Covidien Force FX, Service Manual

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Functional Overview
4-4
Force FX Electrosurgical Generator C Service Manual
You can also use a CUSA handpiece with a CEM nosecone for simultaneous coag when
you connect a monopolar instrument to the Monopolar 2 Instrument receptacle. Only
Desiccate coag is available; the maximum power setting is 70 W.
REM Contact Quality Monitoring System
The Force FX Electrosurgical Generator C uses the REM Contact Quality Monitoring
System to monitor the quality of electrical contact between the patient return electrode
and the patient. The REM system is designed to eliminate the risk of burns at the return
electrode site during monopolar electrosurgery.
When you connect a REM Polyhesive Patient Return Electrode to the Patient Return
Electrode receptacle, you activate the REM system. When you activate monopolar
output, the FX Electrosurgical Generator C connects the patient return electrode path. If
you activate bipolar output while a return electrode is connected to the patient, the
return electrode circuit is deactivated automatically to eliminate the possibility of current
dispersal.
The REM system continuously measures resistance at the return electrode site and
compares it to a standard range of safe resistance (between 5 and 135 Ω), thus
eliminating intermittent false alarms that could result from small changes in resistance.
The REM system also adapts to individual patients by measuring the initial contact
resistance (baseline resistance) between the patient and the patient return electrode. If
the tissue impedance at the return electrode decreases during electrosurgery, the REM
system resets the baseline resistance.
REM Alarm Activation
The REM Alarm indicator flashes red, a tone sounds, and the generator stops producing
output power when either of the following occurs:
• The measured resistance is below 5 Ω or above 135 Ω, the limits of the standard
range of safe resistance.
• An increase in contact resistance is greater than 40% from the initial measurement
(baseline resistance).
The REM Alarm indicator remains illuminated red until you correct the condition causing
the alarm. Then, the indicator illuminates green and RF output is enabled.
Electrodes Without the REM Safety Feature
When you use a patient return electrode that does not have the REM safety feature, the
REM system does not monitor the patient contact area. The REM system can monitor
only the pin-to-pin resistance at the connector and can detect broken wires or connectors
in the return electrode cord.