New configurations of the electrocautery hemostat

Several configurations of the electrocautery hemostat (ECH) are investigated. It is shown that a displaced blade retains the grasping feature, as it improves the blade sharpness, resulting in a reduction of tissue damage. A properly configured ECH can be made sharper than a standard commercially available electrosurgical unit (ESU) blade. It is concluded that the smallest area among the hemostat blades would have superior cutting capabilities. Tissue damage by an ECH can be decreased at a given force on the blade, by reducing the thickness of the blade in contact with the tissue. Grinding standard ESU blades to a finer edge makes them sharper and would reduce tissue damage, since they require less power for a given operation.<
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