Today there are two major players in the high frequency desiccator market, Bovie Medical Corporation with their Aaron 940 and Conmed Corporation with their Hyfrecator 2000. These products are mainly used in dermatology and unlike an electrosurgical unit (ESU) they do not have the ability to cut tissue. Clinically the Aaron 940 and the Hyfrecator do the exact same thing. They desiccate, fulgurate or coagulate tissue and mainly deal with small skin lesions, skin tags and the like.
So if they are clinically the same, what is the functional difference?
The quick answer is that the Aaron 940 from Bovie is much more user friendly. But since the blog headline is the "Top 3 Attributes of High Frequency Desiccators", let's look a little deeper.
The first thing that stands out is that since the Aaron 940 is a digital system, there are no extra or cumbersome steps required to go from low power to high if you need to. This typically happens when a physician hits a small bleeder and needs coagulation. On the 940 you simply push the up button on the handpiece or use the rotary dial, so one step is all that is required. The competing unit actually requires four steps instead of one to accomplish the same thing. To make it worse, if you need to go back and finish the procedure, then the four steps must be repeated. The user friendly way with the Aaron 940 is once again only one easy step.
The second user friendly attribute with the Aaron 940 is when you want to add the optional foot switch. You simply plug it in to the face of the unit. If you are unfortunate enough to have that other machine, then you are facing a six step process which is also a more expensive proposition. Not only is it more expensive, you actually get less features on the Conmed unit, because you need to buy a different handpiece too, which has no up down buttons.
The first two attributes actually require you to plug and unplug their handpiece...consequently it faces much more physical abuse. We have had many doctors ask us how our handpiece lasts SO MUCH LONGER than their old Hyfrecator handpiece? In truth, other than the collet we use to tightly hold the electrode in place, which is WAY BETTER that theirs, both hand pieces are made to similar standards. But because they are plugged in and out more, they seem to wear out faster. While ours lasts and lasts and lasts. So attribute 3 is our handpiece doesn't break. Or at least compared to theirs.
The Aaron 940 is the logical choice for a high frequency desiccator when you want ease of use combined with reliability. There are several other attributes, and if you want to know more contact Bovie and we'd be happy to tell you more.
J. Robert Saron, President
Bovie Medical Corporation
*Aaron and Bovie are registered trademarks of Bovie Medical Corporation and Conmed and Hyfrecator are registered trademarks of Conmed Corporation.
