NEUTRAL ELECTRODE DEVICE, ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A CORRESPONDING NEUTRAL ELECTRODE DEVICE, CONTACT MEDIUM, AND USE OF A LATENT HEAT ACCUMULATOR FOR COOLING AN ELECTRODE

摘要

In surgery using monopolar HF (high frequency), there is a constant risk of patients suffering burns at the neutral electrode. The problem stems from the fact that numerous methods have been devised by which relatively high HF currents are applied for extended periods of time. The present disclosure solves said problem by providing a neutral electrode device to be used for applying an HF current to a biological tissue. The improved neutral electrode device comprises at least one latent heat accumulator for absorbing heat. Thus, heat peaks can be at least temporarily accumulated until the accumulated thermal energy can be safely released.