diathermy

diathermy
n.
the production of heat in a part of the body by means of a high-frequency electric current passed between two electrodes placed on the patient's skin. The principle of diathermy is also utilized in various surgical instruments to coagulate tissues and seal off blood vessels, thus effecting haemostasis. Examples include diathermy knives, forceps, and scissors. Diathermy snares and needles can be used to destroy unwanted tissue and to remove small superficial neoplasms. In bipolar diathermy electric current passes between the two electrodes of the instrument. In monopolar diathermy the instrument is one electrode, the other being a large pad applied to another part of the patient's body.
See also: electrosurgery

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  • Diathermy — Intervention ICD 9 CM 93.34 MeSH …   Wikipedia

  • diathermy — [dī′ə thʉr΄mē] n. [ModL diathermia < Gr dia , through + thermē, heat: see WARM] medical treatment in which heat is produced beneath the skin by a high frequency electric current, radiation, etc., to warm or destroy tissue …   English World dictionary

  • diathermy — /duy euh therr mee/, n. Med. the production of heat in body tissues by electric currents, for therapeutic purposes. Also, diathermia /duy euh therr mee euh/. [ < G Diathermie (1909). See DIA , THERMY] * * * Use of high frequency electric current… …   Universalium

  • Diathermy — The use of heat to destroy abnormal cells. Also called cauterization or electrodiathermy. * * * Local elevation of temperature within the tissues, produced by high frequency current, ultrasonic waves, or microwave radiation. SYN: transthermia. [G …   Medical dictionary

  • diathermy — A procedure in which tissue is heated to destroy abnormal cells. The heat may come from electric currents, microwaves, radio waves, or ultrasound. Diathermy is a type of hyperthermia therapy. Also called electrodiathermy …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • diathermy machine — noun a medical instrument for local heating of bodily tissues for medical purposes (Freq. 1) • Hypernyms: ↑medical instrument • Hyponyms: ↑microwave diathermy machine, ↑shortwave diathermy machine …   Useful english dictionary

  • diathermy — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1909 the generation of heat in tissue by electric currents for medical or surgical purposes • diathermic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • diathermy — noun The generation of heat using high frequency electromagnetic currents; especially the therapeutic production of heat in tissues …   Wiktionary

  • diathermy — di·a·ther·my || daɪəθɜːmɪ n. treatment of diseased tissue using heat …   English contemporary dictionary

  • diathermy — [ dʌɪəˌθə:mi] noun a medical and surgical technique involving the production of heat in a part of the body by high frequency electric currents. Origin early 20th cent.: from dia + Gk thermon heat …   English new terms dictionary

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