1. A method for delivering electrical energy to a target site in human tissue, the method comprising:
positioning at least one active electrode in or on tissue at a target site;
positioning at least two dispersive electrodes on tissue at sites remote from the target site;
establishing electrical current flow from the active electrode through each of the dispersive electrodes; and
individually adjusting the current through at least one of the dispersive electrodes to balance the current through the dispersive electrodes.
2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:
monitoring resistance through each of the dispersive electrodes; and
comparing resistances through the dispersive electrodes to detect one or more dispersive electrodes having a higher resistance than one or more other dispersive electrodes.
3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising adding resistance to one or more dispersive electrodes that have lower resistances than one or more other dispersive electrodes.
4. A method as in claim 2, further comprising repositioning at least one dispersive electrode on the tissue, wherein the at least one dispersive electrode has a higher resistance than at least one other dispersive electrode.
5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:
monitoring current in each of the dispersive electrodes; and
comparing current in the dispersive electrodes to detect one or more dispersive electrodes having a higher current than one or more other dispersive electrodes.
6. A method as in claim 5, further comprising adding resistance to one or more dispersive electrodes that have higher currents than one or more other dispersive electrodes.
7. A method as in claim 5, further comprising repositioning at least one dispersive electrode on the tissue, wherein the at least one dispersive electrode has a lower current than at least one other dispersive electrode.
8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising monitoring the current through each of the dispersive electrodes and signaling an alarm when the current through any single dispersive electrode exceeds the current through another dispersive electrode by a predetermined amount.
9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the alarm is signaled when the current through any single dispersive electrode exceeds the current through another dispersive electrode by fifteen percent (15%) or more.
10. A method as in claim 1, further comprising monitoring the electrical resistance in each of the dispersive electrodes and signaling an alarm when the resistance in any single dispersive electrode exceeds a predetermined maximum resistance.
11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the alarm is signaled when the resistance in any single dispersive electrode exceeds twenty five ohms.
12. A method an in claim 1, further comprising positioning at least a third dispersive electrode on the tissue.
13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising positioning at least a fourth dispersive electrode on the tissue.
14. A method as in claim 1, wherein each dispersive electrode has a conductive surface area of about one hundred twenty square centimeters (120 cm2) or larger.
15. A method as in claim 1, further comprising producing analog signals representative of the current through each of the dispersive electrodes, converting the analog signals to digital signals, and comparing the digital signals.
16. A method as in claim 1, wherein the target site is a liver in a patient and wherein at least one dispersive electrode is positioned on the right leg of the patient and at least one dispersive electrode is position on the left leg of the patient.
17. A method for ablating tissue at a target site comprising:
positioning at least one subcutaneous active electrode at the target site beneath a patient’s skin and at least two dispersive electrodes positioned on the patient’s skin; and
delivering electrical current between the at least one subcutaneous active electrode and the at least two dispersive electrodes, wherein said delivery of electrical current comprises balancing the amount of electrical current passing through each of the at least two dispersive electrodes.
18. A method as in claim 17, wherein balancing the amount of current passing through each dispersive electrode comprises adding resistance to at least one dispersive electrode having a higher current than at least one other dispersive electrode.
19. A method as in claim 18, wherein adding resistance comprises adding resistance across at least two bipolar transistors in series.
20. A method as in claim 17, wherein the balancing the amount of current passing through each dispersive electrode comprises adding resistance to at least one dispersive electrode having a lower resistance than at least one other dispersive electrode.
21. A method as in claim 20, wherein adding resistance comprises adding resistance across at least two bipolar transistors in series.
22. A method as in claim 17, further comprising monitoring the current through each of the dispersive electrodes and signaling an alarm when the current through any single dispersive electrode exceeds the current through another dispersive electrode by a predetermined amount.
23. A method as in claim 18, wherein the alarm is signaled when the current through any single dispersive electrode exceeds the current through another dispersive electrode by fifteen percent (15%) or more.
24. A method as in claim 17, further comprising monitoring the electrical resistance in each of the dispersive electrodes and signaling an alarm when the resistance in any single dispersive electrode exceeds a predetermined maximum resistance.
25. A method as in claim 18, wherein the alarm is signaled when the resistance in any single dispersive electrode exceeds twenty five ohms.
26. A method an in claim 17, further comprising positioning at least a third dispersive electrode on the patient’s skin.
27. A method as in claim 26, further comprising positioning at least a fourth dispersive electrode on the patient’s skin.
28. A method as in claim 17, further comprising producing analog signals representative of the current through each of the dispersive electrodes, converting the analog signals to digital signals, and comparing the digital signals.
29. A method as in claim 17, wherein the target site is a liver in a patient and wherein at least one dispersive electrode is positioned on the right leg of the patient and at least one dispersive electrode is position on the left leg of the patient.
30. A method as in claim 17, wherein delivering the current comprises delivering current between about one and three amperes.
31. A method for balancing current through two or more dispersive electrodes, the method comprising:
monitoring resistance in each of the dispersive electrodes;
comparing resistances in the dispersive electrodes to detect a dispersive electrode having a lower resistance than one or more other dispersive electrodes; and
adding resistance to a dispersive electrode detected as having a lower resistance than one or more other dispersive electrodes.
32. A method as in claim 31, wherein the adding step comprises adding resistance across at least two bipolar transistors in series.
33-40. (canceled)
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An absorbent article comprising a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and an absorbent body between the liquid-permeable top sheet and liquid-impermeable back sheet,
wherein the absorbent article has in the excretory opening contact region a domed section that protrudes in the thickness direction of the absorbent article,
the domed section includes part of the top sheet and a cushion section disposed between the top sheet and the absorbent body,
the cushion section has a maximum thickness of 3 to 30 mm,
the absorbent body has one or more embossed sections formed by embossing the absorbent body either continuously or intermittently in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent article, and
the one or more embossed sections form a folding axis for folding the absorbent article in the widthwise direction so that the skin contact surface of the top sheet protrudes outward.
2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the cushion section has an average basis weight of 50 to 800 gm2.
3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the cushion section has a compressive force of 0.1-3.6N in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article.
4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the cushion section comprises an air-through nonwoven fabric in which the intersections between fibers are heat-fused.
5. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent body has one or more embossed sections forming the folding axis, in a region overlapping the cushion section in the thickness direction.
6. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent body has a furrow along the folding axis on the back sheet side, and the back sheet is indented along the furrow.
7. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the domed section has a center section and an outer peripheral section surrounding the center section, the density of the cushion section at the outer peripheral section being higher than the density of the cushion section at the center section.
8. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the cushion section retains at least 50% of its maximum thickness after absorption of 2 g of horse EDTA blood, as compared to before horse EDTA blood absorption.
9. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent article has a curved structure in which the domed section curves inward.
10. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the top sheet has, on the skin contact surface, a plurality of ridges and a plurality of furrows, extending in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent article.
11. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the domed section further comprises a blood modifying agent with an IOB of 0.00-0.60, a melting point of 45\xb0 C. or less and a water solubility of 0.00-0.05 g in 100 g of water at 25\xb0 C.
12. The absorbent article according to claim 11, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (i)-(iii), and any combination thereof:
(i) a hydrocarbon;
(ii) a compound having (ii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii-2) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (\u2014CO\u2014) and oxy group (\u2014O\u2014) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and
(iii) a compound having (iii-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii-2) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group (\u2014CO\u2014) and oxy group (\u2014O\u2014) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii-3) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (\u2014COOH) and hydroxyl group (\u2014OH) substituting for a hydrogen of the hydrocarbon moiety;
with the proviso that when 2 or more oxy groups are inserted in the compound of (ii) or (iii), the oxy groups are not adjacent.
13. The absorbent article according to claim 11, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (i\u2032)-(iii\u2032), and any combination thereof:
(i\u2032) a hydrocarbon;
(ii\u2032) a compound having (ii\u2032-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, and (ii\u2032-2) one or more, same or different bonds selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (\u2014CO\u2014), ester bond (\u2014COO\u2014), carbonate bond (\u2014OCOO\u2014), and ether bond (\u2014O\u2014) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety; and
(iii\u2032) a compound having (iii\u2032-1) a hydrocarbon moiety, (iii\u2032-2) one or more, same or different bonds selected from the group consisting of carbonyl bond (\u2014CO\u2014), ester bond (\u2014COO\u2014), carbonate bond (\u2014OCOO\u2014), and ether bond (\u2014O\u2014) inserted between a C-C single bond of the hydrocarbon moiety, and (iii\u2032-3) one or more, same or different groups selected from the group consisting of carboxyl group (\u2014COOH) and hydroxyl group (\u2014OH) substituting for a hydrogen on the hydrocarbon moiety;
with the proviso that when 2 or more same or different bonds are inserted in a compound of (ii) or (iii\u2032), the bonds are not adjacent.
14. The absorbent article according to claim 11, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of following items (A)-(F), and any combination thereof:
(A) an ester of (A1) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting for hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (A2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 carboxyl group substituting for a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(B) an ether of (B1) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 hydroxyl groups substituting for hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (B2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting for a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(C) an ester of (C1) a carboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid comprising a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 2-4 carboxyl groups substituting for hydrogens on the chain hydrocarbon moiety, and (C2) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and 1 hydroxyl group substituting for a hydrogen on the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(D) a compound having a chain hydrocarbon moiety and one bond selected from the group consisting of ether bonds (\u2014O\u2014), carbonyl bonds (\u2014CO\u2014), ester bonds (\u2014COO\u2014) and carbonate bonds (\u2014OCOO\u2014) inserted between a C-C single bond of the chain hydrocarbon moiety;
(E) a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol, or its ester or ether; and
(F) a chain hydrocarbon.
15. The absorbent article according to claim 11, wherein the blood modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of (a1) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one fatty acid, (a2) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one fatty acid, (a3) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one fatty acid, (b1) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon tetraol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (b2) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon triol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (b3) an ether of a chain hydrocarbon diol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (c1) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 4 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (c2) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 3 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (c3) an ester of a chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, hydroxy acid, alkoxy acid or oxoacid with 2 carboxyl groups, and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (di) an ether of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d2) a dialkyl ketone, (d3) an ester of a fatty acid and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (d4) a dialkyl carbonate, (e1) a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol, (e2) an ester of a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycols and at least one fatty acid, (e3) an ether of a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol and at least one aliphatic monohydric alcohol, (e4) an ester of a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycols and a chain hydrocarbon tetracarboxylic acid, chain hydrocarbon tricarboxylic acid or chain hydrocarbon dicarboxylic acid, (e5) an ether of a polyoxy C2-C6 alkylene glycol and a chain hydrocarbon tetraol, chain hydrocarbon triol or chain hydrocarbon diol, and (f1) a chain alkane, and any combination thereof.