Apparatus for monitoring the application of neutral electrodes on a patient undergoing high frequency electro-surgery
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring the application, to a patient, of neutral electrode contact surfaces during high-frequency electro-surgery performed with equipment comprising at least two neutral electrodes and an active electrode, as well as a high frequency electric current generator including a power-supply for its energization, said contact surfaces comprising respective surfaces (2, 3) of said at least two neutral electrodes which are independent of each other and insulated from each other and are applied to the same patient for returning a high frequency current (IHF) said monitoring apparatus comprising:
- means (12,14-16;
28,
29) connectable in circuit with said at least two neutral electrodes and said high frequency electric current generator for producing a first electrical signal (a) dependent upon a parameter representative of heating of biological tissue of the patient;
means (7-11,
13) connectable in circuit with said at least two neutral electrodes for producing a second electrical signal (b) dependent on the electrical conductivity of a current path between said electrode surfaces (2,
3) of said independent neutral electrodes as a measure of transition conductivities between said respective electrode surfaces and the patient'"'"'s body;
means (20) connected with said first signal and second signal producing means for comparing respective magnitudes of said first and second signals (a, b) and for thereby producing at least one control signal, andmeans connected to said comparing means and responsive to said at least one control signal for producing an optical signal, an acoustic signal or an interruption of said high frequency current, in response, individually, to at least one of the following eventualities;
said second signal (b) exceeds said first signal (a) in magnitude;
said first signal (a) is equal to or greater than said second signal (b);
said first signal (a) greatly exceeds said second signal (b).
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Accused Products
Abstract
At least one neutral electrodes insulated from each other is separately connected to the current return terminal of a high frequency electro-surgical equipment are applied in electrical contact with the skin of a patient while surgery is performed with the active electrode of the equipment. A low frequency alternating current is passed through the patient'"'"'s flesh from one neutral electrode to the other to monitor the quality of contact between the neutral electrodes and the patient. The intensity of the intermeittent high frequency current or a corresponding setting of the high frequency surgery equipment is compared with a signal representative of the monitoring current so that warning signals and/or automatic shut-off of the high frequency equipment will occur when and only when the high frequency current for surgical cutting or coagulation is greater than that which is permissible for the electrical transition conductivity present at the time between the respective neutral electrodes and the skin of the patient without risk of thermal damage to the skin at the place the neutral electrode is applied.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring the application, to a patient, of neutral electrode contact surfaces during high-frequency electro-surgery performed with equipment comprising at least two neutral electrodes and an active electrode, as well as a high frequency electric current generator including a power-supply for its energization, said contact surfaces comprising respective surfaces (2, 3) of said at least two neutral electrodes which are independent of each other and insulated from each other and are applied to the same patient for returning a high frequency current (IHF) said monitoring apparatus comprising:
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means (12,14-16;
28,
29) connectable in circuit with said at least two neutral electrodes and said high frequency electric current generator for producing a first electrical signal (a) dependent upon a parameter representative of heating of biological tissue of the patient;means (7-11,
13) connectable in circuit with said at least two neutral electrodes for producing a second electrical signal (b) dependent on the electrical conductivity of a current path between said electrode surfaces (2,
3) of said independent neutral electrodes as a measure of transition conductivities between said respective electrode surfaces and the patient'"'"'s body;means (20) connected with said first signal and second signal producing means for comparing respective magnitudes of said first and second signals (a, b) and for thereby producing at least one control signal, and means connected to said comparing means and responsive to said at least one control signal for producing an optical signal, an acoustic signal or an interruption of said high frequency current, in response, individually, to at least one of the following eventualities;
said second signal (b) exceeds said first signal (a) in magnitude;
said first signal (a) is equal to or greater than said second signal (b);
said first signal (a) greatly exceeds said second signal (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification