System and method for return electrode monitoring

摘要

A system for determining probability of tissue damage includes a plurality of return electrodes adhered to a patient and adapted to couple to an electrosurgical generator configured to generate an electrosurgical current. The system also includes a current monitor and a switching component connected in series with each of the plurality of the return electrodes. The current monitor is configured to measure the electrosurgical current passing therethrough. The system further includes a processor coupled to each of the current monitors and the switching components. The processor is configured to determine the balance of a current load among the plurality of the return electrodes and configured to control each of the switching components to adjust the current passing through each of the return electrodes to balance the current load.

主权项

1. A method for determining probability of tissue damage, the method comprising:
coupling a plurality of return electrodes to a patient and to an electrosurgical generator that is configured to generate an electrosurgical current, wherein each of the plurality of return electrodes includes a current monitor and a switching component connected in series with each of the plurality of return electrodes; measuring the electrosurgical current passing through each of the plurality of return electrodes; determining a balance of a current load among the plurality of return electrodes, determining the balance of the current load including:
determining a current threshold based on a tolerance value of the plurality of return electrodes and a summation of the electrosurgical current passing through each of the plurality of return electrodes; anddetermining whether the electrosurgical current passing through at least one of the plurality of return electrodes exceeds the determined current threshold; and controlling each of the switching components to adjust the electrosurgical current passing through each of the plurality of return electrodes to balance the current load.