System and method for providing even heat distribution and cooling return pads

• US 20080249524A1
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dunning, James E.
• Application Number:
  US11/732,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20080249524A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0056 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a return pad for use with an electrosurgical system and includes a contact layer configured to engage patient skin, a conductive layer disposed on the contact layer, and a heating layer operatively associated with at least one of the contact layer and the conductive layer. The heating layer is configured to heat the return pad.

Claims

1. A return pad for use with an electrosurgical system, comprising:

a contact layer configured to engage patient skin;

a conductive layer disposed on the contact layer; and

a heating layer, operatively associated with at least one of the contact layer and the conductive layer, the heating layer configured to heat the return pad.

2. The return pad according to claim 1, wherein the heating layer includes at least one electric heating element configured to receive power from an external power supply.

3. The return pad according to claim 2, wherein the external power supply limits the energy supplied to the at least one electric heating element to prevent the return pad from exceeding a target temperature.

4. The return pad according to claim 3, wherein the return pad further includes a temperature sensor operable to sense the temperature of the return pad.

5. The return pad according to claim 3, wherein the external power supply is operable to control the temperature of the return pad to at least one of reaching the target temperature and maintaining the target temperature.

6. The return pad according to claim 2, further including at least one energy regulating device that prevents the return pad from exceeding a target temperature.

7. The return pad according to claim 6, wherein the at least one energy regulating device is selected from a group consisting of a current limiting fuse, a thermal cut-off device, and a timer.

8. The return pad according to claim 2, wherein the external power supply is an electrosurgical generator.

9. The return pad according to claim 8, wherein the electrosurgical generator is operable to detect the connection to the return pad and automatically initiate energy delivery to the heating layer in response thereto.

10. The return pad according to claim 1, wherein the heating layer includes an exothermic pack.

11. The return pad according to claim 10, wherein the energy generated by the exothermic pack is operable to heat the return pad to about a target temperature.

12. The return pad according to claim 11, wherein the energy generated by the exothermic pack is operable to limit heating the return pad to a temperature above the target temperature.

13. A return pad for use with an electrosurgical system, comprising:

a conductive layer; and

a contact layer having a first side configured to engage patient skin and a second side disposed on the conductive layer;

the contact layer including;

at least one electric heating element at least partially disposed in the contact layer, the at least one electric heating element configured to receive power from an external power supply;

wherein the electric heating element is configured to heat the contact layer to about a target temperature prior to engaging the contact layer to patient skin.

14. The return pad according to claim 13, wherein the external power supply is operable to limit the energy supplied to the at least one electric heating element to prevent the contact layer from exceeding the target temperature.

15. The return pad according to claim 14, wherein the return pad further includes a temperature sensor operable to sense the temperature of the return pad.

16. The return pad according to claim 13, further including at least one energy regulating device operable to prevent the contact layer from exceeding the target temperature.

17. The return pad according to claim 16, wherein the at least one energy regulating device is selected from a group consisting of a current limiting fuse, a thermal cut-off device, and a timer.