As a student, you learned the 3 states of matter are solid, liquid and gas, but now you know there’s a fourth: plasma. The characteristics of plasma are different enough from gas to qualify as another state of matter: it has approximately equal numbers of positively and negatively charged ions. It’s been estimated that 99% of the universe’s matter is plasma. Plasma temperatures range from hot to cold, with "hot" having temperatures like that of the sun or a lightning bolt and "cold" having temperatures in the range of fluorescent lights and neon signs.
Cold Plasma in Medicine
In the Cochrane review on Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility of 2014, various interventions and treatments for pain associated with endometriosis and subfertility (subjects unable to conceive after more than a year of unprotected sex) are discussed. The fertility outcome review indicated there was moderate-quality evidence that pregnancy rates were higher following laparoscopic surgery. Regarding pain relief:
- There was little to no evidence that ovulation suppression methods were more or less effective.
- NSAIDS were inconclusive and there was low quality evidence that there was a difference between anti-TNF-s drugs and placebos.
- Alternative medicine was low or very low quality.
- Surgical interventions (laparoscopic and excisional) resulted in moderate-quality evidence of pain relief benefits and that recurrence of endometriosis was lower after excisional surgery rather than ablative.
In the book, Modern Management of Endometriosis by Sutton, Adamson and Jones, cold plasma devices were also cited as being effective in treating superficial peritoneal deposits. Just as with a metal scalpel, the effectiveness of using cold plasma devices is ultimately determined by the skill of the surgeon, including the ability of the user to regulate the gas flow properly.
Using the right tool can make a difference
Even the best surgeons have difficulty preventing damage to surrounding tissues when using traditional surgical devices. Cold plasma devices provide a new element of precision with minimal thermal spread.
This is especially true with the new J-Plasma® cold plasma surgical device by Bovie Medical. It can be used with either an open or laparoscopic hand piece which incorporates a retractable blade. This allows the surgeon the flexibility to use the metal blade for manual excision, or the plasma stream to dissect, "paint", fulgurate or coagulate tissue. With a maximum 15mm stream it eliminates “pass through” errors and has been hailed as being able to excise tissue cell layer by cell layer making J-Plasma the surgical device of choice for use near vital structures.
It was successfully used to treat a 19 year old patient with endometriosis who had experienced intense pain and had been told that she may never be able to become pregnant. She "had undergone 4 surgeries and countless medical procedures, when she began considering a hysterectomy to deal with searing pain that had forced her to stop competitive sports and interfered with daily life.?" After being treated using the J-Plasma device, "She was able to resume competitive sports ... , is completely pain-free...," and,"... is now the mother of a baby boy...".
Bovie Medical is proud to be able to bring this innovative surgical technology to the market and invite you to discover the excitement of making more precise incisions with fewer complications using J-Plasma. Call 800-537-2790 (international call 1-727-384-2323) or contact us today for more information about cold plasma devices.
Image courtesy via: pakorn/freedigitalphotos.com
