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 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . An electrosurgical system comprising:
nerve detection sensors configured to be spaced different distances from a nerve in a patient body, wherein the nerve detection sensors are configured to detect nerve detection waveforms applied to the patient body by a surgical instrument; and
a control circuit configured to analyze respective strengths of output signals from the nerve detection sensors to determine a location of a nerve in the patient body.
22 . The electrosurgical system of claim 21 , further comprising:
return electrodes configured to receive tissue treatment waveforms applied to the patient body by the surgical instrument,
wherein each of the nerve detection sensors is mounted to a corresponding one of the return electrodes.
23 . The electrosurgical system of claim 22 , wherein the tissue treatment waveforms and the nerve detection waveforms are concurrently applied to the patient body.
24 . The electrosurgical system of claim 22 , wherein:
the tissue treatment waveforms are applied to the patient body when the return electrodes are uncoupled from one another; and
the control circuit is configured to input the location of the nerve into a nerve stimulation algorithm profile.
25 . The electrosurgical system of claim 24 , wherein the nerve stimulation algorithm profile resides in a memory circuit of a generator coupled to one or more surgical instruments.
26 . The electrosurgical system of claim 22 , wherein:
the tissue treatment waveforms comprise an alternating current at a first frequency; and
the nerve detection waveforms comprise an alternating current at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency.
27 . The electrosurgical system of claim 21 , further comprising:
an electrosurgical pad configured to be capacitively coupled to the patient body,
wherein the electrosurgical pad includes the nerve detection sensors.
29 . The electrosurgical system of claim 21 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
provide selection signals to a multiple input-single output switching device; and
set the selection signals to control the multiple input-single output switching device to output only one of the output signals for analysis.
29 . An electrosurgical system comprising:
a generator configured to generate waveform signals;
a surgical instrument configured to supply electrosurgical energy from the generator to a patient body;
nerve detection sensors configured to be spaced different distances from a nerve in the patient body, wherein the nerve detection sensors are configured to detect nerve detection waveforms applied to the patient body by the surgical instrument; and
a control circuit configured to analyze respective strengths of output signals from the nerve detection sensors to determine a location of a nerve in the patient body.
30 . The electrosurgical system of claim 29 , further comprising:
return electrodes configured to receive tissue treatment waveforms applied to the patient body by the surgical instrument,
wherein each of the nerve detection sensors is mounted to a corresponding one of the return electrodes.
31 . The electrosurgical system of claim 30 , wherein the tissue treatment waveforms and the nerve detection waveforms are concurrently applied to the patient body.
32 . The electrosurgical system of claim 30 , wherein:
the tissue treatment waveforms are applied to the patient body when the return electrodes are uncoupled from one another; and
the control circuit is configured to input the location of the nerve into a nerve stimulation algorithm profile.
33 . The electrosurgical system of claim 32 , wherein the nerve stimulation algorithm profile resides in a memory circuit of the generator.
34 . The electrosurgical system of claim 30 , wherein:
the tissue treatment waveforms comprise an alternating current at a first frequency; and
the nerve detection waveforms comprise an alternating current at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency.
35 . The electrosurgical system of claim 29 , further comprising:
an electrosurgical pad configured to be capacitively coupled to the patient body,
wherein the electrosurgical pad includes the nerve detection sensors.
36 . The electrosurgical system of claim 29 , further comprising:
a multiple input—single output switching device that inputs the output signals from the nerve detection sensors;
wherein the control circuit is configured to:
provide selection signals to the multiple input-single output switching device; and
set the selection signals to control the multiple input-single output switching device to output only one of the output signals for analysis.
37 . An electrosurgical pad configured to be capacitively coupled to a patient body, the electrosurgical pad comprising:
nerve detection sensors configured to be spaced different distances from a nerve in a patient body,
wherein the nerve detection sensors are configured to detect nerve detection waveforms applied to the patient body by a surgical instrument, and
wherein respective strengths of output signals from the nerve detection sensors are indicative of a location of a nerve in the patient body along the electrosurgical pad.
38 . The electrosurgical pad of claim 37 , further comprising:
return electrodes configured to receive tissue treatment waveforms applied to the patient body by the surgical instrument,
wherein each of the nerve detection sensors is mounted to a corresponding one of the return electrodes.
39 . The electrosurgical pad of claim 38 , wherein the tissue treatment waveforms and the nerve detection waveforms are concurrently applied to the patient body.
40 . The electrosurgical pad of claim 38 , wherein:
the tissue treatment waveforms comprise an alternating current at a first frequency; and
the nerve detection waveforms comprise an alternating current at a second frequency that is less than the first frequency.