Hybrid Contact Quality Monitoring Return Electrode

• US 20090198229A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dunning, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/16 Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/167 Passive electrodes capacitively coupled to the skin

Abstract

An electrosurgical return electrode is disclosed. The return electrode includes an intermediary layer formed from a dielectric material, the intermediary layer having a top surface and a patient-contacting surface. The return electrode also includes a capacitive return electrode formed from a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the intermediary layer and a resistive monitoring electrode formed from a conductive material disposed on the patient-contact surface of the intermediary layer.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical return electrode, comprising:

an intermediary layer formed from a dielectric material, the intermediary layer having a top surface and a patient-contacting surface;

a capacitive return electrode formed from a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the intermediary layer; and

a resistive monitoring electrode formed from a conductive material disposed on the patient-contact surface of the intermediary layer.

2. An electrosurgical return electrode according to claim 1, wherein the resistive monitoring electrode includes at least one pair of split electrode conductors.

3. An electrosurgical return electrode according to claim 2, wherein the at least one pair of split electrode conductors are adapted to couple to a return electrode monitoring system.

4. An electrosurgical return electrode according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive return electrode and the resistive monitoring electrode are screen printed onto the intermediary layer.

5. An electrosurgical return electrode according to claim 1, wherein the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, gold and stainless steel.

6. An electrosurgical return electrode according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of polyimide film and polyester film.

7. An electrosurgical system comprising:

at least one electrosurgical return electrode, comprising;

an intermediary layer formed from a dielectric material, the intermediary layer having a top surface and a patient-contacting surface;

a capacitive return electrode formed from a conductive material disposed on the top surface of the intermediary layer; and

a resistive monitoring electrode formed from a conductive material disposed on the patient-contact surface of the intermediary layer, wherein the resistive monitoring electrode includes at least one pair of split electrode conductors; and

a return electrode monitoring system coupled to the at least one pair of split electrode conductors and configured to measure impedance between the at least one pair of split electrode conductors.

8. An electrosurgical system according to claim 7, wherein the return electrode monitoring system is adapted to couple to a sensor circuit that is configured to determine adherence factor of the at least one electrosurgical return electrode as a function of the impedance between one electrode pad of the at least one pair of split electrode conductors.

9. An electrosurgical system according to claim 7, wherein the capacitive return electrode and the resistive monitoring electrode are screen printed onto the intermediary layer.

10. An electrosurgical system according to claim 7, wherein the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, gold and stainless steel.

11. An electrosurgical system according to claim 7, wherein the dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of polyimide film and polyester film.

12. A method for manufacturing an electrosurgical return electrode, the method comprising the steps of:

forming an intermediary layer from a dielectric material, the intermediary layer having a top surface and a patient-contacting surface;

depositing a first conductive material onto the top surface of the intermediary layer to form a capacitive return electrode;

depositing a second conductive material onto the patient-contact surface of the intermediary layer to form a resistive monitoring electrode; and

heating the intermediary, conductive and monitoring layers for a predetermined period of time at a temperature from about 70°

C. to about 120°

C.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the depositing a second conductive material step includes the step of forming at least one pair of split electrode conductors in the resistive monitoring electrode.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one pair of split electrode conductors are adapted to couple to a return electrode monitoring system.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the depositing a first conductive material step includes screen printing the first conductive material onto the top surface of the intermediary layer.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the depositing a second conductive material step includes screen printing the second conductive material onto the patient-contacting surface of the intermediary layer.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein the first and second conductive materials are selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, gold and stainless steel.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein the dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of polyimide film and polyester film.