Thermal comparison of novel bipolar forceps in bovine liver.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this work was to determine whether bipolar forceps using a novel heat pipe thermal regulation technology result in decreased thermal damage of untargeted collateral tissue compared with traditional bipolar forceps.

METHODS

Fresh ex vivo bovine livers underwent controlled coagulation with forceps with (n=36) or without (n=36) heat pipe technology. Liver specimens were assessed regarding the extent of thermal injury (heat pipe, n=20; non-heat pipe, n=20). During coagulation, tissue temperatures were measured via thermocouple array thermometry and imaged via infrared camera thermography (heat pipe, n=16; non-heat pipe, n=16).

RESULTS

Forceps using heat pipe technology were associated with less thermal spread and demonstrated mean tissue temperatures 25% lower than observed with non-heat pipe forceps. The mean width, area, and depth of thermal injury were significantly reduced with heat pipe vs traditional forceps.

CONCLUSION

In an ex vivo study of bovine liver bipolar coagulation, forceps that incorporated heat pipe technology limited thermal spread and reduced the extent of unintended injury to untargeted collateral tissue.