Patent ID: 8449536

Claim:
A neutral electrode device for introducing a high frequency treatment current via a skin section of a human or animal body comprising: at least one main electrode for introducing the treatment current into the body; an impedance measuring device for measuring an impedance between the main electrode and the body and for generating an impedance signal; an evaluation device connected to the impedance measuring device for generating an evaluation signal relating to the impedance and/or relating to possible heating of the body and/or of the skin section; and at least one measuring electrode disposed at a distance from the main electrode; wherein the impedance measuring device comprises at least one measuring current generator connected to the main electrode and the measuring electrode for the generation of a high frequency measuring current which flows between the measuring electrode and the main electrode, wherein the measuring current has a frequency or phase position which differs from that of the treatment current such that the measuring current is separable from the treatment current by means of filter devices, wherein the impedance measuring device comprises a voltage measuring device for measuring a voltage drop between the main electrode and the measuring electrode on the basis of the measuring current being transmitted between the measuring electrode and the main electrode, and wherein the impedance measuring device comprises a voltage measuring device for measuring a voltage drop between the main electrode and the measuring electrode on the basis of a flowing treatment current.