Wednesday, June 10, 2020

DIATHERMY - PART 2

Hi friends!!!

We have discussed about Diathermy in our last blog. 


Today blog is a extension of PART 1. We will discuss about types of diathermy in today blog. 

Let's get into the topic. 

DIATHERMY

Diathermy is a machine used to perform electrosurgery which uses high frequency electric current to produce heat at the targeted tissue. Depending on the temperature of the heat, different results can occur: at 60 degree Celsius cell death occurs (fulgurate), between 60 - 99 degree Celsius dehydration occurs and the tissues coagulates, and at around 100 degree Celsius the tissues vapourise (cutting)


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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT METHODS OF ELECTROSURGERY?  
   
MONOPOLAR ELECTROSURGERY

In monopolar electrosurgery, electric current flows from the generator to the target tissue through the electrode, then the current returns to the patient return electrode (typically placed underneath the patients leg) and back to the generator to complete the circuit.



BIPOLAR ELECTROSURGERY

In bipolar electrosurgery, the surgeon uses two electrodes that are connected to the electrosurgical generator. The current moves through the tissues that are held between the electrodes. This bipolar arrangement negates the need for a patient return electrode. Instead a similar sized electrodes are used in tandem.



It gives better control over the targeted areas and helps prevent damage to other sensitive tissues.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DIATHERMY?

SHORTWAVE DIATHERMY

Heating is produced with a high frequency of 27.12 MHz and a wavelength of 11 meters. In this method, the output of RF Oscillator is applied to the pair of patient electrodes. The pads form the capacitor plates and the body tissue between pads act as dielectric. When RF current is passed through the cable, deep heating in the superficial tissues is obtained.

CAPACITOR METHOD

When the RF current is applied to the pads, the dielectric loss of the capacitor produces heat in the intervening tissues.

INDUCTOR METHOD

A flexible cable is coiled around any portion of the patients body where plate electrodes are inconvenient to use.

MICROWAVE DIATHERMY

Frequency used is 2450 MHz corresponding to a wavelength of 12.25 cm. Heating of the tissue is produced due to the absorption of the microwave energy. No pad shaped electrodes are used. Instead the microwaves are directly transmitted from the director of the unit. Magnetrons are used to produce microwaves.

ULTRASONIC DIATHERMY

Ultrasonic diathermy is used where localization of the heat effect is required. Heating effect is produced by the absorption of ultrasonic energy by the tissue. The effect of ultrasonics on the tissue is a high speed vibration of micro massage. This promotes the blood flow into the area. Micro massage is used in the treatment of soft tissue lesion.

The RF Oscillator produces a high frequency alternating current which excites the piezoelectric transducer, thus the Transducer produces ultrasonic waves in the form of continuous and pulsed mode. The treatment timer is a electrically operated contact which can be set from 1 to 15 minutes.


Now I hope you have acquired some knowledge about Diathermy and it's types. We will discuss more about medical devices in future blogs. 

Check out for DIATHERMY - PART 1 in the link given at the top of this page. 

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