10.10. Electrosurgery

In electrosurgery, high-frequency (also called radio frequency, RF) current is used to cut or coagulate living tissue. The method should not be confused with electrocautery, where the current is passed through a wire and not through tissue, and the wire is accordingly heated. In electrosurgery heat is developed in the tissue where current flows, but the electrodes are cold. Bioimpedance is involved in different ways:
• Determining the RF current path and the influence from metal implants if such are present.
• Controlling the RF output characteristic.
• Controlling special coagulation processes.
• Safety monitoring the important neutral return plate functions.
Thus the bioimpedance participation concerns both functions and safety. ...

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