On the Adhesion of Protein in Nitrided Metallic Coatings for Electrosurgical Electrodes of Stainless Steel

Abstract

In this study, it is investigated the anti-adhesive effectiveness of ZrN/Ti and TiN/Ti, deposited by magnetron sputtering, as coating materials of electrosurgical electrodes of steel in protein adhesion tests. Stoichiometry and the thickness of the systems were assessed with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry measurements. Vertical surface deviations were evaluated with the five-point mean height and the arithmetic average height and correlations between the amount of adhered protein in the electrosurgical electrodes and measurements of wettability and electrical resistivity were investigated. The quality of both coatings was put to the test through protein adhesion tests at high temperatures. Cuts with electrosurgical electrodes were performed in an abdominal flap for different electric power and cutting times. The results indicate less adhesion of protein on both proposed coatings, compared to the traditional electrodes of stainless steel, proving to be cheaper alternatives for the surgical industry than other massive anti-adherent electrodes as Au and Ti.

Keywords:
Electrosurgical electrodes; nitride metallic coatings; protein adhesion tests