Laparoscopic electrosurgical electrical leakage detection

1. An apparatus for use with an endoscopic applicator, the endoscopic applicator including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and an active electrode having a tip and being adapted for coupling to an electrosurgical generator and extending through the shaft for effecting at the tip thereof an electrosurgical procedure, the apparatus comprising:

a support member having a distal end and a proximal end configured to be coupled to an external surface of the shaft;

a first sensor disposed on the distal end of the support member and for outputting a first signal indicative of current measured at a distal end of the active electrode; and

a second sensor disposed on the proximal end of the support member and for outputting a second signal indicative of current measured at a proximal end of the active electrode,

wherein a difference value of the first and second signal is indicative of leakage of current within the shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a differential device coupled to the first and second sensors for receiving the first and second signals and determining the difference value of the first and second signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an analog to digital converter coupled to each of the first and second sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second signals is a digital signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member is a tube configured to be disposed around the shaft of the endoscopic applicator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member is a bar coupled to the external surface of the shaft of the endoscopic applicator.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a first clip for coupling the first sensor to the shaft of the endoscopic applicator and a second clip for coupling the second sensor to the shaft of the endoscopic applicator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one conductor coupled to the first and second sensors configured to transmit the first and second signals to the electrosurgical generator.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to the first and second sensors configured to transmit the first and second signals to the electrosurgical generator wirelessly.

10. An electrosurgical system for controlling leakage during electrosurgical procedure comprising:

an electrosurgical unit for providing electrosurgical energy at an active output thereof and for controlling the flow of the energy through the active output, the electrosurgical unit having a return input;

an active electrode coupled to the active output for transmitting electrosurgical energy to a patient in an electrosurgical procedure;

a handpiece for supporting the active electrode, the handpiece including a housing and a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the shaft configured to be releasably engageable with the housing, wherein the active electrode is disposed within the shaft;

a return electrode adapted to be coupled to the patient for receiving electrosurgical energy supplied to the patient during the electrosurgical procedure and coupled to the return input for returning it to the return input of the electrosurgical unit; a support member configured to be coupled to the shaft; and

an electrical leakage detector comprising:

a support member having a distal end and a proximal end configured to be coupled to an external surface of the shaft;

a first sensor disposed on the distal end of the support member and for outputting a first signal indicative of current measured at a distal end of the active electrode; and

a second sensor disposed on the proximal end of the support member and for outputting a second signal indicative of current measured at a proximal end of the active electrode,

wherein a difference value of the first and second signal is indicative of leakage of current within the shaft.

11. The electrosurgical system of claim 10 , further comprising a comparison circuit coupled to the first and second sensors for receiving the first and second signals and determining the difference value of the first and second signal.

12. The electrosurgical system of claim 11 , further comprising a controller for controlling the output of electrosurgical energy and coupled to the comparison circuit for receiving the difference value, wherein if the difference value is greater than a predetermined threshold, the controller terminates the output of electrosurgical energy.

13. The electrosurgical system of claim 12 , wherein the comparison circuit is disposed in the handpiece.

14. The electrosurgical system of claim 12 , wherein the comparison circuit is disposed in the electrosurgical unit.

15. The electrosurgical system of claim 12 , wherein the support member is a tube configured to be disposed around the shaft.

16. The electrosurgical system of claim 12 , wherein the support member is a bar coupled to an external surface of the shaft.

17. The electrosurgical system of claim 12 , wherein the support member includes a first clip for coupling the first sensor to the shaft and a second clip for coupling the second sensor to the shaft.

18. The electrosurgical system of claim 10 , further comprising at least one conductor coupled to the first and second sensors configured to transmit the first and second signals to the electrosurgical generator.

19. The electrosurgical system of claim 10 , further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to the first and second sensors configured to transmit the first and second signals to the electrosurgical generator wirelessly.

20. An apparatus for use with an endoscopic applicator, the endoscopic applicator including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and an active electrode having a tip and being adapted for coupling to an electrosurgical generator and extending through the shaft for effecting at the tip thereof an electrosurgical procedure, the apparatus comprising:

a tube-shaped support member configured to be removably disposed over a shaft of an endoscopic applicator;

a first sensor supported by the support member and disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft and for contactlessly sensing a first signal indicative of current measured at the distal end of the active electrode; and

a second sensor supported by the support member and disposed adjacent the proximal end of the shaft and for contactlessly sensing a second signal indicative of current measured at the proximal end of the active electrode,

wherein a difference value of the first and second signal is indicative of leakage of current within the shaft.

21. A cannula for use with an endoscopic applicator, the endoscopic applicator including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and an active electrode having a tip and being adapted for coupling to an electrosurgical generator and extending through the shaft for effecting at the tip thereof an electrosurgical procedure, the cannula comprising:

a hub configured to receive the distal end of the endoscopic applicator;

a tubular member connected to the hub configured to guide a shaft of the endoscopic applicator to a surgical site;

a first sensor supported by the tubular member and disposed adjacent the distal end of the tubular member and for contactlessly sensing a first signal indicative of current measured at the distal end of the tubular member; and

a second sensor supported by the tubular member and disposed adjacent the proximal end of the tubular member and for contactlessly sensing a second signal indicative of current measured at the proximal end of the tubular member,

wherein a difference value of the first and second signal is indicative of leakage of current within the shaft.

22. The cannula of claim 21 , further comprising a differential device disposed in the hub coupled to the first and second sensors for receiving the first and second signals and determining the difference value of the first and second signal.

23. The cannula of claim 21 , further comprising a wireless transceiver disposed in the hub coupled to the first and second sensors configured to transmit the first and second signals to the electrosurgical generator wirelessly.