[Method of dissecting peripheral nerve sheaths with an ultrasonic microscalpel that does not disturb neural...

A new method for dissection of the nerve sheaths by an ultrasonic microscalpel was tested in in-vivo experiments with the cat saphenus nerve. The compound nerve action potential consisting of A beta, A delta and C waves did not change after successive one-cm long dissections of the major nerve sheaths, epineurium and perineurium, demonstrating innocuous character of the method. Not deep plunging of the ultrasonic scalpel into the nerve, hemocoagulation when dissecting as well as drastically reduced mechanical efforts are the principal advantages of new method.