Self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode with pressure sore reduction and heating capabilities

摘要

A self-limiting electrosurgical electrode for use with electrosurgery and various other surgical procedures is disclosed. The electrode includes a heating element for generating heat to warm a patient resting upon the electrode. The electrode can also include one or more pads to prevent the creation of pressure sores or decubitus ulcers on a patient resting upon the electrode. The electrode has an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 Ω·cm, which arises from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof. Through the selection of the impedance characteristics for the electrode materials, and through tailoring of electrode geometries, the electrode of the present invention is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma.

主权项

1. An electrosurgical electrode comprising:
one or more pads configured to substantially prevent the creation of one or more pressure sores on a patient resting upon said electrosurgical electrode, said one or more pads comprising at least one pad having a first side and an opposing second side; a conductive element configured to conduct electrical current, said conductive element being positioned adjacent said first side of said at least one pad; and a heating element comprising a heat generating element and a heat spreading element, said heat generating element being adapted to generate heat for warming a patient resting upon said electrosurgical electrode when an electrical current is passed through the heat generating element, the heat spreading element being configured to conduct the heat away from the heat generating element and evenly distribute the heat uniformly over a surface area of the electrosurgical electrode, said heat generating element being disposed within and coplanar with said heat spreading element, the heating element being positioned adjacent said opposing second side of said at least one pad such that said heating element and said conductive element are spaced apart from one another by said at least one pad, wherein, said conductive element and said one or more pads have an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 Ω·m.