Neutral Electrode and Method for the Formation Thereof

Abstract

A neutral electrode (12) is formed on the patient (11) in that an electrically conductible mass that can solidify is applied on the skin of the patient (11). An electrically conductible inlay (17) can be arranged on or embedded in the forming electrode body (16) prior, during or after the application of the mass, the inlay (17) is or can be connected with the neutral electrode connection cable (13). The inlay (17) serves to electrically contact the electrode body (16) in a large area that in turn establishes a reliable electrical contact to the patient (11).

Claims

1. A neutral electrode (12) for attachment on a patient (11) for conduction of electrosurgical currents, the neutral electrode comprising: an electrode body (16) made of a material configured to be applied on skin of the patient (11) and at least partly solidified thereon; and an inlay (17) including a cable connector (18), wherein the inlay is configured to be enclosed by the electrode body (16).

2. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the material of the electrode body (16) is electrically conductive and non-metallic.

3. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode body (16) material includes a gel having an evaporable component.

4. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode body (16) material contains a curing component.

5. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode body (16) material contains an air-curable component.

6. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode body (16) material contains an ion conductible material.

7. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the electrode body comprises particles (28) that are configured to conduct electrons.

8. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the inlay (17) is a metal structure.

9. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the inlay (17) is insulated on a side thereof configured to face the patient.

10. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the cable connector (18) is configured for releasable connection with a neutral cable (13) or is unreleaseably connected with a neutral electrode connection cable (13).

11. The neutral electrode according to claim 1, wherein the inlay (17) is connected with a temperature sensor or another sensor.

12. A method for attaching a neutral electrode on a patient (11) for conducting of electrosurgical currents, the method comprising: forming an electrode body (16) on skin of the patient (11) by applying a shapeless mass (31) on the skin and allowing the shapeless mass to solidify at least partly thereon.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising placing a metal inlay on the skin of the patient prior to the application of the electrode body (16) and subsequently applying the shapeless mass (31) on the metal inlay.

14. A product for formation of a neutral electrode (12) on a patient (11) for conducting of electrosurgical currents, the product comprising: a shapeless mass (31) that is electrically conductible and configured to that solidified, wherein the shapeless mass is contained in a container (30).

15. The product according to claim 14, wherein the container (30) includes an application device (32) configured for applying the shapeless mass to a patient.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Further details of advantageous embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims, from the drawings or the description. The drawings show:

[0022] FIG. 1 a patient with neutral electrode attached thereon in schematic illustration,

[0023] FIG. 2 the patient with attached neutral electrode in a partly sectional illustration,

[0024] FIG. 3 an inlay that is part of the neutral electrode according to FIG. 2 in a schematic top view,

[0025] FIG. 4 the neutral electrode according to FIG. 2 in enlarged schematic sectional illustration,

[0026] FIG. 5 a further enlarged partly sectional illustration of the neutral electrode according to FIG. 4,

[0027] FIG. 6 a still further enlarged partly illustration of a part of the electrode body with electrically conductible particles,

[0028] FIG. 7 a container configured as spray bottle with a mass contained therein for formation of the neutral electrode in a vertical sectional illustration,

[0029] FIG. 8 a container with a mass contained therein and a cover brush in a vertical sectional illustration,

[0030] FIG. 9 a modified embodiment of an inventive neutral electrode in a longitudinal sectional illustration,

[0031] FIG. 10 a yet further modified embodiment of a neutral electrode in a schematic longitudinal sectional illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a neutral electrode 12 attached to a patient 11 that is connected with an apparatus 14 via a neutral electrode connection cable 13, wherein the apparatus 14 serves, e.g. for electrosurgery. The attachment of the neutral electrode 12 on the patient 11 can be carried out, for example, during the preparation of the patient 11 for surgery while the patient sits or lies on a base 15. The location of the neutral electrode 12 can be based on medical or surgery technical considerations. No specific consideration has to be shown for body curvatures, folds or the like.

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates the neutral electrode 12 on a curved skin portion of the patient 11. The neutral electrode 12 consists of an electrode body 16 and an inlay 17 embedded therein. The latter is electrically connected with the neutral electrode connection cable 13 at a cable connector 18 that is also apparent in FIG. 3. The cable connector 18 can be formed by a rigid electrically conductible connection of the conductor of the neutral electrode connection cable 13 with the inlay 17 or by a releasable connection, such as for example a snap fastener, a clamp or the like.

[0034] The inlay is an at partly electrically conductible element that preferably surrounds at least one area that is so large that the current that has to be conducted by the neutral electrode connection cable 13 divided through the area circumscribed by the inlay is below a physiological current density limit value. In the simplest case the inlay 17 can be a section of the conductor of the neutral electrode connection cable 13 stripped from the insulation and bent into a ring or another suitable form. However, it can also be an individual element of metal or another electrically conductible material, such as for example conductible rubber, that extends over an area. The area can have, e.g. the size of the palm of the hand.

[0035] In the present embodiment the inlay 17 has a substantially hexagonal circumference and consists of an electric non-conductible support 19, e.g. of plastic foil, paper or the like. On this support an electrical conductor 20 is attached, preferably on the side facing away from the patient that is galvanically connected with the cable connector 18. Preferably the cable connector 18 and the conductor 20 are formed by a thin continuous metal layer that consists, e.g. of strip-shaped sections that together form a net. The strip-shaped sections extend preferably around at least one opening 21 as well as, if necessary, around multiple openings that are formed in the support 19. Thereby the strip-shaped conductor sections are preferably narrower than the respective sections of the support 19 such that outward around the conductor as well as around each opening 21, 22 distance areas 23, 24 are defined.

[0036] The carrier 19 can be provided with an electrically non-conductible or also with an electrically conductible adhesive layer on the side facing the patient 11. The specific conductivity of this adhesive layer is preferably less than the specific conductivity of metal, further preferably however higher than the specific electric conductivity of the electrode body. This measure ensures a uniform current density distribution below the neutral electrode 12.

[0037] The electrode body 16 formed on the patient 11 for the formation of the neutral electrode 12 covers the inlay 17 and sticks to the skin of the patient 11. The neutral electrode 12 is in contact with the skin of the patient 11 in a region surrounding the inlay 17. In addition, the electrode body 16 extends through the openings 21, 22 and is also there in contact with the skin of the patient 11.

[0038] The electrode body 16 consists preferably of an electrically conductible material that can solidify in the air that at least forms solidified non-sticky layer or skin 25 on the side facing away from the patient 11. Below this layer 25 the material of the electrode body 16 can also be solidified or also can be less solidified or non-solidified. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates this configuration at the beginning of the solidification of the electrode body 16. The layer 25 sticks at its edge to the skin of the patient. It can be a layer that has solidified by drying, i.e. evaporation of a solvent or by cross-linking of a polymer. For example, the electrode body 16 can contain amongst others an alcoholic acrylate copolymer/polyurethane solution that can in addition contain dimethyl ether. By volatilization of the contained ethanol and/or the dimethyl ether, the electrode body 16 solidifies from the outside to the inside, wherein the solidified zone can extend up to the inlay 17 and, if applicable, also up to the skin of the patient 11. Non-solidified regions can remain, which simplifies the later release of the neutral electrode after use.

[0039] The inlay 17 may have been attached to the skin of the patient by means of an adhesive layer 26 as mentioned. It is, however, also possible to omit a separate attachment of the inlay 17 on the skin of the patient 11. This is particularly advisable, if the inlay consists of only narrow strips or wires, e.g. in the shape of a woven fabric, net or knitted fabric.

[0040] It is also possible to use the material of the electrode body 16 itself for attachment of the inlay 17. For this FIG. 5 illustrates a section of the neutral electrode 12 in enlarged sectional view. Here the electrode body 16 extends through the inlay 17 and forms a thin layer-like zone 27 below the electrode body 16 and between the inlay 17 and the patient 11 that is electrically conductible and sticks in a two-dimensional manner to the patient 11. This embodiment allows an improved current distribution compared with the embodiment according to FIG. 4, if the latter uses an electrically non-conductible adhesive 26 or operates with an inlay 17 without direct attachment to the skin of the patient 11.

[0041] The material of the electrode body 16 can be intrinsically conductible in that it contains, e.g. sodium chloride in an aqueous solution, acetic acid or other substances that can conduct ions such as aqueous soap solution or the like. The material of the electrode body 16 can be, however, also extrinsically conductible, as illustrated in FIG. 6 in highly enlarged manner. The material of the electrode body 16 forms a matrix that is filled with electrically conductible particles 28, e.g. metal particles, particles of conductible ceramic, carbon black, graphite powder or the like. The material of the electrode body 16 can also be characterized by a combination of the compounds mentioned above. For example, a mixture of ion conductible material and conductible particles can be provided. Thus, the material can be extrinsically as well as intrinsically conductible. So a high specific conductivity can be reached that is particularly higher than the specific conductivity of the skin. In doing so, the neutral electrode 12 forms an equipotential area.

[0042] FIG. 7 illustrates a package 29 that can form a set together with the inlay 17 according to FIG. 3. The package 29 comprises a container 30 configured as spray bottle or dispenser containing a shapeless and preferably liquid mass 31. The mass 31 is, for example, an alcoholic acrylate copolymer/polyurethane solution. The container 30 closed to the outside is provided with an application device 32, e.g. in the form of a spray head. If the container 30 is filled with a pressure gas or another blowing agent, the application device 32 comprises a valve and an atomizing device. If the container 30 is however pressureless, the application device 32 comprises a pump device and a dispenser device. It can be configured as simple round nozzle, slit nozzle, quench head or atomizing device.

[0043] The shapeless mass 31 can also be of a pulpier consistence. For this FIG. 8 illustrates a container 30 having a cap 33 on which a brush is attached serving as application device 32. The mass 31 contained herein can contain components in addition to the mentioned components that define the consistency, particularly swellable components, such as farina, gel former or the like in order to allow an application of the shapeless mass on the skin of the patient in a layer as thick as possible, such that the forming electrode body is not only provided as thin film, but as rind-like skin.

[0044] The formation of the neutral electrode on the patient 11 can occur as follows:

[0045] If the inlay 17 is provided with an electrically conductible or also an electrically insulating adhesive on at least one side, the inlay 17 is first attached to the skin of the patient 11 after which the mass 31 of the package 29 according to FIG. 7 or 8 is applied on the inlay 17 and covering it thereby. After at least superficial solidification of the applied mass, the neutral electrode 12 is ready for operation.

[0046] In a second variation that is already suggested by FIG. 5 and that is particularly suitable, if the inlay 17 does not comprise an adhesive layer on the side of the patient, first a thin layer of the shapeless mass is applied on the skin of the patient. After that the inlay 17 is placed on top (FIG. 5) and shapeless mass is further applied in the following until the electrode body 16 is provided in the desired layer thickness.

[0047] For inlays 17 without insulation on the patient side the variations according to FIGS. 9 and 10 are particularly appropriate. For example, for this first a first layer 33 of the electrode body 16 is arranged on the skin of the patient 11 according to FIG. 9 and before drying or another solidification thereof the inlay 17 is attached. It is then covered by a second layer 34 of the material of the electrode body 16 such that it finally encloses the inlay 17.

[0048] It is in addition also possible to apply the electrode body 16 in a first step on the skin of the patient 11 according to FIG. 10 and to attach the inlay 17 then on the outside of the still sticky electrode body 16. A neutral electrode is formed having an inlay located on the outside.

[0049] It is common to all of the above-mentioned embodiments and variations that the neutral electrode 12 can be provided in addition with a temperature sensor or other sensors for monitoring the current density, the temperature or other physical parameters. Such sensors can be attached on the inlay 17 or can be embedded separately in the electrode body 16.

[0050] Sets can be provided that comprise one or more packages 29 and one or more inlays 17. The number of inlays 17 can be larger than the numbers of packages 29. Also the inlays 17 can be provided in different shapes or sizes in order to match with different applications. In addition, a stencil can form part of the set that can border the outer edge of the application region during spraying or brushing or otherwise applying the mass 31 and can thus define the contour of the neutral electrode 12. One or more sensors, e.g. temperature sensors can be part of the set.

[0051] An inventive neutral electrode 12 is formed on the patient 11 in that an electrically conductible mass that can solidify is applied on the skin of the patient 11 that is electrically conductible. An electrically conductible inlay 17 can be arranged on or embedded in the forming electrode body 16 prior, during or after the application of the mass, the inlay 17 is or can be connected with the neutral electrode connection cable 13. The inlay 17 serves to electrically contact the electrode body 16 in a large area that in turn establishes a reliable electrical contact to the patient 11.

[0052] If a neutral electrode monitoring is desired in this manner, also two neutral electrodes can be attached to the skin of the patient 11 with distance from one another that are separately connected with respective neutral electrode connectors or a combined connector of a monitoring apparatus 14 respectively. It can use both electrodes on the same level for current conduction away from the patient and can check the correct function and contacting on the patient by resistance monitoring between the electrodes.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0053] 11 patient [0054] 12 neutral electrode [0055] 13 neutral electrode connection cable [0056] 14 apparatus [0057] 15 base [0058] 16 electrode body [0059] 17 inlay [0060] 18 cable connector [0061] 19 support [0062] 20 conductor [0063] 21, 22 openings [0064] 23, 24 distance areas [0065] 25 layer [0066] 26 adhesive [0067] 27 zone [0068] 28 particle [0069] 29 package [0070] 30 container [0071] 31 mass [0072] 32 application device [0073] 33, 34 layers