Biological tissue can only be cut when the voltage between the cutting electrode
and the tissue to be cut is sufficiently high to produce electric arcs between them,
effectively concentrating the HF electric current onto specific points of the tissue.
A peak voltage of approximately 200 Vp is required to produce the electric arc
between the tissue and the electrode. If it is greater than 200 Vp, the arcs increase
in proportion to the voltage, thereby increasing the depth of coagulation along the
cut. This relationship between the depth of coagulation and the electric voltage or
intensity of the electric arcs between active electrode and biological tissue has for
decades been used in the practical application of conventional high frequency
Examples of less coagulating or non-coagulating incision electrodes are: tape
loops or thin wire loop electrode or knife electrode.