US4121590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for monitoring integrity of a patient return circuit
Assignee: Dentsply Research and Development Corp
•
Filing: 1977-03-14
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Granted: 1978-10-24
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Expires: 1997-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A monitor for a patient return circuit of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device in which an interrogation or measurement circuit is powered by a photovoltaic cell. Characteristics of the photovoltaic cell can limit the interrogation or measurement current to a value considered to be safe to a patient.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald I. Gonser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for monitoring the integrity of a patient intended return of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device including a passive electrode and a return lead means attached to the passive electrode, said system comprising a monitoring circuit including said passive electrode, said return lead means, a photovoltaic cell, and current sensing means, said passive electrode, said return lead means, said photovoltaic cell, and said current sensing means being connected in series, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, and means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the monitering circuit, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for monitoring the integrity of a patient intended return of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device including a passive electrode and a return lead means attached to the passive electrode, said system comprising a monitoring circuit including said passive electrode, said return lead means, a photovoltaic cell, and current sensing means, said passive electrode, said return lead means, said photovoltaic cell, and said current sensing means being connected in series, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, and means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the monitering circuit, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the monitoring circuit includes radiofrequency inductance means isolating the photovoltaic cell and the current sensing means from the passive electrode and the return lead means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as in claim 1 wherein the monitoring circuit includes a second return lead means connected to the passive electrode, the passive electrode, the second return lead means, the return lead means, the photovoltaic cell, and the current sensing means are connected in series, the return lead means is coupled to ground, and capacitor means couples the second return lead means and the return lead means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as in claim 3 wherein the passive electrode includes two sections, the return lead means is connected to one of the sections, and the second return lead means is connected to the other section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
The combination of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a radiofrequency generator, an active electrode, means actuated by the radiofrequency generator for supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode, a passive electrode and a return lead means attached to the passive electrode for returning radiofrequency current to the generator with a monitoring circuit including said passive electrode, said return lead means, a photovoltaic cell, and current sensing means, said passive electrode, said return lead means, said photovoltaic cell, and said current sensing means being connected in series, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the monitoring circuit, and means activated by the current sensing means to disable the radiofrequency generator from supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode when indicating the discontinuity, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
149 words
The combination of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a radiofrequency generator, an active electrode, means actuated by the radiofrequency generator for supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode, a passive electrode and a return lead means attached to the passive electrode for returning radiofrequency current to the generator with a monitoring circuit including said passive electrode, said return lead means, a photovoltaic cell, and current sensing means, said passive electrode, said return lead means, said photovoltaic cell, and said current sensing means being connected in series, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the monitoring circuit, and means activated by the current sensing means to disable the radiofrequency generator from supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode when indicating the discontinuity, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
The combination of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a radiofrequency generator, an active electrode, means actuated by the radiofrequency generator for supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode, a passive electrode and a return lead means attached to the passive electrode returning radiofrequency current to the generator with a monitoring circuit including said passive electrode, said return lead means, a photovoltaic cell, and current sensing means, said passive electrode, said return lead means, said photovoltaic cell, and said current sensing means being connected in series, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the monitoring circuit, a warning device and means activated by the current sensing means to activate the warning device when indicating the discontinuity, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
The combination of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a radiofrequency generator, an active electrode, means actuated by the radiofrequency generator for supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode, a passive electrode and a return lead means attached to the passive electrode returning radiofrequency current to the generator with a monitoring circuit including said passive electrode, said return lead means, a photovoltaic cell, and current sensing means, said passive electrode, said return lead means, said photovoltaic cell, and said current sensing means being connected in series, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the monitoring circuit, a warning device and means activated by the current sensing means to activate the warning device when indicating the discontinuity, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
109 words
A system for monitoring the integrity of a patient return of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a passive electrode including a pair of sections, a first return lead means connected to one of said sections, a second return lead means connected to the other of said sections, a photovoltaic cell and a current sensing means connected in series between the first return lead means and the second return lead means, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, and means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the lead means, the voltage in the monitoring system being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
109 words
A system for monitoring the integrity of a patient return of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a passive electrode including a pair of sections, a first return lead means connected to one of said sections, a second return lead means connected to the other of said sections, a photovoltaic cell and a current sensing means connected in series between the first return lead means and the second return lead means, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, and means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the lead means, the voltage in the monitoring system being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as in claim 7 which includes radiofrequency inductance means isolating the photovoltaic cell and the current sensing means from the passive electrode sections, the first return lead means and the second return lead means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 7 which includes capacitor means coupling the first return lead means and the second return lead means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
184 words
The combination of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a radiofrequency generator, an active electrode, means actuated by the radiofrequency generator for supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode, a passive electrode including a pair of sections, a first return lead means connected to one of said sections, and a second return lead means connected to the other of said sections, said lead means for returning radiofrequency current to the generator with a monitoring circuit which includes the passive electrode, the first return lead means, the second return lead means, a photovoltaic cell and a current sensing means, the photovoltaic cell and the current sensing means being connected in series between the first return lead means and the second return lead means, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the lead means, and means activated by the current sensing means to disable the radiofrequency generator from supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode when indicating the discontinuity, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
184 words
The combination of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a radiofrequency generator, an active electrode, means actuated by the radiofrequency generator for supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode, a passive electrode including a pair of sections, a first return lead means connected to one of said sections, and a second return lead means connected to the other of said sections, said lead means for returning radiofrequency current to the generator with a monitoring circuit which includes the passive electrode, the first return lead means, the second return lead means, a photovoltaic cell and a current sensing means, the photovoltaic cell and the current sensing means being connected in series between the first return lead means and the second return lead means, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the lead means, and means activated by the current sensing means to disable the radiofrequency generator from supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode when indicating the discontinuity, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
The combination of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a radiofrequency generator, an active electrode, means actuated by the radiofrequency generator for supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode, a passive electrode including a pair of sections, a first return lead means connected to one of said sections, and a second return lead means connected to the other of said sections, said lead means for returning radiofrequency current to the generator, with a monitoring circuit which includes the passive electrode, the first return lead means, the second return lead means, a photovoltaic cell and a current sensing means, the photovoltaic cell and the current sensing means being connected in series between the first return lead means and the second return lead means, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the lead means, a warning device, and means activated by the current sensing means to activate the warning device when indicating the discontinuity, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
The combination of a radiofrequency electrosurgical device which includes a radiofrequency generator, an active electrode, means actuated by the radiofrequency generator for supplying radiofrequency current to the active electrode, a passive electrode including a pair of sections, a first return lead means connected to one of said sections, and a second return lead means connected to the other of said sections, said lead means for returning radiofrequency current to the generator, with a monitoring circuit which includes the passive electrode, the first return lead means, the second return lead means, a photovoltaic cell and a current sensing means, the photovoltaic cell and the current sensing means being connected in series between the first return lead means and the second return lead means, means for illuminating the photovoltaic cell, means actuated by the current sensing means for indicating a discontinuity in the lead means, a warning device, and means activated by the current sensing means to activate the warning device when indicating the discontinuity, the voltage in the monitoring circuit being limited by the limiting voltage of the photovoltaic cell.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-23 | 1982-04-24 | 1982-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-23 | 1986-04-24 | 1986-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-23 | 1990-04-24 | 1990-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |