title: Evaluation of Vessel Sealing Performance Among Ultrasonic Devices in a Porcine Model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As new technologies emerge, it is imperative to define which new devices are most likely to provide a reproducible, effective result for the patient and surgeon. The purpose of our study was to analyze 3 commercially available ultrasonic energy devices; the Sonicision (SC), the Harmonic ACE (HA), and the THUNDERBEAT (TB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight female Yorkshire pigs were used for data collection and vessel harvest. Three devices were evaluated and compared with each other with respect to seal failure and cutting speed in vivo. After vessel harvest, one end of the fragment was sent for histological evaluation, and the other was used for burst pressure measurement testing in a blinded fashion. The coagulation and cut levels of all the generators were set up at a similar and constant level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four vessels (47 arteries and 37 veins) were tested. Mean vessel diameter was equal among the groups. Cutting speed was significantly faster with TB (3.4 ± 0.7 seconds) than SC or HA (5.8 ± 2.4 and 6.1 ± 3.1 seconds; P < .0001). Burst pressure trended higher after ligation with TB (505.4 ± 349.4 mm Hg) than SC and HA (435.8 ± 403.0 and 437.6 ± 291.3 mm Hg). There were 2 seal failures in the SC group and HA group and none in the TB group. Histologically, the perpendicular width of tissue seal with TB (1.250 ± 0.55 mm) was significantly longer than that of the SC and the HA (0.772 ± 0.23 and 0.686 ± 0.23 mm; P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TB has proven to provide the most rapid and reliable seal. Therefore, TB may be safer and may decrease time during surgical procedures.
authors: NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Ryota
authors: R
authors: Tanaka
authors: NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Gitelis
authors: NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Danny
authors: D
authors: Meiselman
authors: NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Bijan
authors: B
authors: Abar
authors: NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Zapf
authors: NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: JoAnn
authors: J
authors: Carbray
authors: NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Yalini
authors: Y
authors: Vigneswaran
authors: NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Jin-Cheng
authors: JC
authors: Zhao
authors: NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, USA University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA mujiki@northshore.org.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Ujiki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011312:Pressure; D013552:Swine; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: burst pressure; ultrasonic device; vessel sealing