CAPACITIVE COUPLED RETURN PATH PAD WITH SEPARABLE ARRAY ELEMENTS
A return pad of an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The return pad includes a plurality of conductive members and a plurality of sensing devices. The conductive members are configured to receive radio frequency current applied to a patient. The sensing devices are configured to detect at least one of the following: a nerve control signal applied to the patient; and a movement of an anatomical feature of the patient resulting from application of the nerve control signal.
1 . A return pad of an electrosurgical system, the return pad comprising:
a plurality of conductive members configured to receive radio frequency current applied to a patient; and
a plurality of sensing devices configured to detect at least one of the following:
a nerve control signal applied to the patient; and
a movement of an anatomical feature of the patient resulting from application of the nerve control signal.
2 . The return pad of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive members is further configured for capacitive coupling with the patient.
3 . The return pad of claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively decoupling at least one of the plurality of conductive members from another one of the plurality of conductive members.
4 . The return pad of claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively decoupling each of the conductive members from one another.
5 . The return pad of claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively decoupling the plurality of conductive members from the patient.
6 . The return pad of claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively decoupling the plurality of conductive members from a generator.
7 . The return pad of claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively coupling each of the plurality of conductive members to a generator.
8 . The return pad of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensing devices are configured as an array of sensing devices.
9 . The return pad of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of conductive members.
10 . The return pad of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of conductive members is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of sensing devices.
11 . The return pad of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sensing devices comprises one of the following:
a pressure sensor;
an accelerometer; and
a pressure sensor and an accelerometer.
12 . The return pad of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices is further configured to output a signal indicative of the detection.
13 . An electrosurgical system, comprising:
a generator configured to supply an alternating current at a radiofrequency;
an instrument configured to apply the alternating current to a patient;
a return pad capacitively couplable to the patient, wherein the return pad comprises:
a plurality of conductive members configured to conduct radio frequency current, wherein the plurality of conductive members are capacitively couplable to a patient and are selectively couplable to the generator;
a plurality of sensing devices configured to detect at least one of the following:
a nerve control signal applied to the patient; and
a movement of an anatomical feature of the patient resulting from application of the nerve control signal; and
a conductor coupled to the return pad and the generator.
14 . The electrosurgical system of claim 13 , further comprising a multi input-single output switching device coupled to each of the plurality of sensing devices.
15 . The electrosurgical system of claim 14 , further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the multi input-single output switching device.
16 . The electrosurgical system of claim 13 , wherein the generator is further configured to:
generate the alternating current as a high frequency waveform;
generate a low frequency waveform which is configured to stimulate a nerve of the patient;
utilize the high frequency waveform to modulate the low frequency waveform to form a composite waveform; and
supply the composite waveform to the instrument.
17 . The electrosurgical system of claim 14 , wherein the generator is further configured to amplitude modulate the low frequency waveform to form the composite waveform.
18 . A return pad of an electrosurgical system, the return pad comprising:
a plurality of electrodes configured for capacitive coupling with a patient; and
an array of sensing devices configured to detect at least one of the following:
a nerve control signal applied to the patient; and
a movement of an anatomical feature of the patient resulting from application of the nerve control signal.
19 . The return pad of claim 18 , wherein each sensing device of the array of sensing devices is configured to output a signal indicative of the detection.
20 . The return pad of claim 18 , wherein each sensing device of the array of sensing devices is positioned on a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes.