Filter for monopolar surgical instrument energy path

An electrosurgical system, comprising:

• (a) an instrument, including:
• (i) a body,
• (ii) an end effector coupled with a distal end of the body, wherein the end effector includes an electrode operable to apply RF energy to tissue, and
• (ii) a conductive shield coupled with the body and including a ground return, wherein the conductive shield is configured to collect a capacitive coupling current that is induced by the application of the RF energy by the electrode and to route the capacitive coupling current to the ground return;
• (b) a first ground pad having a first electrical lead, wherein the first electrical lead couples the first ground pad with a ground source for providing a first return path for at least some of the RF energy from the generator via the first ground pad;
• (c) a second ground pad having a second electrical lead, wherein the second electrical lead couples the second ground pad with the ground source for providing a second return path for at least some of the RF energy from the generator via the second ground pad;
• and
• (d) a conductive bridge configured to electrically couple the ground return of the conductive shield, the first electrical lead, and the second electrical lead together to provide a simultaneous grounding path for the ground return of the conductive shield along each of the first return path and the second return path such that a first portion of the capacitive coupling current is provided to the ground source via the ground return and the first electrical lead and a second portion of the capacitive coupling current is provided to the ground source via the ground return and the second electrical lead to prevent the first and second portions of the capacitive coupling current from being routed through the first and second ground pads, wherein the first and second portions of the capacitive coupling current are substantially equal.

An electrosurgical system comprising:

• (a) an instrument, including:
• (i) a body,
• (ii) an end effector coupled with a distal end of the body, wherein the end effector includes an electrode operable to apply RF energy to tissue, and
• (iii) a conductive shield coupled with the body and including a ground return, wherein the conductive shield is configured to collect a capacitive coupling current that is induced by the application of the RF energy by the electrode and to route the capacitive coupling current to the ground return;
• (b) a generator configured to provide the RF energy to the electrode;
• (c) a first ground pad electrically coupled with the generator for providing a first return path for at least some of the RF energy from the generator via the first ground pad;
• and
• (d) a second ground pad electrically coupled with the generator for providing a second return path for at least some of the RF energy from the generator via the second ground pad, wherein:
• the ground return of the conductive shield is electrically coupled with the first return path such that a first portion of the capacitive coupling current is provided to the generator via the ground return and the first return path and bypasses the first ground pad and the second ground pad;
• the ground return of the conductive shield is electrically coupled with the second return path such that a second portion of the capacitive coupling current is provided to the generator via the ground return and the second return path and bypasses the first ground pad and the second ground pad;
• and
• the first and second portions of the capacitive coupling current are substantially equal.