Electrosurgical Unit

UMDNS GMDN
11490 Electrosurgical Units 44776 General-purpose electrosurgical diathermy
18230 Electrosurgical Units, Bipolar system
18229 Electrosurgical Units, Monopolar
18231 Electrosurgical Units, Monopolar/Bipolar
Other common names:
Bovies; Coagulators, Electrosurgical; Diathermy Units, Surgical; Electrocautery Units; Electrosurgical Generators;
Endometrial Ablation Systems; ESUs; Hyfrecators; Malis Coagulators; Stimulators, Muscle; Surgical Diathermy Units;
Surgical Units; Wapplers; Apparatus, electrosurgical; Surgical diathermy generator
Core medical equipment - Information

Health problem addressed

Devices intended for surgical cutting and for controlling
bleeding by causing coagulation (hemostasis) at the surgical
site. Electrosurgery is commonly used in dermatological,
gynecological, cardiac, plastic, ocular, spine, ENT, maxillofacial,
orthopedic, urological, neuro- and general surgical procedures
as well as certain dental procedures.

Product description
These systems include an electrosurgical generator (i.e., power
supply, waveform generator) and a handpiece including one or
several electrodes.

Principles of operation
In monopolar electrosurgery, tissue is cut and coagulated
by completion of an electrical circuit that includes a high-
frequency oscillator and amplifiers within the ESU, the patient, Use and maintenance
the connecting cables, and the electrodes. In most applications, User(s): Surgeon
electric current from the ESU is conducted through the surgical Maintenance: Medical staff; technician;
site with an active cable and electrode. The electrosurgical biomedical or clinical engineer
current exits the patient through a dispersive electrode (usually
placed on the patient at a site remote from the surgical site) Training: Initial training by manufacturer and
and its associated cable connected to the neutral side of the manuals; supervised training with experienced
generator. In bipolar electrosurgery, two electrodes (generally, surgeons
the two tips of a pair of forceps or scissors) serve as the
equivalent of the active and return electrodes in the monopolar Environment of use
mode. Settings of use: Hospital operating room
Requirements: Stable power source; smoke
Operating steps evacuation
Electrosurgical procedures may or may not be performed
with the patient under anesthesia. The patient is prepped and
electrodes are applied to the affected areas. Electrical current Product specifications
is delivered to the affected area and the surrounding tissue is Approx. dimensions (mm): 777 x 360 x 505
heated to cause desiccation, vaporization, or charring to remove Approx. weight (kg): 28
diseased or damaged tissue.
Consumables: Active and return electrodes
Reported problems Price range (USD): 1,500 - 14,000
There is a risk of surgical fire when using oxygen while performing Typical product life time (years): 7 to 10
electrosurgery. Partial or complete detachment of the electrode
Shelf life (consumables): Single use or variable
pad from the patient is a common cause of patient burns. Burns
may also result from inadequate site preparation, defective
materials or construction, or incorrect placement of the return Types and variations
electrode. The second most common type of electrosurgical Bipolar unit; monopolar unit; monopolar/
injury occurs when the active electrode is inadvertently bipolar unit
energized while the tip is in contact with nontarget tissue.

© Copyright ECRI Institute 2011 (not including the GMDN code and device name).
http://www.who.int/medical_devices/en/index.html Reproduced with Permission from ECRI Institute’s Healthcare Product Comparison System.
© Copyright GMDN Agency 2011. GMDN codes and device names are reproduced with permission from the GMDN Agency.