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System and method for return electrode monitoring

  • US 8,801,703 B2
  • Filed: 08/01/2007
  • Issued: 08/12/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for determining probability of tissue damage, the system comprising:

  • a plurality of return electrodes adapted to be adhered to a patient and adapted to couple to an electrosurgical generator configured to generate an electrosurgical current;

    a plurality of current monitors and a plurality of switching components, wherein each current monitor of the plurality of current monitors and each switching component of the plurality of switching components is connected in series with one respective return electrode of the plurality of return electrodes, the plurality of current monitors being configured to measure the electrosurgical current passing therethrough;

    a processor coupled to each current monitor of the plurality of current monitors and each switching component of the plurality of switching components, the processor configured to determine a current threshold based on an average current load among the plurality of return electrodes and a tolerance value;

    a comparator configured to perform a comparison of the electrosurgical current passing through at least one of the plurality of return electrodes with the current threshold; and

    a controller configured to control each switching component of the plurality of switching components to adjust the electrosurgical current passing through each return electrode of the plurality of return electrodes to balance the average current load based on a result of the comparison performed by the comparator.

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