Detecting short circuits in electrosurgical medical devices

A control circuit for use with an electrosurgical system, wherein the control circuit is programmed to:

• provide an electrosurgical signal comprising a plurality of pulses to first and second electrodes;
• receive a first reading of an impedance between the first and second electrodes, wherein the first reading is taken during the provision of a first pulse of the electrosurgical signal among the plurality of pulses;
• receive a second reading of the impedance between the first and second electrodes, wherein the second reading is taken during the provision of a subsequent second pulse of the electrosurgical signal among the plurality of pulses;
• determine a difference between the first and second readings;
• determine that a short circuit is present between the first and second electrodes based on a magnitude of the difference between the first reading and the second reading;
• and
• generate a signal indicating the short circuit between the first and second electrodes.