Evaluation report: surgical diathermy units

A recent issue of 'Health Equipment Information' (No. 122, April 1984) contains evaluation reports on three surgical diathermy units: the Downs Diadon 170, the Martin Elektrotom 500B, and the Olympus PSD-2. In addition to the detailed evaluation reports, 'HEI' 122 also contained a glossary of terms associated with these devices, and a summary of a discussion on the safety of surgical diathermy units presented in a fuller form in 'HEI' 99. A review of the principles and practice of surgical diathermy has recently been published in 'Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology'. Technical aspects of the equipment have been assessed against BS 5724 Part 1, which is the British version of IEC Publication 601-1, in conjunction with a particular standard for surgical diathermy units, IEC 601-2-2, which modifies the general standard. The protocol for the user trials was devised jointly by DHSS, together with local physics staff and surgeons. Orders for 'HEI' 122 (f3.00) to DHSS Leaflets Unit, PO Box 21, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 1AY, UK. NHS staff can obtain it, free, through their Administrator. For full details of the evaluation findings, readers should consult 'HEI' 122: the following are extracts from the report.