Energy transfer in the practice of surgery

Abstract

Energy is a fundamental tool of the modern surgeon. Transduction of energy can take many forms, including the oldest, which is basically manual energy transduction, to effect a change. Modem surgical instruments use electrons, photons, and sound waves to transfer energy to human tissue. Surgeons expect specific and repeatable results from these tools. An understanding of the basic underpinnings of energy transfer and its effects on biological tissue is necessary to adapt current technologies to specific surgical situations. © 2008 Springer New York.