set to match a resistance capacitance (RC) value associated with the series parasitic capacitance and the shunt. The probe can also include a variable series resistor coupled to the amplifier. The variable series resistor can be set to adjust for attenuation variation associated with the variable shunt resistor. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed herein.

Probe attenuator for reduced input capacitance

A method is disclosed for delivering energy to a region of tissue within a patient's body using a medical treatment system. The medical treatment system comprises an energy delivery device coupled to an energy source. Energy is delivered through the energy delivery device positioned within the patient's body. An energy delivery parameter associated with the delivery of energy by the medical treatment system is monitored and if one or more values of the energy delivery parameter exceed a predetermined magnitude threshold, one or more errors are detected. The extent of the detected errors is determined or assessed and the delivery of energy is controlled if the extent of the errors detected exceeds a sensitivity threshold before the expiry of a predetermined time period.

An input by-pass circuit for a current probe has first and second switches coupled between current probe inputs and current sensing circuit inputs. A switch control is coupled to the switching circuit for selectively coupling and decoupling the current probe inputs to the current sensing circuit such that the current signal continuously flows in the device under test.

Input by-pass circuit for a current probe

A current sensing circuit has a transformer where a current to be measured induces a magnetic flux into a magnetic core. The magnetic core has a magneto-electric converter for sensing DC to low frequency current signals and a secondary winding for sensing higher frequency current signals. The magneto-electric converter generates an output that is coupled via an amplifier to a non-inverting input of a transimpedance amplifier. The inverting input of the transimpedance amplifier is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. A current signal path having a transimpedance resistor couples the inverting input to the output of the transimpedance amplifier. The transimpedance amplifier functions as a power amplifier for coupling a nulling current to the transformer for DC to low frequency current signals and functions as a transimpedance gain amplifier for higher frequency signals.

Current sensing circuit for use in a current measurement probe

A communications bus management circuit for a current probe system detects the connection of the current probe system to an instrument and the connection of a current probe to a current probe amplifier of the system. A controller generates a probe enable signal in the presence of the detected connection to the instrument that is coupled to a switching circuit. Switch elements couple the communications bus of the instrument to the communications bus of the current probe amplifier in the presence of the probe enable signal. The controller further generates a current probe present signal in the presence of the detected current probe that is also coupled to the switching element. A further switch element couples the data line of the instrument to ground via a resistive element in the presence of the current probe present signal and floats the data line when the current probe present signal is absent.

Communications bus management circuit

A current probing system has a current probe and a detachable adapter. The current probe has a probe body with electrically conductive contacts that mate with electrically conductive contacts on the adapter. Leads extend from the adapter for coupling to a current carrying conductor. The leads can connect to a plug that is coupled to a current diverting device for coupling a current signal to the current probe. The adapter may also include a switch that selectively couples the current signal to the current probe when the adapter is mated with the current probe. The contacts of the current probe are coupled to a current sensing circuit which generates a voltage output representative of the current signal. The voltage output is coupled to an oscilloscope via an electrical cable.

Current probing system

A current probe transformer temperature monitoring method determines an initial transformer temperature of the current probe as a function of the winding resistance of the transformer. A relative temperature of the Hall Effect device is also determined as a function of resistance change of the Hall Effect device. The initial transformer temperature and the relative Hall Effect device temperature are combined to produce a continuous transformer temperature indicative of the temperature of the transformer. The current signal to the multi-turn winding is removed when the continuous transformer temperature exceeds a threshold temperature value and a visual indication may be provided.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Jonathan S Dandy