Plasma Energy Dissection Device Slices Smoothly Through Tissues

A new member of the PlasmaBlade family of disposable cutting devices offers the exacting control of a scalpel and the bleeding control of traditional electrosurgery, without extensive collateral damage.

The PlasmaBlade 3.0S disposable dissection device is based on a 3 mm wide dissecting blade with integrated suction, and a telescoping shaft that extends from 5.5 cm to 15 cm for improved surgical access. The PlasmaBlade uses pulsed waveforms supplied by the proprietary Pulsar Generator, which supplies pulsed plasma radiofrequency (RF) energy to the PlasmaBlade. The short plasma-mediated electrical discharges cut efficiently through the tissue, resulting in the RF energy being delivered in short on-and-off pulses with low duty cycle, generating a much lower average temperature than that of conventional electrosurgery, even as low as 50 °C.


This temperature reduction results in significant improvements in several endpoints compared with standard of care treatment, including a 75% reduction in thermal injury depth, a 31% reduction in inflammation, a 49% reduction in postoperative narcotic consumption, and a 65% and 42% stronger healed incision strength at 3 and 6 weeks, respectively. The PlasmaBlade 3.0S is a product of PEAK Surgical (Palo Alto, CA, USA), and has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in general, plastic and reconstructive, ear, nose, and throat (ENT), gynecologic, orthopedic, arthroscopic, spinal, and neurological surgical procedures.

"I have found the PlasmaBlade 3.0S to be an excellent precision dissection instrument for my spine surgery procedures,” said John Peloza, M.D., director of the Center for Spine Care (Dallas, TX, USA). "The PlasmaBlade 3.0S not only precisely cuts and cauterizes pathological tissue but the reduced thermal damage to surrounding healthy tissue has translated into clinical benefits for my patients.”

"The access and visibility with the PlasmaBlade 3.0S is excellent,” said Helson Pacheco-Serrant, M.D., director of Neurosurgical Specialists of El Paso (TX, USA). "The speed with which I can perform precise dissections near sensitive structures without worrying about thermal spread is a real advantage to both me and my patients. To date, my patients have experienced excellent postoperative recoveries, which I believe is due to the reduced thermal injury profile of this device.”

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PEAK Surgical