OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work was to determine whether bipolar forceps using a novel heat pipe thermal regulation technology result in decreased thermal damage of untargeted collateral tissue compared with traditional bipolar forceps. METHODS: Fresh ex vivo bovine livers underwent controlled coagulation with forceps with (n=36) or without (n=36) heat pipe technology. Liver specimens were assessed regarding the extent of thermal injury (heat pipe, n=20; non-heat pipe, n=20). During coagulation, tissue temperatures were measured via thermocouple array thermometry and imaged via infrared camera thermography (heat pipe, n=16; non-heat pipe, n=16). RESULTS: Forceps using heat pipe technology were associated with less thermal spread and demonstrated mean tissue temperatures 25% lower than observed with non-heat pipe forceps. The mean width, area, and depth of thermal injury were significantly reduced with heat pipe vs traditional forceps. CONCLUSION: In an ex vivo study of bovine liver bipolar coagulation, forceps that incorporated heat pipe technology limited thermal spread and reduced the extent of unintended injury to untargeted collateral tissue.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work was to determine whether bipolar forceps using a novel heat pipe thermal regulation technology result in decreased thermal damage of untargeted collateral tissue compared with traditional bipolar forceps. METHODS: Fresh ex vivo bovine livers underwent controlled coagulation with forceps with (n=36) or without (n=36) heat pipe technology. Liver specimens were assessed regarding the extent of thermal injury (heat pipe, n=20; non-heat pipe, n=20). During coagulation, tissue temperatures were measured via thermocouple array thermometry and imaged via infrared camera thermography (heat pipe, n=16; non-heat pipe, n=16). RESULTS: Forceps using heat pipe technology were associated with less thermal spread and demonstrated mean tissue temperatures 25% lower than observed with non-heat pipe forceps. The mean width, area, and depth of thermal injury were significantly reduced with heat pipe vs traditional forceps. CONCLUSION: In an ex vivo study of bovineliver bipolar coagulation, forceps that incorporated heat pipe technology limited thermal spread and reduced the extent of unintended injury to untargeted collateral tissue.