TUNED RETURN ELECTRODE WITH MATCHING INDUCTOR
First Claim
1. A self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode comprising:
- a semi-insulating member for limiting the density of electrosurgical current flowing through the electrode to less than a predetermined level to prevent a patient burn; and
a conductor member coupled to the semi-insulating member, the conductor member having a split plate configuration and coupleable to circuitry for monitoring the contact area between the electrode and a patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical return electrode for use in electrosurgery. The return electrode is self-limiting and self-regulating as to current temperature and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. According to one aspect of the invention, an inductor is coupled in series with the electrosurgical return electrode. The inductor is configured to optimize the flow of the electrosurgical current by minimizing the effective bulk impedance of the electrosurgical return electrode when the amount of contact area between the patient and the electrosurgical return electrode is sufficient to conduct electrosurgery. According to another aspect of the present invention, a conductor member is adapted for use with circuitry that indicates to a user when the contact area between the patient and the self-limiting member and/or return electrode is below a given threshold.
95 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode comprising:
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a semi-insulating member for limiting the density of electrosurgical current flowing through the electrode to less than a predetermined level to prevent a patient burn; and
a conductor member coupled to the semi-insulating member, the conductor member having a split plate configuration and coupleable to circuitry for monitoring the contact area between the electrode and a patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electrosurgical apparatus comprising:
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a semi-insulating member having a working surface adapted for disposition adjacent the tissue of a patient positioned thereon for electrosurgery and that continuously and automatically regulates the electrosurgical current flowing through the electrode as a function of the area of contact between the electrode and the patient'"'"'s tissue so as to limit the density of electrosurgical current to less than 100 milliamperes per square centimeter of the electrode; and
a conductor member coupled to the semi-insulating member, having a split plate configuration, and coupleable to circuitry in electrical communication with the electrically conducting member, the conductor member and the circuitry configured to determine the contact area between the electrode and the patient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A self-limiting electrosurgical system comprising:
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a self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode comprising;
a semi-insulating member having a bulk impedance sufficient to prevent a patient burn when a contact area between a patient and the semi-insulating member is below a given threshold; and
a conductor member coupled to the semi-insulating member, the conductor member having a split plate configuration; and
contact quality monitoring circuitry coupleable to conductor member, the combination of the contact quality monitoring circuitry and the conductor member monitoring the contact area between the semi-insulating member and the patient and activating an output device if the contact area is below a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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17. The self-limiting electrosurgical system of claim 17, wherein the inductor is selected such that the effective impedance of the electrosurgical return electrode, the patient, and the inductor falls within a range of impedances at which effective electrosurgery can be performed for a selected group of patients.
Specification