An automated test system for measuring and improving electrosurgical effects

Designing instruments and power supplies for electrosurgery (a critical tool in modern surgical practice) is a difficult proposition; a large number of competing variables affect an even larger number of electrosurgical performance metrics. This paper describes the design of an apparatus used to tightly control experimental variables, record high-speed data from numerous sensors, and process the results into a form which better elucidates the underlying physical mechanisms and gives insight into potential design improvements.