US Patent 8007494 Device and method to prevent surgical burns

A surgical instrument and safety system comprises a safety shield having an inner surface and an outer surface, an active conductor having a first end adapted to connect with an electrode and a second end adapted to connect with an electrosurgical generator, the electrosurgical generator including contact quality monitoring circuitry, an insulator surrounding the active conductor and disposed between the active conductor and the safety shield, and a circuit interruption device in electrical communication with the safety shield. The circuit interruption device is adapted to couple to the contact quality monitoring circuitry of the electrosurgical generator and disable the flow of current to the electrode upon the occurrence of a fault condition.