CONCLUSIONS
The electromagnetic characteristics of the emissions due to
electrosurgery and radiosurgery were analyzed in regards to the
electromagnetic immunity levels imposed by standards for
susceptible medical devices used in the operating theatre.
The electric field emitted by the generators exceeded the 10
V/m level in the cutting and blend mode for the radiosurgical
devices. Also, one of the radiosurgical device exceeded this
limit for the deep coagulation mode of the generator. In the soft
coagulation mode, the devices emitted an electric field below
the 10 V/m immunity level, and for the bipolar mode, all the
emissions were below 3 V/m.
The radiosurgical devices emitted an electric field greater
than that emitted by the electrosurgical device in all cases,
except for the bipolar mode.
We concluded that all electrosurgical and radiosurgical
devices have electromagnetic emissions that could lead to
electromagnetic interference phenomena, but, due to the
benefits of using this technology, the operating theatre will
continue to be equipped with radio and electro surgery devices.
The electromagnetic interference phenomena observed
while testing the devices were of no great importance and no
damage was done to either of the medical devices implicated.
Also, the interference was transitory and was only observed at
very high output power settings of the generators, cases that
rarely can occur in normal operating conditions.
Further studies are being carried out at the "Prof. Dr.
Nicolae Oblu" Clinical Emergency Hospital, regarding the use
of electrosurgery and radiosurgery in neurosurgical
interventions, with close monitoring of electromagnetic
interference phenomena.