Radiowave Surgery in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

by an electrode while an indi erent electrode (antenna) was attached to the patient. The indif ferent electrode allowed for the removal of the current entering the patient and channeled the electricity back into the electrosurgical unit. This prevented the buildup of static electricity so that electrical shocks were not caused to the patient or the operator. This recycling of current allowed the use of lower voltages with increased amper ages and along with the biterminal electrode arrangement allowed for deeper tissue coagula tion compared with previous surface carboniza tion.11 This circuitry set the stage for the device con gurations used today. In 1923, Wyeth used electrosurgery for actu ally cutting tissues instead of merely charring or desiccating them. He developed an apparatus called the endotherm knife, 14 which not only cut, it also sealed o smaller blood and lymphatic vessels. William Bovie, a Harvard physicist, developed a practical electrosurgical device in 1928 that o ered both cutting and coagulation modes, 15