ELECTRONIC SKIN-TEST DEVICE FOR ELECTROSURGICAL NEUTRAL ELECTRODES

摘要

Quality test for neutral electrodes (grounding plates used in electrosurgical operations) with volunteers and thermo cameras are difficult to perform and expensive. A new test device "electronic skin" simulates the relevant electrical features of human skin. The starting point of development was a model calculation of the human thigh and the resultant current densities and power losses causing the temperature increase. From these findings the electronic skin was developed. This device consists of a three dimensional resistor network representing the various skin layers and muscle tissue, and a temperature sensing array (one transistor for each cm~(2)) to measure the resultant temperature increase after a standardized current load (700 mA hf current during 60 s). To prove the compatibility of the new device with the tests required according to the AAMI HF 18 standard, the comparison of test results with thermo camera images on volunteers showed a sufficient coincidence, which proves the applicability of this test device to replace volunteer experiments.