FLEXOPLATE MONITOR

Typical Number in Hospital: 10

Cost Bands: 1

References: 2

A number of injuries to patients have been caused by the loss of connection to the indifferent electrode during the use of monopolar surgical diathermy. One way of reducing this possibility with the flexible type of dry indifferent electrode (Flexoplate), is to have two connectors and two wires to the machine. Inside the diathermy set the Flexoplate monitor passes a small current up one wire, through the foil of the electrode and back to the machine. If this current is interrupted due to a disconnection then an alarm sounds and the apparatus may be temporarily disabled. Modern surgical diathermy machines have this facility built in.