System and method for return electrode monitoring
A return electrode monitoring (“REM”) system is disclosed. The REM system includes a return electrode pad having a pair of split electrode pads and a detection circuit coupled to the pair of split electrode pads. The detection circuit and the pair of split electrode pads are adapted to resonate across a predetermined resonance range. The REM system also includes a controller coupled to the detection circuit and configured to provide a sweeping drive signal to the detection circuit across the resonance range. The detection circuit generates a drive signal in response to the sweeping drive signal and the controller determines a complex impedance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads as a function of the drive signal.
1. A return electrode monitoring system comprising:
at least one return electrode pad including at least one pair of split electrode pads;
a detection circuit operatively coupled to the at least one pair of split electrode pads; and
a controller coupled to the detection circuit and configured to provide a drive signal to the detection circuit, wherein the detection circuit is adapted to measure a response signal in response to the drive signal and convert the response signal to a frequency response, the controller being further configured to determine a phase of the drive signal with respect to a frequency of the response signal, a complex impedance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads as a function of the frequency response, and a frequency shift as a function of the phase of the drive signal.
2. The return electrode monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is configured to measure a voltage, a current and a phase difference therebetween of the drive signal.
3. The return electrode monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a reactance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads.
4. The return electrode monitoring system according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a resistance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads as a function of a change in amplitude of the voltage of the drive signal.
5. The return electrode monitoring system according to claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a complex impedance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads as a function of the resistance and the reactance.
6. The return electrode monitoring system according to claim 1 , wherein the drive signal is at least one of a step or an impulse signal.
7. A method for monitoring a return electrode comprising:
providing a drive signal to a return electrode monitoring system including at least one return electrode pad having at least one pair of split electrode pads, the return electrode monitoring system being adapted to resonate across a predetermined resonance;
sweeping the drive signal across a resonance range of the predetermined resonance;
generating a response signal in response to the sweeping of the drive signal;
converting the response signal to a frequency response;
determining a complex impedance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads as a function of the frequency response; and
determining a resistance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads as a function of a change in amplitude of the drive signal.
8. The method for monitoring a return electrode according to claim 7 , further comprising:
measuring a voltage and a current of the drive signal.
9. The method for monitoring a return electrode according to claim 8 , further comprising:
measuring a phase of the drive signal; and
determining complex impedance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads as a function of the phase of the drive signal.
10. The method for monitoring a return electrode according to claim 7 , further comprising:
determining a phase of the drive signal with respect to a frequency of the response signal.
11. The method for monitoring a return electrode according to claim 10 , further comprising:
determining a frequency shift as a function of the phase of the drive signal.
12. The method for monitoring a return electrode according to claim 7 , further comprising:
determining a complex impedance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads as a function of the resistance and the reactance.
13. The method for monitoring a return electrode according to claim 7 , further comprising:
determining a reactance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads.
14. The method for monitoring a return electrode according to claim 13 , further comprising:
mapping the reactance across the at least one pair of split electrode pads with adherence of the at least one return electrode pad.
15. The method for monitoring a return electrode according to claim 7 , wherein the drive signal is at least one of a step or an impulse signal.