may prevent inadvertent burns and external skin injury which occur during electrosurgical procedures when the electrosurgical instruments insulation has defects causing electrosurgical instrument insulation failure. Insulation failure happens over time, through normal surgical use or being in close proximity to sharp instruments or rubbing against an abrasive surface.The insulation failure provides an alternate pathway for the current used in the operation to pass to areas that are unintended commonly resulting in a skin/flesh (non-intended tissue) burn. Using an electrosurgical test equipment maintenance program can greatly reduce the number of inadvertent burns during electrosurgical procedures. Click on the left to see an example of a spark caused by insulation failure on a laparoscopic surgical instrument which could potentially burn a patient undergoing this procedure.
