GROUND ELECTRODE AND TEST CIRCUIT

• US 3,642,008 A
• Filed: 10/15/1969
• Issued: 02/15/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lee R. Bolduc
• Original Assignee: Lee R. Bolduc
• Inventors: Bolduc, Lee R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, J. B.
• Application Number:
  US04/866,630
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 128/416,422,303.14,303.13,404,2.1,419P,2.6A 324/51,62 339/255P,174,261
• US Class Current: 607/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/273 Connection of cords, cables or leads to electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/274 using snap or button fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/04 Electrodes electrosurgical electrodes A61B18/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/59 for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/001 in case of incorrect or interrupted earth connection disconnection by breaking of earth connection H02H5/105

Abstract

An electrical-surgical machine using high-frequency currents connected to an active electrode and a patient ground plate electrode. The ground plate electrode is a one-piece disposable flexible sheet member having an electrical conductive skin releasably attached to a clamp connected to a line leading to the electrical-surgical machine. A circuit-testing unit checks the entire circuit, including the electrical connection between the patient and ground plate electrode, as well as the electrical connection between the clamp and the ground plate. The releasable clamp has a pair of spaced flat electrical contacts in surface engagement with the electrical conductive skin of the ground electrode. One form of the clamp has a pair of plate contacts attached to and pivotally mounted on flat electrically insulative covers.

Claims

1. In combination:

an electrode having a base and electrically conductive skin means secured to at least one side of the base, clamp means releasably attached to a portion of the electrode, said clamp means having at least two separated electrical contact members, means to hold the contact members in surface engagement with separate portions of the electrically conductive skin means, and means cooperating with the electrode to prevent accidental separation of the clamp means from the electrode, and electric circuit means connected to the contact members of the clamp means for testing the electrical connections between the electrically conductive skin means of the electrode and the separate contact members of the clamp means, said circuit means adapted to be connected to a source of electric power to provide electric energy to the circuit means to test said electrical connections.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

the means cooperating with the electrode to prevent accidental separation of the clamp means from the electrode comprise means on said clamp means engageable with a turned flange of said electrode.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

the circuit means comprises a low-voltage circuit connected to and completed thRough said contact members and electrically conductive skin means, a relay having a coil and switch contacts, said coil located in said low-voltage circuit, a high-voltage circuit containing said switch contacts and connected to the contact members of the clamp means whereby when the low-voltage circuit is completed in the coil, it is energized closing the switch contacts to complete the high-voltage circuit to the electrode.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein:

the low-voltage circuit includes signal means providing a recognizable indication when the high-voltage circuit is open.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

the circuit means has a first circuit connected to the separate contact members, a second circuit connected to at least one of the contact members, and means operable on completion of the first circuit to close the second circuit.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein:

the first circuit is a low-voltage circuit and the second circuit is a high-voltage circuit.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein:

the means operable on completion of the first circuit to close the second circuit includes relay means having a control element in the first circuit and switches in the second circuit operable by the control element so that on completion of the first circuit the control element will close the switches thereby closing the second circuit.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

said electrode has hole means and the means cooperating with the electrode to prevent accidental separation of the clamp means from the electrode comprise projection means extended through said holes means.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

the means cooperating with the electrode to prevent accidental separation of the clamp means from the electrode comprise at least one projection extended through a hole in the electrode and cooperating with the contact members to hold the clamp means in assembled relation with the electrode.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

the clamp means has a cover means located over the contact members, said contact members secured to a portion of the cover.

11. In combination:

an electrode having a base, a first electrically conductive skin and a second electrically conductive skin spaced from the first skin, said first and second skins secured to said base and adapted to contact a body, clamp means releasably attached to a portion of the electrode, said clamp means having first electrical contact means engageable with the first skin and second electrical contact means engageable with the second skin, means holding the first and second contact means in engagement with said skins, and means cooperating with the electrode to prevent accidental separation of the clamp means from the electrode, and electric circuit means connected to the first and second contact means of the clamp means for testing the electrical connections between the electrically conductive skin means of the electrode and the separate contact means of the clamp means and for monitoring the electrical conductivity of the electrical connections between a body and the portions of the first and second skins in engagement with the body, said circuit means adapted to be connected to a source of electric power to provide electric energy to the circuit means to test said electrical connections.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein:

the means cooperating with the electrode to prevent accidental separation of the clamp means from the electrode comprise means on said clamp means engageable with a turned flange of said electrode.

13. The combination of claim 11 wherein:

said circuit means includes an electric power source, a meter connected to the power source, and a switch operable to couple the meter and power source in series with the first skin and second skin.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein:

said power source is a battery and said test circuit includes a variable resistance operable to calibrate the power output of the battery.

15. The combination of Claim 11 wherein:

the circuit means includes a line that continuously connects at least one conductive skin to ground and a test circuit for monitoring the conductivity of the electrical connection between the patient and the portions of the first and second skins in engagement with the patient.

16. The combination of claim 11 wherein:

said clamp means has a first lever with a forward portion connected to the first contact means and the second contact means, a second lever, means pivotally connecting the first lever with the second lever, and biasing means urging forward portions of the first lever and second lever toward each other.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein:

the first lever has a generally flat forward portion and an upwardly and outwardly directed rear portion.

18. The combination of claim 11 wherein:

the means cooperating with the electrode to prevent accidental separation of the clamp means from the electrode comprise at least one projection extended through a hole in the electrode when the clamp is attached to the electrode.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein:

the clamp means has two spaced projections extended through spaced holes in the electrode when the clamp is attached to the electrode.

20. The combination of claim 11 wherein:

said circuit means includes an indicator means operable to provide a readable signal in response to the electrical connections between the electrical contact means and the first and second skins and the electrical connection between the body and the first and second skins.

21. The combination of claim 20 wherein:

said indicator means is an electrical meter.

22. The combination of claim 11 wherein:

the means cooperating with the electrode to prevent accidental separation of the clamp means from the electrode comprises at least one projection extended through a hole in the electrode between the first skin and the second skin when the clamp means is attached to the electrode, said projection being located between the first contact means and second contact means, whereby the projection aligns each contact means with a skin.

23. The combination of claim 11 wherein:

the first skin and the second skin are longitudinally aligned relative to each other and secured to one side of the base, said skins being separated from each other along the longitudinal center of the electrode.