Electrosurgery

APPLICATIONS

• Cardiology
• Arthroscopy
• Endoscopy
• Laproscopy
• Neurology
• OB-GYN
• Gastroenterology
• Urology
• Vascular surgery
• Ear, Nose & Throat
• Angioplasty
• Implants
• Orthopedics

Electrosurgical and Surgical Instruments

Electrosurgery
Coatings for electrosurgical instruments need to pass very stringent requirements:

• Electrical insulation
• RF characteristics
• Chemical resistance
• Biocompatibility
• Sterilization resistance
• Mechanical functionality
• Lubricity
• Safety
• Arc Resistance

Arthroscopic Electrosurgery

The safety requirements for a coating are especially important. The risk of injury from electrical shock to the surgeon and the patient can be extremely high if the metal components are not properly insulated.

Electrosurgical instruments coated by Vitek have more reliable properties than heat-shrink tubing and polymer over molding. These other approaches have limited material choices, coating thicknesses, and can have voids between the substrate, and the covering. They also do not conform to complex geometric shapes well. Vitek coatings have better adherence, do not have voids, and can completely cover complex geometries. They are also USP Class VI and 510(k) approved.

Vitek has also developed techniques to apply multi-layered COMPOSITE coatings. That is where a single material cannot meet the customers' specified requirements. For example, we can apply a Parylene layer first. This coating provides outstanding electrical insulation, and covers complex grometries. We can then apply other materials on top of the Parylene to provide additional properties, such as abrasion resistance.

Bipolar Electrosurgical Scissors

In addition to enhanced electric insulation, Vitek's composite coatings also provide features which are essential in electrosurgery and laproscopic procedures. Examples would be:

• Resistance to abrasion, scratching and cutting
• Low coefficient of friction
• Smoothness
• Color

Monopolar electrosurgical instruments

Most importantly, these coatings can be applied to both disposable and reusable instruments. These coatings can be sterilized repeatably in all media including gamma radiation, ethylene oxide and steam autoclaving.

Our coated instruments have an exceptional field record.

Vitek provides electrosurgical instrument coating services to some of the world's largest medical instrument manufacturers. We are experienced in the research and development cycle from product conception through mass market release with both large and small companies.

For More Information:
Click here to log into the technical papers area to read papers on the coating of electrosurgical instruments, including the use of Parylene for biocompatible devices.