Megadyne Medical Products, Inc.

University of Utah Research Foundation

Other

David B Kieda

James D Isaacson

Richard P Fleenor

Paul R Borgmeier

Orest G Symko

Thierry Klein

Ehab Abdel-Rahman

Michael H Salamon

Wanjun Park

A removable semi-insulating sheet for use in self-limiting electrosurgical return semi-insulating sheet for use with electrosurgery. Through the selection of impedance characteristics for the electrode materials of the principal body of the semi-insulating sheet, and through tailoring of semi-insulating sheet geometries, the return electrode of the present invention is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. The semi-insulating sheet has an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 &#x3a9;&#xb7;cm. The effective bulk impedance of the sheet may arise from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof. The configuration of the presently described return electrode allows the electrode to self-limit the electrode's current densities, thereby preventing burning of a patient during surgery.

Self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode

Various articles of manufacture, such as electrosurgical scalpels, razor blades, electronic components and mechanical components having a quasicrystalline AlCuFe alloy film less than about 10,000 &angst; thick. Such articles of manufacture may be formed by depositing (in sequence) on a substrate through radio frequency sputtering a stoichiometric amount of each respective alloy material and then annealing those layers to form the film through solid state diffusion.

Formation and applications of AlCuFe quasicrystalline thin films

A self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode for use with electrosurgery. Through selection of impedance characteristics for the materials of the principal body of the electrode, and through tailoring of electrode geometries, the electrode is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise to prevent patient trauma. The return electrode includes a sheet of material having an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000&OHgr;.cm and one or more connectors for making electrical connection to the sheet. The effective bulk impedance of the sheet may arise from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof. Configuration of the return electrode allows the electrode to self-limit the electrode's current densities, thereby preventing burning of a patient during surgery. Through employment of washable surface areas, the electrode is made readily cleanable, disinfectable, sterilizable, and reusable. An optional sleeve is provided for cooperative use with the electrode.

A capacitive reusable electrosurgical return electrode pad for use with electrosurgery. Through selection of the electrode geometries and the impedance characteristics of the electrode, the electrode is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. The electrosurgical return electrode can include a connector and a sheet of material having an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 100,000 &OHgr;&middot;cm. The electrode can have a working surface area from about 11 to about 1,500 square inches (or about 70 to about 10,000 square centimeters). The electrode can be disposed on the working surface of an operating table or dentist's chair immediately underlying a patient during electrosurgery. This very large working surface area eliminates the need for direct contact or contact through conducting gels and by employing washable surface areas, it is made readily cleanable and reusable.

Capacitive reusable electrosurgical return electrode

A self-limiting electrosurgical electrode for use with electrosurgery and various other surgical procedures. The electrode can include a pad and a conductive element that collectively has an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 &OHgr;&middot;cm. The effective bulk impedance of the electrode arises from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof of both the pad and the conductive element. Through the selection of the impedance characteristics for the electrode materials, and through tailoring of electrode geometries, the electrode of the present invention is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. Additionally, the selection of materials and electrode geometries can prevent the creation of pressure sore or decubitus ulcers on a patient resting upon the electrode. Further, alternate configurations of the electrosurgical electrode can heat and/or cool a patient during the performance of a surgical procedure.

Pressure sore pad having self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode properties and optional heating/cooling capabilities

A self-limiting electrosurgical return electrode for use with electrosurgery. Through the selection of impedance characteristics for the electrode materials of the principal body of the electrode, and through tailoring of electrode geometries, the return electrode of the present invention is self-regulating and self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. The electrosurgical return electrode includes a sheet of material having an effective bulk impedance equal to or greater than about 4,000 &OHgr;&middot;cm and one or more connectors for making electrical connection to the sheet. The effective bulk impedance of the sheet may arise from resistive components, capacitive components, inductive components, or combinations thereof. The configuration of the presently described return electrode allows the electrode to self-limit the electrode's current densities, thereby preventing burning of a patient during surgery. Furthermore, through employment of washable surface areas, the electrode is made readily cleanable, disinfectable, sterilizable, and reusable. An optional sleeve is provided for cooperative use with the electrode.

Various articles of manufacture, such as electrosurgical scalpels, razor blades, and electronic components, comprise a quasicrystalline AlCuFe alloy film less than about 3000 &angst; thick, formed by depositing in sequence on a substrate through radio frequency sputtering a stoichiometric amount of each respective alloy material and then annealing those layers to form the film through solid state diffusion.

Programmable analog delay line devices for analog signal processing are constructed on a single integrated circuit chip using a switched capacitor storage scheme for short-term storage of the voltage or charge waveform. These devices provide variable maximum delay times without signal attenuation and with delay-to-risetime ratios of up to 10,to 10,. A vector array of switched capacitor analog storage elements may be arranged in a ring-buffer topology, with the number of switched capacitor elements ranging from between about 10 and about 10,. Two internal counters incremented by a common clock keep track of the variable delay between an input signal and an output signal.

Variable analog delay line for analog signal processing on a single integrated circuit chip

A reusable electrosurgical return electrode pad for use with electrosurgery. In one embodiment it includes a presentation or working surface area lying in the range of from about 11 to about 1,500 square inches. In another the working surface is at least as large as that of a projection of about half of the profile of the trunk of a patient. In yet another, it includes a working surface area at least as large as that of a projection of the profile of both the trunk and legs of a patient. It is adapted for disposition on the working surface of an operating table or dentist's chair immediately underlying a patient during electrosurgery. By presenting a very large surface area, the need for direct contact or contact through conducting jells is eliminated; through employment of washable surface areas, it is made readily cleanable and reusable; and through the inclusion of capacitive. coupling and selection of impedance characteristics for the materials and geometries, it is made self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. An optional sleeve is provided for cooperative use with the electrode.

A reusable electrosurgical return electrode pad for use with electrosurgery. In one embodiment it includes a presentation or working surface area at lying in a range of from about 100 to about 20,000 square centimeters. In another the working surface is at least as large as that of a projection of about half of the profile of the trunk of a patient. In yet another, it includes a working surface area at least as large as that of a projection of the profile of both the trunk and legs of a patient. It is adapted for disposition on the working surface of an operating table or dentist's chair immediately underlying a patient during electrosurgery. By presenting a very large working surface area, the need for direct contact or contact through conducting gels is eliminated; through employment of washable surface areas, it is made readily cleanable and reusable; and through the selection of resistance characteristics for the electrode materials of the principal body of the electrode, and through tailoring of electrode geometries, it is made self-limiting as to current density and temperature rise so as to prevent patient trauma. An optional sleeve is provided for cooperative use with the electrode.

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

David B Kieda