Electrical Characteristics of the Sparks Produced by Electrosurgical Devices

The electrical characteristics of the sparks produced between the active electrode and the biological tissue during electrosurgical procedures have been experimentally investigated. The results have shown that the minimum voltage required to initiate a spark depends on the applied voltage polarity resulting in electrosurgical voltage asymmetry. This voltage asymmetry is capable of producing DC levels that can result in tissue electrostimulation or direct current burns as discussed in this paper. The experimental setup and the conditions, under which the results have been obtained, including the techniques used to improve experimental reproducibility, are reported in detail.