Neutral electrode detection

Abstract

Neutral electrodes are known having at least two electrodes electrically insulated from each other, the active surfaces of which can be applied to a skin segment of a patient and having a cover film attached to the active surfaces and removed prior to application to the skin segment. It is proposed that at least segments of the cover film are embodied with a defined electrical resistance so that a defined resistance is created between the electrodes.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A neutral electrode comprising:
 at least two electrodes which can be applied to a skin segment of a patient and are electrically insulated from each other; and   a cover film attached to the active surfaces of the electrodes,   wherein the cover film has a known resistance so that a defined resistance is created between the active surfaces of the electrodes.   
     
     
         12 . The neutral electrode of  claim 11 , wherein the cover film is used for coding a type of the neutral electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The neutral electrode of  claim 11 , wherein the cover film is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The neutral electrode of  claim 11 , wherein the cover film is formed of ceramic. 
     
     
         15 . The neutral electrode of  claim 11 , wherein the cover film comprises at least two contacts, each of the at least two contacts being in contact with a respective one of the at least two electrodes. 
     
     
         16 . The neutral electrode of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two contacts are embodied as a film. 
     
     
         17 . The neutral electrode of  claim 15 , wherein the known resistance of the cover film is the resistance between the at least two contacts. 
     
     
         18 . The neutral electrode of  claim 17 , wherein the resistance is a low resistance. 
     
     
         19 . A method for producing a coded neutral electrode, the method comprising:
 producing a neutral electrode having at least two electrodes electrically insulated from each other and having active surfaces for application to a skin segment of a patient;   producing a cover film having a known electrical resistance; and   applying the cover film to the active surfaces in such a way that said active surfaces are electrically connected to each other by means of the cover film.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of producing a cover film comprises equipping the cover film with at least two contacts. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of applying the cover film to the active surfaces comprises placing each of the at least two contacts in contact with a respective one of the at least two electrodes. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least two contacts are embodied as a film. 
     
     
         23 . The neutral electrode of  claim 20 , wherein the known electrical resistance of the cover film is the resistance between the at least two contacts. 
     
     
         24 . The neutral electrode of  claim 23 , wherein the known electrical resistance is a low resistance.