How do you clean and maintain a diathermy pencil? - WKB48354

ENVIRONMENT

• Erbe diathermy (electrosurgical) monoelectrode pencil (not for surgical use)
• REIMS source

ANSWER

The diathermy monoelectrode pencil was designed by Erbe Medical as a single-use item for surgery. However, it is supplied by Waters as part of the REIMS diathermy kit (186009536) or as an individual spare part (700011405) ONLY for non-surgical use. This means that it could be used multiple times in applications such as food analysis. Therefore a certain state of weariness is to be expected after multiple uses f the diathermy pencil assembly, such as smoke residue accumulation on the hose, burn marks deposit on the blade, conductivity issues,  or physical damage to any part of the pencil assembly.

A few steps might extend the life cycle of a diathermy monoelectrode pencil.

- Ensure that the cable is disconnected from the ERBE HV generator.

- Ensure that the hose linked to the diathermy pencil cable is disconnected from the REIMS source.

- Ensure that you are wearing gloves and the proper personal protective equipment.

- To take apart the blade and the smoke shaft extension from the diathermy pencil body:

* Gently pull out the blade from the smoke shaft extension. The blade can be cleaned with abrasive film and sonication in 50:50 water/methanol solvent, then 100% methanol or 100% propan-2-ol.

* Untighten the shaft extension securing screw and pull out completely the shaft extension from the diathermy pencil body.

* Use a lint-free wipe wetted in 100% propan-2-ol to clean edges of the shaft extension.

* Flush the inside of the shaft extension with 100% methanol or propan-2-ol into a clean waste beaker, and then dry the inside with a stream of nitrogen.

To prevent contamination, DO NOT LEAVE THE INSIDE OF THE SHAFT EXTENSION EXPOSED TO THE ORGANIC SOLVENT FOR TOO LONG.

- To clean a dirty hose assembly from smoke residue:

* Gently disassemble the hose, elbow connection, and diathermy pencil body (per the picture below) by pulling the different sections apart.

* Gently pull apart the hose connections (per the picture below) to disassemble the in-line connection between the HV cable and the hose.

* You should obtain two parts of hose. Clean each part by placing one extremity into a clean beaker and pour out 100% methanol or 100% propan-2-ol through the other tip. Then, flush all hose parts with nitrogen stream to get rid of excess organic solvent.

To prevent contamination, DO NOT LEAVE THE INSIDE OF HOSE EXPOSED TO THE ORGANIC SOLVENT FOR TOO LONG.

- Rebuild the diathermy pencil assembly.

*During the process of fitting the shaft extension to the diathermy pencil body, ensure that the metallic contact spring of the shaft extension is not damaged and that it is oriented toward the recess of the pencil body.

- Reconnect the diathermy pencil assembly (per picture below).

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION