J-Plasma® is a new FDA-approved surgical device that harnesses the power of helium gas plasma for precise and controlled cutting, coagulation, fulguration and desiccation of diseased tissue.
This Winner of the 2014 SLS Innovation of the year, J-Plasma® passes an inert gas, helium, over an electrically charged retractable surgical blade, to create a controlled, precise beam of cold plasma. Available in both an open and laparoscopic handpiece option, J-Plasma® features a hand-held 5mm diameter surgical probe with a push button hand activator (a foot pedal option is also available) that is connected to a Bovie Ultimate Generator. The tool is unique in that it doesn’t produce any conductive currents that would require a grounding pad.
Since there exists essentially no thermal flow or collateral tissue damage, surgeons now have an innovative surgical tool that can be used for a multitude of surgical procedures.
As opposed to lasers that rely on wavelength color temperature and precise distance control, J-Plasma® uses a controlled stream of ionized helium to ablate tissue, giving the surgeon a clean dissection with minimal collateral damage to surrounding tissue.
J-Plasma® has also proven effective with numerous tissue types, due to helium plasma offering a very low risk of injury to surrounding tissue, and producing no conductive currents through the patient while in use.
J-Plasma and Rhinophyma: A Case Study
A recent Bovie white paper addressed the use of J-Plasma® to treat rhinophyma, a complication often associated with rosacea that can seriously enlarge the size of the nose and impede a patient’s ability to breathe.
In this particular case, a 54-year-old California man suffered from a serious rhinophyma condition, such that the size of his nose had expanded to the degree that it was nearly impossible for him to breathe or, for that matter, sleep. After consulting with an otolaryngologist, who claimed there was nothing that could be done, he reached out to Ali Tehrani, M.D., a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, who, while surprised by the extreme nature of the man’s condition, felt that the situation could be solved.
After cutting through the more dense tissue Dr. Tehrani was able to use the J-Plasma® device to mesh the healthy tissue into the excised areas.
The surgical precision and reduced tissue damage offered by J-Plasma® was instrumental in a successful outcome that ultimately enabled the patient to breathe easily. In the end, it enabled the surgeon to blend tissue seamlessly for improved cosmetic results. “I felt that using it would have both hemostatic and anti-bacterial benefits for the patient,” adds Dr. Tehrani. “The J-Plasma eliminated any abrupt transition where the tissue in the resurfacing would not be as smooth.”
As for the patient, not only could he sleep better and breathe with greater ease, but also the size of his nose decreased dramatically after roughly 10 weeks time. The procedure also affected his taste buds and sense of smell, allowing him to enjoy food in a way he hadn’t been able to in a long time.
For more information on, or to schedule a demonstration of, J-Plasma®, please visit our J-Plasma webpage.
Image courtesy via:Stuart Miles/freedigitalphotos.net
