Patent ID: 11950834
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An electrosurgical generator, comprising:
a radiofrequency (RF) output stage configured to output an electrosurgical waveform through at least one pair of electrodes configured to grasp tissue;
a sensor configured to measure an impedance between the at least one pair of electrodes; and
a controller configured to:
determine whether the impedance of the tissue disposed between the at least one pair of electrodes exceeds an impedance threshold and whether a change in the impedance is greater than an upper change in impedance threshold;
output an alarm indicative of the at least one pair of electrodes being at least partially open based on the impedance exceeding the impedance threshold and the change in impedance exceeding the upper change in impedance threshold; and
control the RF output stage to output the electrosurgical waveform based on the impedance being lower than the impedance threshold and the change in impedance being lower than the upper change in impedance threshold.