Category
Surgical Energy Dissection
Typical Use
Simultaneous cutting and coagulation using ultrasonic energy.
Description
A surgical instrument that uses ultrasonic vibration to cut tissue and coagulate small vessels simultaneously, producing less lateral thermal spread than some electrosurgical modalities and enabling precise dissection in open and minimally invasive procedures. The harmonic scalpel is used across general, gynecologic, and thoracic surgery for vessel sealing, tissue division, and reduced smoke generation, with advantages in certain anatomic locations where thermal injury risk must be minimized. Device selection, power settings, and awareness of tissue thickness are important to achieve effective hemostasis while avoiding unintended tissue damage; proper maintenance and single use component handling are part of safe operation.