Electrosurgical Blades
Electrosurgical blades are large surface active electrodes used by surgeons
for incision. They are similar to scalpel blades but attached to a suitable
radio frequency source. The major benefit of using an electrosurgical blades
for operating is that they cauterize small blood vessels as the blade
penetrate tissue.
Materials
Earlier the blades were stainless steel placed in electrical contact with a
"patient plate." The "patient plate" was connected to
the ground terminal of the radiofrequency source, while the cutting blade
was connected to the "hot" terminal of the radiofrequency source.
Radio-frequency current flows from the edge of the cutting blade to the "patient
plate" through the patient. This technique could cause RF burns. The
blades used these days concentrates the radio-frequency field to the
immediate vicinity of the blade. A blade has insulating material with RF
electrodes adjacent to one another. These blades require lesser power and
are certainly more safe.
Importance of electrosurgical blades
An electrosurgical blade, used in electrosurgery, comprises a body having
at least one conductive element which is covered by an insulation layer
except at a portion of the conductor edge of the conductive element.
Electrosurgical energy flows through electrosurgical blade to facilitate
starting or initiating the electrosurgical process. The blade is so designed
to prevent excessive delivery of electrosurgical energy to eliminate or
reduce the production of smoke and reduce tissue damage.
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