Why is it that ordinary high-frequency electrocautery does not allow for intervertebral foramenoscopic ablation, while radiofrequency-grade high-frequency electrocautery does?

The principle of operation is different between the normal HF scalpel and the RF-grade HF scalpel, resulting in different environments in which they can work. The principle of operation of the HF scalpel is Ohm's law. When an electric current passes through human tissue, heat is generated because the tissue has an impedance. The greater the impedance, the greater the heat when the current is constant. The cells are ruptured by the heat and ablation is achieved. Radiofrequency grade high-frequency electric knife (for example, the frequency of the products of the company Grillenberg is 4MHz), the working principle is that the electrode working end of the output frequency of very high electromagnetic waves, concentrated in a very small area, due to the cells contain a large number of water molecules (water molecules for the polar molecules, subject to the influence of the electromagnetic field), under the action of the localized high-frequency electromagnetic field, water molecules quickly oscillate, friction each other, resulting in the cellular water vaporization, vaporization, tissue drying, wrinkling, and so on. The water molecules oscillate rapidly and rub against each other under the effect of this local high-frequency electromagnetic field, resulting in the evaporation of water in the cells, vaporization, tissue drying, crumpling and aseptic necrosis, thus achieving the purpose of ablation. During the work of the intervertebral foramenoscope, the lens needs to be rinsed with saline to ensure the clarity of the intervertebral foramenoscope. Saline is a sodium chloride solution that contains sodium and chloride ions and is a conductive solution. When the HF scalpel is working in the intervertebral foramenoscope, flushing it with saline will cause a short circuit, reduce impedance, and render it useless. RF grade HF scalpel outputs RF through high frequency endoscopic surgical electrodes, and the presence of two poles at the working end of the electrode, self-contained closed loop, can work in a liquid environment and ensure safety.