Historical development of bipolar coagulation

Abstract

In 1926, a physicist at Harvard named William T. Bovie created an instrument, which revolutionized the medical profession—the unipolar electrocautery device. This incredible device could make surgical incisions and provide hemostasis as well. It came with a price, however, as it also created new risks and dangers in the operating room, such as electrical burns and fires. To resolve some of these problems, a bipolar electrocautery device was developed. The historical development and principles of both unipolar and bipolar electrocautery will be discussed in this article. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2010.