Low temperature plasma ablation device for minimally invasive surgery

Abstract

This study introduces the design principle of a high-frequency square wave power supply, as well as the simulation and design process of a minimally invasive electrosurgical scalpel, which formed the low temperature plasma in saline solution. In order to verify the performance of the device, saline discharge experiments and pork ablation experiments were performed. An alternating high-frequency square-wave voltage was applied between coaxial double-layer electrodes with a spacing of 400 µm. The waveforms and amplitude of output voltage and current, conductance between electrodes, and output power were measured in saline discharge experiments. The results of pork ablation experiments with different power sources demonstrate that the device can generate low-temperature plasma for ablation rather than relying on thermal effects. The device can ablate pork under the driving of a 10 V, 100 kHz square wave voltage. In addition, the ablation speed and area will be greater with an increase in voltage or frequency.