Capacitive coupled return path pad with separable array elements

Abstract

A return pad of an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The return pad includes a plurality of conductive members and a plurality of sensing devices. The conductive members are configured to receive radio frequency current applied to a patient. The sensing devices are configured to detect at least one of the following: a nerve control signal applied to the patient; and a movement of an anatomical feature of the patient resulting from application of the nerve control signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A return pad of an electrosurgical system, the return pad comprising:
 a plurality of conductive members configured to receive radio frequency current applied to a patient; and   a plurality of sensing devices configured to detect at least one of the following:
 a nerve control signal applied to the patient; and 
 a movement of an anatomical feature of the patient resulting from application of the nerve control signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The return pad of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive members is further configured for capacitive coupling with the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The return pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively decoupling at least one of the plurality of conductive members from another one of the plurality of conductive members. 
     
     
         4 . The return pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively decoupling each of the conductive members from one another. 
     
     
         5 . The return pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively decoupling the plurality of conductive members from the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The return pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively decoupling the plurality of conductive members from a generator. 
     
     
         7 . The return pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a switching device configured for selectively coupling each of the plurality of conductive members to a generator. 
     
     
         8 . The return pad of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensing devices are configured as an array of sensing devices. 
     
     
         9 . The return pad of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of conductive members. 
     
     
         10 . The return pad of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of conductive members is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of sensing devices. 
     
     
         11 . The return pad of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sensing devices comprises one of the following:
 a pressure sensor;   an accelerometer; and   a pressure sensor and an accelerometer.   
     
     
         12 . The return pad of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensing devices is further configured to output a signal indicative of the detection. 
     
     
         13 . An electrosurgical system, comprising:
 a generator configured to supply an alternating current at a radiofrequency;   an instrument configured to apply the alternating current to a patient;   a return pad capacitively couplable to the patient, wherein the return pad comprises:
 a plurality of conductive members configured to conduct radio frequency current, wherein the plurality of conductive members are capacitively couplable to a patient and are selectively couplable to the generator; 
 a plurality of sensing devices configured to detect at least one of the following:
 a nerve control signal applied to the patient; and 
 a movement of an anatomical feature of the patient resulting from application of the nerve control signal; and 
 
   a conductor coupled to the return pad and the generator.   
     
     
         14 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 13 , further comprising a multi input-single output switching device coupled to each of the plurality of sensing devices. 
     
     
         15 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 14 , further comprising an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the multi input-single output switching device. 
     
     
         16 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 13 , wherein the generator is further configured to:
 generate the alternating current as a high frequency waveform;   generate a low frequency waveform which is configured to stimulate a nerve of the patient;   utilize the high frequency waveform to modulate the low frequency waveform to form a composite waveform; and   supply the composite waveform to the instrument.   
     
     
         17 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 14 , wherein the generator is further configured to amplitude modulate the low frequency waveform to form the composite waveform. 
     
     
         18 . A return pad of an electrosurgical system, the return pad comprising:
 a plurality of electrodes configured for capacitive coupling with a patient; and   an array of sensing devices configured to detect at least one of the following:
 a nerve control signal applied to the patient; and 
 a movement of an anatomical feature of the patient resulting from application of the nerve control signal. 
   
     
     
         19 . The return pad of  claim 18 , wherein each sensing device of the array of sensing devices is configured to output a signal indicative of the detection. 
     
     
         20 . The return pad of  claim 18 , wherein each sensing device of the array of sensing devices is positioned on a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes.