Characterization of plasma parameters and tissue injury produced by plasma electrosurgical systems

Abstract

Plasma and injury properties produced by US Medical Innovations (USMI) elec­trosurgical systems were characterized using an explant pig’s liver samples. It was observed that plasma length, tissue temperature, and injury size increases with applied power increase. Transition from conventional to argon coagulation mode (<0.5 L/min) leads to redistribution of the discharge power over the larger tissue area causing abrupt decrease of injury depth and increase of eschar diameter. Flow rate is not a primary factor affecting the tissue temperature. The depth and diameter of injury was minimal for the case of hybrid argon plasma cut opera­tional mode.