J-Plasma represents a patented approach to electrosurgery, whereby electricity flows into the application site for only a brief interval, then reverses and flows back out. There is no net flow of electricity around the body, so no return electrode is required. In some ways this acts similar to a bipolar surgical device. The cold plasma effect is highly localized, minimizing collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue, and does not require a return pad, both of which differentiates it from standard electrosurgical devices.
In its most gentle form, J-Plasma is created by passing an inert gas, such as Helium, over a sharp conductive point that is held at high voltage and high frequency. Individual atoms contain hidden equal and opposite electrical charges so they are electrically neutral. When subject to the high voltage and high frequency at the sharp point, these hidden components are temporarily broken apart creating freed charged particles called ions. The gas is said to ionize and will now conduct electricity, just like a wire.
The visible component of the light given off by J-Plasma gives it an appearance of the “light saber” used by the Luke Skywalker character in the original Star Wars movie, although this plasma (another word for ionized gas) is only a few inches long.
At Bovie, we currently have three patents granted:
- #5,909,086 “Plasma Generator for Unipolar Plasma” by Kim, et al., awarded June 1, 1999;
- #6,099,523 “Cold Plasma Coagulator” by Kim, et al., awarded August 8, 2000;
- #7,316,682 “Electrosurgical Device to Generate a Plasma Stream” by Konesky, awarded January 8, 2008.
There are also three patent applications pending:
- #61/411,174 “Electrosurgical Apparatus with Retractable Blade” by Rencher, filed November 8, 2010;
- #61/244,911 “Electrosurgical Apparatus to Generate a Pulsed Plasma Stream and Method Thereof” by Konesky, filed September 23, 2010;
- #61/298,982 “Electrosurgical Apparatus to Generate a Dual Plasma Stream and Method Thereof” by Konesky, filed January 28, 2011.
In August of 2009 we received our first FDA clearance to market J-Plasma for soft tissue coagulation in open procedures. We currently have another submission in front of the FDA for a new J-Plasma handpiece.
In 1926 William T. Bovie and Harvey Cushing, MD combined to introduce the first electrosurgical generator used in the operating room. We know that Bovie and Cushing would love to be in our lab with J-Plasma, today!
- Greg Konesky
