Capacitive electrosurgical return pad with contact quality monitoring
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A return pad, comprising:
- a backing having a top side, a bottom side, and a periphery;
at least one return electrode disposed on the bottom side of the backing layer, the at least one return electrode being adapted to connect to a current generator; and
at least one ring sensor disposed in substantial concentric registration with the periphery of the backing, the at least one ring sensor configured to connect to a measuring component that is operable to approximate contact quality of the at least one return electrode during electrosurgical application, the measuring component configured to communicate with the generator.
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Abstract
A return pad includes a backing, at least one return electrode, and at least one ring sensor. The backing has a top side, a bottom side, and a periphery. The return electrode is disposed on the bottom side of the backing layer and is adapted to connect to a current generator. The ring sensor(s) is disposed in substantial concentric registration with the periphery of the backing and is configured to connect to a measuring component. The measuring component is operable to approximate contact quality of the return electrode during electrosurgical application and is configured to communicate with the generator.
132 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A return pad, comprising:
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a backing having a top side, a bottom side, and a periphery; at least one return electrode disposed on the bottom side of the backing layer, the at least one return electrode being adapted to connect to a current generator; and at least one ring sensor disposed in substantial concentric registration with the periphery of the backing, the at least one ring sensor configured to connect to a measuring component that is operable to approximate contact quality of the at least one return electrode during electrosurgical application, the measuring component configured to communicate with the generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electrosurgical system for measuring contact quality of a return pad, comprising:
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a return pad having a backing layer and first and second capacitive electrodes disposed thereon; a return interface adapted to return current from the first and second capacitive electrodes; and a sensing interface operatively coupled to a generator and configured to monitor the impedance between the first and second capacitive electrodes to determine contact quality.
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15. An electrosurgical system for measuring contact quality of a return pad, comprising:
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a return pad having a backing layer and first and second capacitive electrodes disposed thereon; a return interface adapted to return current from the first and second capacitive electrodes; and a sensing interface operatively coupled to a generator and configured to monitor a return current difference between the first and second capacitive electrodes to determine contact quality.
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16. A method for monitoring contact quality of a return pad of an electrosurgical system, the method including the steps of:
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providing a return pad including; a backing having a top side, a bottom side, and a periphery; at least one return electrode disposed on the bottom side of the backing layer, the at least one return electrode being adapted to connect to a current generator; and at least one ring sensor disposed in substantial concentric registration with the periphery of the backing; activating the at least one ring sensor to communicate with a measuring component; and approximating the contact quality of the return electrode by analyzing at least one of the capacitance, impedance and resistance from the at least one ring sensor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification