Appeal No. 98-0194 Page 10
Application No. 08/132,940
to the amount of power desired. A high-frequency surgical
signal is applied to conductor 32, which is connected to the
active electrode used by the surgeon. Conductor 34 is the
reference potential conductor for the high-frequency surgical
signal and it is connected to the patient plate or inactive
electrode upon which the patient is positioned. When a
bipolar electrosurgical instrument is used, both conductors 32
and 34 are connected to the instrument. Bowers'
electrosurgical generator also includes (1) a current sensor
36 connected in series in the conductor 32 for the purpose of
deriving an instantaneous current sense signal 38 which is
related to the instantaneous magnitude of current flowing in
the conductor 32, and (2) a voltage sensor 40 electrically
connected between the conductors 32 and 34 for the purpose of
deriving an instantaneous voltage sense signal 42
representative of the instantaneous voltage existing between
the conductors 32 and 34. Accordingly, both the instantaneous
output current and voltage of the high-frequency surgical
signal are sensed at a point in the generator 10 where the
surgical signal is delivered. The current signal 38, 48, 68
and the voltage signal 42, 50, 70 are thereafter supplied to a
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