{"title":"A proposed standard for evaluating the thermal performance of pediatric dispersive electrodes.","authors":"Y Kim, J G Webster","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The authors have collected and analyzed 1,418 data points of current and duration of all electrosurgical unit activations from 23 surgical procedures on infants and children. The maximum radiofrequency current used was 550 mA and the duration was 4 sec. The maximum heating factor of 3.04 A2--sec was recorded at 225 mA for 60 sec. However, most data points lay between currents of 50-200 mA and durations of 1-5 sec. Using a three-dimensional computer model for a child thigh, the authors solved numerically first for the current density distribution, and then second the temperature elevation around pediatric dispersive electrodes. Derived curves showed that the maximum temperature under the electrode is proportional to the applied power and inversely proportional to the conducting area of the electrode. Analyzing results from pediatric current-duration experiments as well as computer simulation studies should assist in the design of new and improved pediatric dispersive electrodes. Finally, the authors propose a new standard for evaluating the thermal performance of pediatric dispersive electrodes.</p>","PeriodicalId":76133,"journal":{"name":"Medical instrumentation","volume":"20 6","pages":"327-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1986-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14924148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Standards: often an inappropriate response.","authors":"M J Miller","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76133,"journal":{"name":"Medical instrumentation","volume":"20 6","pages":"337-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1986-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14924153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"User views on standards for defibrillators.","authors":"M B Raber, F S Osman","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>User views on the need for defibrillator standards were surveyed as part of a multifaceted study of defibrillator use in Canadian hospitals. The majority of users favor standardization of performance, labeling, and use characteristics. They also prefer that all defibrillators incorporate cardioversion capability. Most users prefer that the defibrillator automatically switch to the emergency mode after delivery of a cardioversion shock, but almost one half of the physicians preferred the unit to remain in the synchronized mode as set. Most users are in favor of all equipment operating in the same fashion, but paramedics are not. Only a minority believes that cardioversion features are a cause of confusion, yet conversations with biomedical engineers indicate that this confusion is a common problem among the users. Virtually all users prefer that necessary standards for safety and efficacy should be mandatory for both manufacturers and hospitals.</p>","PeriodicalId":76133,"journal":{"name":"Medical instrumentation","volume":"20 6","pages":"316-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1986-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14924145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How to avoid surface burns during electrosurgery.","authors":"W Irnich","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Electrosurgical burns are said to be the most common electrical hazards in operating rooms. Characteristic of all burns is that the user is not sufficiently familiar with electrosurgery, its power, and possible dangers. The simplest way to avoid burns is to educate those engaged in electrosurgery. There always will remain a risk that should lead to technical solution of the problem. From the physics of electrosurgery and heat production, it can be shown that a residual voltage across the neutral electrode plays a dominant role. To monitor this voltage and process it in an appropriate way will open new possibilities in avoiding burns.</p>","PeriodicalId":76133,"journal":{"name":"Medical instrumentation","volume":"20 6","pages":"320-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1986-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14924147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The cause of stimulation with electrosurgical current.","authors":"K S Foster, L A Geddes","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":76133,"journal":{"name":"Medical instrumentation","volume":"20 6","pages":"335-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1986-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"14924151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}