Temperature regulating patient return electrode and return electrode monitoring system

• US 20060224150A1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Arts, Gene H., Hermes, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,821,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0408 Use-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

A temperature regulating patient return electrode and return electrode monitoring system for use in monopolar surgery, includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material disposed on its surface. The PTC material responds to local increases in temperature by increasing local resistance. This quality decreases the probability of a patient burn as a result of monopolar surgery. The return electrode monitoring system includes a generator for generating current; an active electrode coupled to the generator for supplying the current to a patient; and a return electrode coupled to the generator with a surface for receiving the current from the patient and returning the current to the generator. A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material is disposed on the return electrode for regulating the temperature over the surface of the return electrode.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical return electrode for use in monopolar surgery comprising:

a conductive pad having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material is disposed on the conductive pad.

2. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 1, wherein the PTC material coats at least one of the top surface or bottom surface.

3. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 1, wherein the pad includes at least two layers.

4. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 3, wherein at least one of the at least two layers is a PTC material.

5. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the top surface of the pad defines a patient contacting surface.

6. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 5, wherein the patient contacting surface is substantially covered with the PTC material.

7. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 5, further comprising an adhesive material disposed on the patient contacting surface.

8. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 1, wherein the return electrode includes a plurality of pads.

9. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 8, wherein an individual wire is coupled to each pad and is configured to determine one of a resistance and impedance between any two individual wires.

10. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 1, wherein the PTC material is selected from the group consisting of a polymer/carbon based material, a cermet based material, a polymer material, a ceramic material, a dielectric material, and any combinations thereof.

11. The electrosurgical return electrode of claim 7, wherein the adhesive material is selected from the group consisting of a polyhesive adhesive, a water-insoluble, hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive adhesive, a Z-axis adhesive, and any combinations thereof.

12. A system for eliminating patient burns during monopolar surgery, comprising:

a generator configured to generate current;

an active electrode adapted to couple to the generator and being configured to supply the current to a patient; and

a return electrode adapted to couple to the generator having a surface configured to receive the current from the patient and return the current to the generator, wherein a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material is disposed on the return electrode and is configured to regulate the temperature over the surface of the return electrode.

13. The system for eliminating patient burns of claim 12, further comprising a temperature regulation device disposed in the generator configured to regulate temperature at least of the return electrode.

14. The system for eliminating patient burns of claim 12, further comprising a temperature monitoring device disposed in the generator configured to monitor temperature at the return electrode.

15. The system for eliminating patient burns of claim 14, further comprising a generator disabling device configured to disable the generator when the temperature of the return electrode reaches a predetermined value.

16. The system for eliminating patient burns of claim 12, wherein the generator includes a device configured to monitor at least one of a temperature and a contact quality of the return electrode.

17. The system for eliminating patient burns of claim 12, wherein the PTC material is configured to regulate current density at the return electrode.

18. The system for eliminating patient burns of claim 12, wherein the return electrode includes a plurality of pads.

19. The system for eliminating patient burns of claim 18, wherein an individual wire is coupled to each pad of the plurality of pads and configured to determine a parameter between any two individual wires.

20. The system for eliminating patient burns of claim 19, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of power, resistance, impedance, and any combination thereof.

21. A method for eliminating patient burns while performing monopolar surgery, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a return electrode with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material in contact with a patient;

generating electrosurgical energy; and

supplying the electrosurgical energy to the patient via an active electrode;

wherein the PTC material on the return electrode regulates the temperature over the return electrode by responding to increases in localized temperature with a local increase in resistance, thereby spreading the temperature over the surface of the electrode.

22. An electrosurgical system comprising:

a generator having at least a processor disposed therein, the electrosurgical generator being configured to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue;

a supply electrode adapted to connect to the generator configured to supply the electrosurgical energy to the tissue;

a return electrode adapted to connect to the generator and configured to return the electrosurgical energy to the generator, said return electrode including an impedance sensor being configured to measure impedance values between a plurality of return electrode portions and output the impedance values to the at least one processor for determination of a contact reading, the processor operable to compare the contact reading to a stored threshold reading to determine a degree of adherence of the return electrode on the patient.

23. The electrosurgical system of claim 22, wherein said processor adjusts radiofrequency energy to the patient when said contact reading reaches a threshold value.

24. The electrosurgical system of claim 22, wherein the return electrode has a PTC layer.

25. The electrosurgical system of claim 24, wherein the PTC layer is a coating, and wherein said coating is disposed over each of the return electrode portions.

26. The electrosurgical system of claim 24, wherein the PTC layer is a substantially continuous coating of parallel resistors.

27. The electrosurgical system of claim 24, further comprising a conductive adhesive layer in contact with the PTC layer, said adhesive layer configured to maintain contact between the plurality of return electrode portions and the patient.