The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 1980
Filed:
May. 26, 1978
Donald I Gonser, York, PA (US);
Dentsply Research & Development Corp., Milford, DE (US);
Abstract
The invention described herein is a safety circuit for preventing burns to a patient during an electrosurgical operation. In the preferred embodiment, the safety circuit includes a pair of monitors for sensing an imbalance between current flowing to a patient from a radio-frequency generator and current returning to the radio-frequency generator from the patient. When such an imbalance occurs as a result of a stray current path to ground from the patient, an alarm is actuated. In addition, a first alternate current path between chassis ground and the radio-frequency generator and a second alternate current path between system ground and chassis ground are included. A monitor in each alternate current path is designed to actuate an alarm upon detecting a predetermined flow of current. Not only do the monitors provide back-up for each other, but the first alternate path holds near ground potential a dispersive electrode which contacts the patient. Preferably, circuitry is also included for minimizing radio-frequency leakage from the lead carrying current to the patient.