Report Detail
U.S. Electrosurgical Devices Market
Traditional electrosurgery in the United States (U.S.) involves the use of electric current to cut, cauterize, and ligate tissue and luminal structures using radiofrequency (RF) generators and instrumentation. This process is differentiated from tumor ablation or coagulative necrosis, which typically is performed by general surgeons and interventional radiologists, and is further discussed in upcoming Medtech Insight Report #A562, U.S. Thermal Ablation Devices Market.
Named after William T. Bovie, a physicist at Harvard University who is credited with developing electrosurgery in the U.S., most electrosurgical devices are dubbed “Bovie.” In 1920, Dr. Bovie developed a high-frequency device for use as a thermalknife in breast surgery; in 1926, neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing is reported to havebeen the first to use the device.
General electrosurgery involves the use of standard monopolar RF for cutting and achieving hemostasis. Neurosurgical procedures, however, typically require the use of bipolar devices due to the higher risk of thermal spread to peripheral brain tissue. Bipolar devices employ low-voltage electric current that flows only from one tip of the instrument to the other, affecting only the tissue between the two electrodes; amonopolar device’s higher-voltage electric current flows from the instrument through the targeted tissue and to a grounding pad or return electrode attached to the patient, resulting in a higher risk of thermal spread.
Electrosurgery involves the use of various instruments and accessories. Deeper cuts than the initial skin incision(s) are made using an active electrode or Bovie pencil, which comprise four basic components: an electrosurgical controller or generator with a foot switch; a pencil, or pencil/probe handle, consisting of a plug (to connect to the controller), wire, handle, activating switch, and a port for the“blade”; a metal tip with a geometry designed to create an electric field; and a return electrode to complete the current from the pencil through the targeted tissue and back to the generator.