Neutral electrode device for application of rf current, electrosurgical system comprising a corresponding neutral electrode device, and method for producing a neutral electrode device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016338759-A1
Application number	US-201615158184-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 18, 2016
Priority date	May 19, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a neutral electrode device for use in the application of an RF current to a biological tissue, comprising:
a supporting structure ( 40 ) having a first and a second side; at least one electrode ( 34, 34 ′), which is arranged on the first side of the supporting structure ( 40 ); a phase change material (PCM) for absorbing heat, which is arranged on the second side of the supporting structure ( 40 ),

wherein the phase change material is formed at least in part as blocks ( 37, 37 ′) and the blocks ( 37, 37 ′) are arranged on the second side of the supporting structure ( 40 ) at least partially distanced from one another in order to form spacing gaps ( 38, 38 ′).

First claim

1 . An apparatus comprising a neutral electrode device for application of an RF current to a biological tissue, the neutral electrode device comprising:
A supporting structure ( 40 ) having a first and a second side; At least one electrode ( 34 , 34 ′), which is arranged on the first side of the supporting structure ( 40 ); Phase change material (PCM) for absorbing heat, which is arranged on the second side of the supporting structure ( 40 ),
wherein the phase change material is formed at least in part as blocks ( 37 , 37 ′) and the blocks ( 37 , 37 ′) are arranged on the second side of the supporting structure ( 40 ) at least partially distanced from one another in order to form spacing gaps ( 38 , 38 ′).

2 . The neutral electrode device according to claim 1 , further comprising a multiplicity of electrodes ( 34 , 34 ′) produced from an aluminium alloy.

3 . The neutral electrode device according to claim 1 , further comprising a conductive substance disposed on the at least one electrode, wherein the conductive substance comprises a viscoelastic fluid.

4 . The neutral electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein the blocks ( 37 , 37 ′) are formed as geometric bodies.

5 . The neutral electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein the blocks ( 37 , 37 ′) taper in a direction away from the supporting structure.

6 . The neutral electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein the spacing gaps ( 38 , 38 ′) delimited by the blocks ( 37 , 37 ′) extend over an entirety of the supporting structure ( 40 ) along straight lines.

7 . The neutral electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein a multiplicity of the blocks ( 37 , 37 ′) have an identical form and are arranged on the supporting structure ( 40 ) at constant distance from one another and/or constant offset from one another.

8 . The neutral electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the blocks ( 37 , 37 ′) comprise thermochromic dyes and/or colour pigments.

9 . The neutral electrode device according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the blocks ( 37 , 37 ′) comprise a first, lower, layer ( 37 a ) having a first phase change material and a second, upper, layer ( 37 c ) having a second phase change material, wherein the first phase change material has a melting point that is significantly higher, by at least 5%, than a melting point of the second phase change material.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrosurgical system for the coagulation and/or cutting of tissue, comprising:
the neutral electrode device ( 30 )
At least one electrosurgical monopolar instrument ( 20 );
An RF generator, which is connected to the neutral electrode device ( 30 ) and the at least one instrument ( 20 ).

11 . A method for producing a neutral electrode device, said method comprising:
Producing a supporting structure ( 40 ); Placing a casting mould ( 50 ), which is downwardly open at least in part, onto the supporting structure ( 40 ), wherein the casting mould ( 50 ) comprises a multiplicity of segments ( 52 , 52 ′) for producing blocks ( 37 , 37 ′), which are separated from adjacent segments ( 52 , 52 ′) by partition walls ( 51 , 51 ′); Heating a phase change material (PCM) in such a way that the phase change material is at least partially liquid; Introducing the heated phase change material into the casting mould ( 50 ); Removing the casting mould ( 50 ).

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the production of the supporting structure ( 40 ) comprises an application of at least one electrode ( 34 , 34 ′) to a film, and the application of a fibre structure to a side of the film facing away from the electrode ( 34 , 34 ′).

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the fibre structure is arranged and the phase change material is introduced into the casting mould ( 50 ) in such a way that an integral bond is produced between the phase change materials and the film.

14 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising introducing in succession into the casting mould a plurality of different phase change materials having different melting points.

15 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising processing at least one phase change material in a sponge-like polymer structure.

Assignees

• Erbe Elektromedizin

Inventors

• Schnitzler Uwe
• Selig Peter

Classifications

• A61B18/16 Primary

  Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding · CPC title

• A61B18/10

  Power sources therefor · CPC title

• A61B18/1206 Primary

  Generators therefor · CPC title

• A61B2018/00023

  closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid · CPC title

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title