PEAK PlasmaBlade electrosurgery scalpel gets FDA approval

We're still a bit gun shy when it comes to surfing over to PEAK Surgical's website after watching that PlasmaBlade demonstration video, but a new release from the outfit affirms that said electrosurgery scalpel has just been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. The "tissue dissection system," as it's so gruesomely called, has been given 501(k) clearance, meaning that PEAK can now market its tool for use in general surgery. So, anxious to camp out and be the first in the country to get sliced and diced by one of these? Bombard your local hospitals with phone calls starting next month.

[Via MedGadget]

[who? @ Jul 25th 2008 3:37AM]

Based on the video, I honestly would get in line for this if I were in need of a surgery. I can see it now- "the iPhone of scalpels". If you aren't grossed out by seeing skin cut open and viewing the fatty yellow lipids and blood vessels, you should watch the video, it is actually fairly interesting!

[Asha @ Jul 25th 2008 6:24AM]

Agreed, but I would also suggest that the person doing the regular scalpel work didn't seem very experienced. None-the-less, that plasma scalpel did a really clean job.

[Bryan @ Jul 25th 2008 3:40AM]

Where do i sign up?

[who? @ Jul 25th 2008 3:50AM]

Here:

I ____, do agree that it would be totally cool for the surgeon to practice his skills with any and all new surgical tools, even if it means removing my organs and putting them back in like Operation®, because I trust anything that is FDA approved is completely safe.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Just yankin' yer chain, I would be the guy in the front of the line!

[gad get @ Jul 25th 2008 4:55AM]

"So, anxious to camp out and be the first in the country to get sliced and diced by one of these? Bombard your local hospitals with phone calls starting next month."

I have an extra kidney or two or three. I'm phoning right now for an operation with one of these Star Trek tools.

[Nikonov @ Jul 25th 2008 5:17AM]

FDA? Oh yeah, the guys who approved Vioxx...

This is pretty cool, though.

[DaddyNautilus @ Jul 25th 2008 5:44AM]

I work in a hospital and have over heard a couple of the surgeons speaking of this instrument. After watching the video, I can see why they are thinking of doing some mock trials of their own. Seems like a nice advancement for surgical practices.

Now, the gamer in me simply would like to know how long till the military uses this to fabricate a Plasma Sword?

[Magnulus @ Jul 25th 2008 6:20AM]

This is awesome! That video, though kind of gross, is absolutely fascinating! Actually, the gross bits are the ones with the scalpel and the electromajiggy. The plasma blade makes a nice, clean cut. I loves it.

[kdl0206 @ Jul 25th 2008 6:42AM]

Of note: This surgery technique is already used in dental operations where they can't afford for blood to get in the way. It's a very well-documented success that basically got it's trial run with the dentist office. It's about time this gets into mainstream surgery.

Also, implications for a quicker healing timeline could be proven with just non-invasive arthroscopic procedures such as cartilage repair or dissection or cosmetic (non-facial) procedures.

[wodheila @ Jul 25th 2008 7:34AM]

But will there be a "civilian" version? I'm prompted to think of the Star Wars bar scene.

[Bender @ Jul 25th 2008 7:48AM]

That video is nothing. Try watching a knee replacement surgery sometime. They HAMMER pins into the ends of the femurs. You'll ache for days.
But I, for one, welcome these new surgical overlords. Most of the pain of surgery recovery is from "collateral damage" of the skin, muscle, and underlying tissue. I'd take this over a metal knife any day.

[mOe @ Jul 25th 2008 9:32AM]

Well, the do call orthopaedic docs carpenters who work on humans for a reason...

That scalpel is really an amazing tool before. I missed the video before, and that was definitely cool to watch. They've actually had something like this in veterinary medicine for a while, so it's good to see it make the jump.

[GenBanks @ Jul 25th 2008 7:56AM]

I swear, just as I opened up this page, Bioshock started up without me telling it to. Weird!

(What's more worrying is that this has been happening randomly with most of my steam games, dunno why.)

[Buckingham @ Jul 25th 2008 9:44AM]

I saw the pic and thought it's the XBox's answer to the Wiimote.

[retro77 @ Jul 25th 2008 9:59AM]

Oh I thought it was a new Wii mote.

[DQKennard @ Jul 25th 2008 10:45AM]

It should have internal accelerometers, so it can make light saber noises when used. In fact, that should be true of all surgical implements. All surgery should have weird scifi/horror movie sound effects (beyond the usual sounds of a body being cut up, that is).

[jerbils @ Jul 25th 2008 10:50AM]

It looks like an electric toothbrush.

[brad @ Jul 26th 2008 10:24PM]

by the way, the FDA issues 510(k) clearance... not 501(k).
He still needs to work on his typing...

[Bill @ Jul 25th 2008 12:14PM]

If I ever required surgery, I'd much rather the surgeon use this thing on me; as opposed to slicing me up with a knife, which would leave my skin looking like a patchwork quilt when it healed.

Just as a side note, I wonder how laser scalpel technology is advancing?

[SpiderCyde @ Jul 25th 2008 12:43PM]

Screw the scalpels, bring on the lightsabers!

[OneLove @ Jul 25th 2008 1:28PM]

that cadaver has really bad skin. omg.