Assessment of skin temperature elevation and heat diffusion with electrosurgical currents.

A model was developed to quantitatively predict skin and tissue temperature elevations as a function of the amplitude and duration of the electrosurgical current applied, the geometry of the electrodes used, and the skin and tissue properties of the subjects. The temperature measurements were performed with thermographic equipment. The experimental data fit the model, thus fewer measurements will now be required for studies of other electrode designs.