[History of surgical instruments: 7. The first electrosurgical instruments: galvanic cauterization and electric...

In 1854 the surgeon Albrecht Theodor Middeldorpf (1824-1868) published the first monography on the application of electrical current in surgical operations ("galvanocautery"). By galvanocautery Middeldorpf defined a procedure in which specially constructed parts of surgical instruments (usually thin platinum wires) were transformed into glowing heat by means of galvanic current from a zinc-platinum-battery. In this manner it was possible to perform dissection and destruction of tissue as well as coagulation of vessels for hemostasis. His most important electrosurgical instruments comprised an electrosurgical knife ("galvanocautery") and the electrical cutting snare ("ligatura candens") for removal of polypoid tumors. These instruments are the direct ancestors of modern electrocautery or cautery snare. The glowing platinum wire was later also applied as a light source of cystoscopes. Thus, galvanocautery enabled development of endoscopy. Modern diathermy with high-frequent alternating current was introduced in medicine by the Dermatologist Franz Nagelschmidt from Berlin.