Martin maxium & maxium Beamer Operating Instructions
V 2.0
10
3.2.1 Monopolar
Cutting
The high energy density generated on the surface of the active electrode leads to the formation of
a vapor layer between the electrode and the tissue. It is in this layer where the physical processes
leading to tissue dissection take place. However, monopolar cutting, also called “electrotomy”, is a
process quite different from mechanical cutting because – apart from straight, scalpel-like cuts –
electrotomy also enables cuts of special shapes if a correspondingly shaped active electrode is
used. Such sophisticated cuts would be impossible with a knife. The cutting mode is conventionally
marked with the YELLOW color.
The maxium offers a whole range of different currents for monopolar cutting, all of them optimized
for specific applications.
3.2.2 Monopolar
Coagulating
There are basically two types of coagulation that need to be distinguished. The first type is “contact
coagulation”, where the high-frequency current is directly transmitted from the active electrode to
the tissue, thereby heating it up. This type of coagulation is primarily used for hemostasis in case
of major hemorrhages or for denaturing (destroying) volumes of tissue (depth coagulation). A typi-
cal example for contact coagulation is the hemostasis of dissected vessels by applying an electric
current directly to vascular forceps. The process of denaturing larger tissue surfaces is also called
“ablation”.
The second type of coagulation is called “non-contact coagulation”. In this case, the current is not
delivered to the tissue directly but some distance away from it, breaking through a vapor layer or
crossing a gap in air due to its high electric voltage. Thus, energy conversion takes place mainly on
the tissue surface, not in the deeper tissue layers. Therefore, this coagulation mode is ideal for the
hemostatic treatment of superficial, oozing hemorrhages. Coagulation currents of this type are
categorized as “spray coagulation” or “fulguration” currents. A special application form of this co-
agulation mode is the surface coagulation that uses ionized argon gas (Argon Beamer).
Martin’s maxium offers you coagulation currents of both types for monopolar coagulating, plus
mixed types that combine the properties of the contact and non-contact modes. The coagulation
mode is conventionally marked with the BLUE color.
3.2.3 Neutral
Electrode
(NE)
For monopolar applications, a neutral (i.e. inactive/dispersive) electrode is required. It is essential
to observe the instructions for correct application of the neutral electrode.
For details, please refer to section 9, “Safety Measures”!
3.3
The Bipolar Working Principle
Thanks to special design measures (including insulation), it is possible to build bipolar instruments
in which the active electrode and the neutral electrode are located directly opposite each other.
This means that the HF current travels only a very short path, just from one tip of the instrument to
the other (example: bipolar forceps). As a result, the coagulation zones are highly restricted in size
while power requirements remain low.