Self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode
First Claim
1. A self-limiting patient return electrode for use in electrosurgery comprising in combination:
- a separate conducting element adapted to be electrically coupled to an electrosurgical generator; and
a sheet of material having a predetermined limited electrical conductivity,the conducting element and the sheet being self-limiting when the sheet is interposed in close proximity between the conducting element and a patient so that electrosurgical current is limited to safe thresholds so as to prevent an undesirable patient burn at a contact area between the patient and the electrode in the event of an accidental reduction in the contact area below a threshold level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A removable semi-insulating sheet for use in self-limiting electrosurgical return semi-insulating sheet for use with electrosurgery. Through the selection of impedance characteristics for the electrode materials of the principal body of the semi-insulating sheet, and through tailoring of semi-insulating sheet geometries, the return electrode of the present invention is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. The semi-insulating sheet has an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 Ω·cm. The effective bulk impedance of the sheet may arise from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof. The configuration of the presently described return electrode allows the electrode to self-limit the electrode'"'"'s current densities, thereby preventing burning of a patient during surgery.
41 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A self-limiting patient return electrode for use in electrosurgery comprising in combination:
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a separate conducting element adapted to be electrically coupled to an electrosurgical generator; and a sheet of material having a predetermined limited electrical conductivity, the conducting element and the sheet being self-limiting when the sheet is interposed in close proximity between the conducting element and a patient so that electrosurgical current is limited to safe thresholds so as to prevent an undesirable patient burn at a contact area between the patient and the electrode in the event of an accidental reduction in the contact area below a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A self-limiting patient return electrode for use in electrosurgery comprising in combination:
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a conducting element adapted to be electrically coupled to an electrosurgical generator; and a sheet of material having a predetermined limited electrical conductivity, wherein the effective impedance of the electrode is inversely proportional to the effective contact area between the patient and the electrode when the sheet is interposed in close proximity between the conducting element and a patient so that the electrode automatically limits electrosurgical current to safe thresholds so as to prevent an undesirable patient burn at a contact area between the patient and the electrode in the event of an accidental reduction in the contact area below a threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification