Novel Biomedical Electrosurgical Device Containing Nanostructured Surface Functionalization for Minimally Invasive Surgery: Characterization and Histological Evaluation in Rat

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the thermal injury and tissue sticking in the liver after a minimally invasive electrosurgery with a chromium nitride (CrN) surface modifications. The surface morphologies and the hydrophobic properties of CrN thin films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle goniometer. Three-dimensional (3D) liver models were reconstructed using magnetic resonance imaging to simulate the electrosurgical procedure. In animal model, needle type monopolar electrosurgery equipped with CrN thin films were used to create lesions in the liver of adult rats. Animals were sacrificed for evaluations at 0, 1, 2, and 4 weeks postoperatively. Data indicated that the temperature decreased significantly when minimally electrosurgery with nanostructured CrN thin films were used, and that it continued to decrease with increasing film thickness. In an animal model, thermography revealed that the surgical temperature was significantly lower in the minimally invasive electrosurgery with CrN thin film compared to untreated electrosurgery. In addition, adherence analysis showed that the smallest amount adherence tissue on the CrN electrode. Moreover, CrN electrosurgery created a relatively small thermal injury area and lateral thermal effect. The present study reveals that the novel nanostructured thin film on electrode substrates is an effective means of improving the performance of reducing excessive thermal injury, decreasing adherence tissue, and uniformly distributing temperature in the liver. However, further tests in the clinical trial must be evaluated to confirm the effect and safety of promising findings in the electrosurgery.