Busch Christoph, Rupitsch Stefan J, Moeller Knut
Institute of Technical Medicine (ITeM), Furtwangen University, Villingen-Schwenningen, 78054, Germany.
Department of Microsystems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79110, Germany.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 31;15(1):27926. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-13836-0.
Monopolar electrocoagulation is a well-established surgical technique to achieve hemostasis by selectively destroying biological tissue through the application of high-frequency alternating current. However, this technique is associated with unwanted tissue damage. In this context, computational simulation is a valuable tool that can improve our understanding of such complex processes and highlight important application parameters in the direction of an improved control function to achieve safer and more reliable results. Despite its critical role in surgical applications, the influence of the electrode-tissue contact area has received little to no attention in previous simulation studies. To address this gap, the present study investigates the sensitivity of temperature distribution and necrotic volume formation to variations in electrode-tissue contact area. For this purpose, a multiphysics finite element model was developed to simulate HF current induced soft coagulation using a ball electrode under varying contact areas. Our findings demonstrate that variations in the contact area significantly impact temperature development and, consequently, necrosis formation. These results highlight the crucial role of the contact area in the electrocoagulation process and its associated necrosis formation. Furthermore, it was observed that when the boiling point of water is reached inside the tissue, complete necrosis has not yet formed at the contact site, which could lead to further undesired effects. Consequently, it is essential to consider the contact area in computational simulations and the development of novel control features for safer and more reliable electrocoagulation.
单极电凝是一种成熟的外科技术，通过施加高频交流电选择性地破坏生物组织来实现止血。然而，该技术会导致不必要的组织损伤。在这种情况下，计算模拟是一种有价值的工具，它可以增进我们对这类复杂过程的理解，并在改进控制功能以实现更安全、更可靠结果的方向上突出重要的应用参数。尽管其在外科应用中起着关键作用，但电极 - 组织接触面积的影响在以往的模拟研究中几乎没有受到关注。为了填补这一空白，本研究调查了温度分布和坏死体积形成对电极 - 组织接触面积变化的敏感性。为此，开发了一个多物理场有限元模型，以模拟在不同接触面积下使用球形电极的高频电流诱导的软组织凝固。我们的研究结果表明，接触面积的变化会显著影响温度发展，进而影响坏死形成。这些结果突出了接触面积在电凝过程及其相关坏死形成中的关键作用。此外，观察到当组织内部达到水的沸点时，接触部位尚未形成完全坏死，这可能导致进一步的不良影响。因此，在计算模拟以及开发用于更安全、更可靠电凝的新型控制功能时，考虑接触面积至关重要。
