Effect of High-Frequency Current on Nerve and Muscle Tissue

The stimulus threshold for nerve and muscle tissue as a function of frequency for sinusoidal electrosurgical current below 1 MHz was shown to be a monotonically increasing value. There was no frequency below tissue destruction threshold values where excitable tissue cannot be stimulated if the cufrent intensity is great enough. This points out misconceptions concerning electrosurgical maneuvers prevalent since the early 20th century, and may help in understanding potential surgical hazard conditions.