title: Lifetime testing of sapphire and sculpted silica fiber scalpels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sapphire and sculpted silica fiber scalpels were evaluated for performance as they aged. Performance was determined by measuring their useful lifetime, forward transmission, incision depth, and the thermal coagulation thickness at the sides and bottom of the incision. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS, AND METHODS: Aging was performed with a chicken breast model. Performance measurements were made at periodic intervals. Sapphire scalpels were cooled with air or saline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The air-cooled, frosted sapphire scalpels had the longest useful lifetime, whereas the saline-cooled, frosted sapphire scalpels had the shortest. Aging deteriorated the forward transmission of the sculpted silica fiber scalpels the most. Little difference was found between the averages of all incision measurements. Two of the saline-cooled, frosted sapphire scalpels fractured during the aging process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aging influences the scalpel lifetime, but there was no evidence that the aging process significantly affected the incision size.
authors.affiliation: Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD 20857, USA.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Royston
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sriram
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004867:Equipment Design; D008422:Materials Testing; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D000537:Aluminum Oxide