Energy Sources in Surgery Flashcards
(45 cards)
The complete destruction of tissue.
Ablation:
In electrosurgery, the point of the electrosurgical
instrument that delivers current to tissue.
Active electrode:
An electrosurgical circuit in which current travels
from the power unit through an instrument containing two
opposite poles in contact with the tissue and then returns
directly to the energy source.
Bipolar circuit:
A specific burn hazard of monopolar
endoscopic surgery. It occurs when current passes
unintentionally through instrument insulation and adjacent
conductive material into tissue.
Capacitive coupling:
This instrument
destroys tissue through the use of high-frequency sound waves
(ultrasound). Used in Neurosurgery.
Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator (CUSA):
The use of extremely low temperature to destroy
diseased tissue.
Cryosurgery:
The transfer of electrical current from an active
electrode to another conductive instrument by accident or as part of the electrosurgical process.
Direct coupling:
The direct use of electricity to cut and coagulate tissue.
Electrosurgery:
The power generator and control source
in the electrosurgical system.
Electrosurgical unit (ESU):
Charred tissue created by a high-voltage current.
Eschar:
The constriction of electrical current by a
nonconductive material.
Impedance:
Acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of
radiation.
Laser:
In electrosurgery, a continuous path of
electricity that flows from the electrosurgical unit to the active
electrode, through the patient to the patient return electrode,
and then back to the electrosurgical unit.
Monopolar circuit:
The quality of a substance that resists the transfer
of electrons and therefore electrical current.
Nonconductive:
A critical component of the
monopolar electrosurgical circuit, the PRE is a conductive pad
that captures electricity and shunts it safely out of the body
and back to the electrosurgical unit. Also called the dispersive
electrode.
Patient return electrode (PRE):
High-frequency energy created by vibration or
excitation of molecules. This type of energy destroys tissue by
breaking molecular bonds.
Ultrasonic energy:
In electrosurgery, a combination of intermediate frequency & intermediate wave intervals to produce a specific effect on tissue.
Blended mode
An alternate name for the patient return electrode
Grounding pad
The ESU power source is often referred to
a Bovie
The bipolar unit is used mainly on
low-impedance tissue because the low voltage is not strong enough to penetrate effectively through tissue such as bone or fat.
All the waves in the laser have exactly the same length
monochromatic
The waves are lined up so that their peaks and troughs are in exactly the same location
coherency
the beam can pass through the cornea, vitreous, and lens of the eye without burning these tissues. The argon beam is used for coagulation and for sealing or welding tissue.
Argon gas lasers
Its beam is outside the visible light range and able to penetrate all tissue types. This laser is used to cut, shave, contour, ablate, and coagulate tissue.
Holmium:yag solid
