History of the Bovie device

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Bovie: a generic term for electro cautery device
How does it work?
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-probe itself does not generate heat, but generate heat from tissue resistance
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3000BC Egyptians treated tumors with cautery
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400BC Hippocrates discussed heat to Tx Dx
1700s: Goldwyn introduced electrotherapeutics: 1. static electricity 2. Galvanization and muscle spasms by
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potential differences. (1786) 3.introduction of specific currents: Faraday and Henry
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1881 Morton: oscillating 100 Hz: no shock/muscle contraction
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1891 dArsonal 10 kHz w/o pain/muscle contaction
1893 dArsonal introduced Ruhmkork coil: heat tss living animals
1800s: voltaic pile and Leyden jar
st
1900: Reviere-1 Surgery w/ electric current to treat insomnia (accidental), same pt to treat carcinoma on hand
1909: Pozzi: Skin cancer tx w/ Oudin spark fulguration
1914: Clarke: desiccation: tss destruction by dehydration: Hotter spark: incease number=current smoother.
1920: Harvard made Bovie assist. Prof. of biophysics I have an idea there is a field between physics and biology-
field that should be known as biophysics
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1926 (patent) William Bierman electrified pincer forceps to heat and cut tissues.
-At a certain frequency electricity could flow through tissue and cauterize tissue without creating muscle
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contraction.
Prior to 1931(patent) Dr. William Bovie, a plant physiology Ph.D. at Huntingdon hospital for cancer research,
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developed circuitry for medical applications.
-Desk size electrothermal unit which was first device that could be used practically in open surgery for
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cutting tss and coagulation
1926: Teamed up with Dr. Harvey Cushing, father of neuro surgery and student of Halsted, with bovie for
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successful large parietal tumor resection at Peter Bent Bringham Hospital. (with cutting Loop)
-Many specters, English surgical association, Frenchman, got sick from fumes, surgical assistant had to
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scrub out, medical student there as warm blood donor fainted.
-I have been having a perfectly amazing time with Bovie, who has an electro-surgical apparatus powerful
enough to electrocute a mastodon, and nearly as bigIt is amazing that either the patient, Bovie, or the
operating staff survive. Since the machine that he runs may electrocute anybody at any minute, I am
trying to make hay while the sun shines, viz., while Bovie is aroundtackling bone tumors that I never
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before thought I could possibly attack.
Mishaps in development:
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-Current short circuited through a metal retractor went through Cushing and exited his head light: unpleasant
-Under Ether anesthesia, Cushing Bovied into the frontal sinus causing blue flames: started rectal ether
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anesthesia.
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Benefits: decreased blood loss, low infection rate, limited tissue damage.
Fun Facts:
Bovie other interests: Blacksmithing, plant photosynthesis, microfilm development, earthworm culture.
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-Sold patent rights to manufacturing co for $1, mentioned not wanting personal reward for invention.

References:
1. Carter PL, The life and legacy of William Bovie. The J. of Amer. Surg 205 (2013): 188-491
2. Kwasnik EM, William T Bovie: The surgical spark behind modern biophysics. Current Surg 58(1)(2001):109-110
3. OConnor JI, Bloom DA, William Bovie and electrosurgery. Surgery 119(4)(1996):390-396