US4494541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrosurgery safety monitor
Assignee: Medical Plastics Inc
•
Filing: 1981-11-02
•
Granted: 1985-01-22
•
Expires: 2001-11-02
Abstract
Abstract An electrosurgery safety monitor senses a parameter indicative of the area of contact between the return electrode of an electrosurgery system and the body of the patient. An alarm is provided if the area of contact between the return electrode and the body is less than a predetermined amount.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Kent Archibald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/1206; A61B18/1233; A61B18/14; A61B18/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
In an electrosurgery system having an active electrode which is selectively activated to receive current from an electrosurgery generator and apply the current to the patient and having a return electrode for connection to the body of the patient to return the current from the patient to the generator, the improvement comprising: sensing means for sensing a parameter indicative of area of contact between the return electrode and the body of the patient; alarm means responsive to the sensing means for providing an alarm signal if the area of contact is less than a predetermined amount; and disable means responsive to activation of the active electrode for disabling the alarm means to prevent the alarm signal from being provided when current is supplied to the active electrode, while permitting the sensing means to continue to sense the parameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
In an electrosurgery system having an active electrode which is selectively activated to receive current from an electrosurgery generator and apply the current to the patient and having a return electrode for connection to the body of the patient to return the current from the patient to the generator, the improvement comprising: sensing means for sensing a parameter indicative of area of contact between the return electrode and the body of the patient; alarm means responsive to the sensing means for providing an alarm signal if the area of contact is less than a predetermined amount; and disable means responsive to activation of the active electrode for disabling the alarm means to prevent the alarm signal from being provided when current is supplied to the active electrode, while permitting the sensing means to continue to sense the parameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the parameter is capacitance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 1 and further comprising: means for preventing electrical current from being provided to the active electrode in response to the alarm signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the alarm means includes a sound transducer means for providing the alarm signal as an audible alarm, and sound transducer oscillator means for providing a signal to the sound transducer means to cause the sound transducer means to provide the audible alarm; and wherein the disable means disables the sound transducer oscillator means when the active electrode is activated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electrosurgery system comprising: an active electrode; a return electrode for connection to the body of a patient; a radio-frequency generator for supplying radio-frequency energy to the active electrode; an active lead connecting the radio-frequency generator to the active electrode for carrying the radio-frequency energy from the generator to the active electrode; a return lead connecting the return electrode to the radio-frequency generator for carrying the radio-frequency energy from the return electrode back to the radio frequency generator; sensing means for sensing a parameter indicative of whether area of contact between the return electrode and the body of the patient is sufficient to permit safe operation of the electrosurgery system; alarm means responsive to the sensing means for providing an alarm signal if the sensed parameter indicates that the area of contact is not sufficient for safe operation; and disable means responsive to activation of the active electrode for disabling the alarm means to prevent the alarm signal from being provided when the active electrode is activated to receive radio-frequency energy from the radio-frequency generator, while permitting the sensing means to continue to sense the parameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electrosurgery system comprising: an active electrode; a return electrode for connection to the body of a patient; a radio-frequency generator for supplying radio-frequency energy to the active electrode; an active lead connecting the radio-frequency generator to the active electrode for carrying the radio-frequency energy from the generator to the active electrode; a return lead connecting the return electrode to the radio-frequency generator for carrying the radio-frequency energy from the return electrode back to the radio frequency generator; sensing means for sensing a parameter indicative of whether area of contact between the return electrode and the body of the patient is sufficient to permit safe operation of the electrosurgery system; alarm means responsive to the sensing means for providing an alarm signal if the sensed parameter indicates that the area of contact is not sufficient for safe operation; and disable means responsive to activation of the active electrode for disabling the alarm means to prevent the alarm signal from being provided when the active electrode is activated to receive radio-frequency energy from the radio-frequency generator, while permitting the sensing means to continue to sense the parameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
156 words
In an electrosurgery system having a generator for providing radio-frequency energy, having an active electrode which is selectively activated to receive the radio-frequency energy from the generator, and having a return electrode for connection to the body of a patient to provide a return path for radio-frequency energy to the generator, the improvement comprising: sensing means for sensing a parameter indicative of whether contact between the return electrode and the body of the patient is sufficient to permit safe operation of the electrosurgery system; alarm means responsive to the sensing means for providing an alarm signal if the sensed parameter indicates that contact between the return electrode and the body is not sufficient for safe operation; and disable means responsive to activation of the active electrode for disabling operation of the alarm means when radio-frequency energy is supplied from the generator to the active electrode, while permitting the sensing means to continue to sense the parameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
156 words
In an electrosurgery system having a generator for providing radio-frequency energy, having an active electrode which is selectively activated to receive the radio-frequency energy from the generator, and having a return electrode for connection to the body of a patient to provide a return path for radio-frequency energy to the generator, the improvement comprising: sensing means for sensing a parameter indicative of whether contact between the return electrode and the body of the patient is sufficient to permit safe operation of the electrosurgery system; alarm means responsive to the sensing means for providing an alarm signal if the sensed parameter indicates that contact between the return electrode and the body is not sufficient for safe operation; and disable means responsive to activation of the active electrode for disabling operation of the alarm means when radio-frequency energy is supplied from the generator to the active electrode, while permitting the sensing means to continue to sense the parameter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the parameter is capacitance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the alarm means includes sound alarm means for providing an audible alarm signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the sound alarm means include sound transducer means for providing the audible alarm, and sound tranducer oscillator means for providing a signal to the sound transducer means to produce the audible alarm; and wherein the disable means disables the sound tranducer oscillator means when radio-frequency energy is supplied from the generator to the active electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3642008A
Cited
US3601126A
Cited
US3605728A
Cited
US3683921A
Cited
US3699389A
Cited
US3699968A
Cited
US3848600B1
Cited
US3848600A
Cited
US3811858A
Cited
US3897787A
Cited
US3895635A
Cited
US4122854A
Cited
US3933157A
Cited
US3929137A
Cited
US3889184A
Cited
US3905373A
Cited
US3913583A
Cited
US3923063A
Cited
US4092985A
Cited
US4114623A
Cited
US3960141A
Cited
US4109223A
Cited
US4068699A
Cited
US4102341A
Cited
US4051855A
Cited
US4117846A
Cited
US4102348A
Cited
US4094320A
Cited
US4088133A
Cited
US4102347A
Cited
US4123673A
Cited
DE2814061A1
Cited
US4166465A
Cited
US4166465B1
Cited
US4200104A
Cited
FR2414812A1
Cited
US4304235A
Cited
US4321925A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-22 | 1988-07-23 | 1989-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-22 | 1992-07-23 | 1993-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-22 | 1996-07-23 | 1997-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |