Saw this video of a new
electrosurgical scalpel. As gross as it is (gross!) it's really quite fascinating what technology can do outside of our world.
From Engadget:
"Okay, so we're not exactly doctors, but we couldn't help but be intrigued by PEAK Surgical's announcement today that its
PlasmaBlade electrosurgery scalpel had completed preclinical testing with positive results. Unlike traditional electrosurgery tools like the bovie cutter, the PlasmaBlade operates at low temperatures, using pulsed plasma energy to cut tissue and control bleeding. Then, stupidly, we watched the video. Let's just say now that it no longer matters to us that surgeons using the PEAK PlasmaBlade produce "minimal collateral damage" to tissue and that bleeding was reduced. Sure, it's great for the surgeons, but our eyes? Not going to be the same."
Video (not Rick Roll, I promise)
http://peak.odacms.com/video/plasmablade.cfm