Active electrode monitoring is the only technology on the market that continuously shields and monitors the instrument during surgery to prevent stray energy burns that can cause unintended injury to patients.

The AEM technology consists of two primary components: AEM laparoscopic instruments and the AEM monitor. Whereas conventional instruments are simply a conductive element with a layer of insulation coating, every AEM instrument has a multilayered insulation design with a built-in “shield,” a concept much like a third-wire ground in standard electrical cords. The components of the AEM technology are as follows:

1. The active electrode element is the central core of the instrument.
2. The primary insulation layer withstands the high voltages needed to perform cutting and hemostasis.
3. The protective shield is a tube that surrounds the primary insulation layer. The shield conducts stray current from the active electrode back to the generator and away from the patient during surgery.
4. The outer insulation, similar to that used on a conventional instrument, ensures energy containment within the shield component, even under primary insulation failure conditions.

The monitor is attached to the generator and to the laparoscopic instrument. The AEM monitor is compatible with commonly used Electrosurgical Units (ESU) power sources. During electrode activation, the monitor continuously checks for primary insulation failure and prevents capacitive coupling. If the monitor detects a dangerous situation, it interrupts the power by shutting down the generator, alerts the surgeon and staff and protects the patient from thermal injury.

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