Early access · courses are being reviewed by field engineers
Service EngineerAcademy
My learningSign inRU
Academy / Courses / Electrosurgical Unit Service — Level 1
Level 1Certificate course

Electrosurgical Unit Service — Level 1

Monopolar, bipolar and vessel-sealing generators: safety, testing and PM

Part of the program: Electrosurgery Service Engineer — program (7 h) →

Most electrosurgical burns and 'generator faults' start with a lifted return pad, a cracked cable, a sticking footswitch or an untested alarm. This course teaches the engineer who looks after electrosurgical generators to test them properly, keep their accessories safe and handle an incident without destroying the evidence.

Not started
01

The generator rarely burns the patient. The pad, the cable and the set-up usually do.

  • Electrosurgery is in almost every operating room, and an ESU that fails or burns a patient stops surgery and starts an investigation.
  • Many generators are 'tested' by cutting soap or lighting a lamp, which says nothing about delivered power, HF leakage or whether the return monitor will alarm.
  • Accessories cause most failures and many injuries, yet their inspection, reuse limits and repair rules are rarely taught to engineers.
02

After the course you can

01Explain how RF current cuts and coagulates, and tell monopolar, bipolar, vessel sealing and argon modes and their main assemblies apart.
02Explain return pad burns, alternate-site burns, capacitive coupling, surgical fire and implant interference, and what the equipment and the engineer do about each.
03Test output power into rated loads, a power curve, HF leakage, the return electrode monitor and alarms with an ESU analyser, against the manufacturer's limits.
04Inspect footswitches, pencils, cables and instruments, apply reuse and repair rules, and carry out and record PM to the manufacturer's requirements.
05Maintain argon and smoke evacuation, reduce interference with monitors and cameras, and keep clinical settings with the clinical team.
06Find faults in a logical order, release a generator with the right tests and records, and preserve the evidence after a burn or fire.
03

Curriculum

01How an electrosurgical generator works and what it is made of
Explain how a generator cuts and coagulates with radio-frequency current, tell monopolar, bipolar, vessel sealing and argon modes apart, and name the main assemblies and how each typically fails.free
20 min02Electrosurgical safety: pads, stray current, fire and implants
Explain how return electrode burns, alternate-site burns, capacitive coupling, surgical fires and implant interference happen, what the generator and the engineer do about each, and why ordinary mains leakage tests do not cover HF hazards.22 min03Testing an ESU: output power, power curve, HF leakage and alarms
Set up an ESU analyser correctly, measure output power into the manufacturer's specified loads, check a power curve, measure HF leakage, and test the return electrode monitor, alarms and activation tones, then judge the results against the manufacturer's limits.22 min04Accessories and planned maintenance
Inspect footswitches, pencils, cables, bipolar forceps and return electrode cables, decide what can be reused and what must be replaced, and carry out and record planned maintenance of an ESU according to the manufacturer.20 min05The ESU in the operating room: argon, smoke, other devices and settings
Maintain the argon and smoke evacuation parts of an ESU set-up, find and reduce interference with monitors and video systems, and know which user settings the engineer may change and which must stay with the clinical team.20 min06Fault-finding and return to service
Work through no output, low output, return monitor alarms, activation and footswitch faults and interference in a logical order, decide what you can fix and what goes to authorised repair, release a generator with the right tests and records, and secure the evidence after a burn or fire.22 min—Exam
25 · 40 min · 75 %
04

The certificate

Pass the exam and get a certificate of course completion with your name, hours and score. Every certificate has a unique number and a public verification page, so an employer or a customer can check it in one click. It confirms completion of the course; it is not an educational document (diploma) and not a manufacturer authorisation.

Certificate of course completion
Alex Example
has completed the course
Electrosurgical Unit Service — Level 1: Monopolar, bipolar and vessel-sealing generators: safety, testing and PM
3 hours · score 86 %No. SEA-US1-000000-K7QF3M · verify at /verify/
The 3 training hours may be self-reported as continuing education (Category IV) toward renewal of AAMI CBET/CRES/CLES certification.
05

Who it is for

Who it is for

  • Hospital biomedical / clinical engineering teams
  • Field engineers in independent service companies

Who teaches

Written by a service engineer working with medical equipment since 2014, including 6.5 years at GE Healthcare and service supervision at Mindray, together with the engineers of Service Engineer.

06

FAQ

Is this manufacturer training?

No. It is independent, vendor-neutral training. It does not replace the manufacturer's procedures or grant authorisation or access to service software.

Does the course teach RF stage repair or output calibration?

No. At Level 1 you inspect, test, diagnose to the assembly, record and escalate. RF stage repair and output calibration are done only per the manufacturer's procedure by authorised personnel.

What does the certificate say?

Your name, the course, the hours, the date and your exam score, with a unique number and a public verification page.

Can my company buy seats for a team?

Yes: five seats and a progress overview for the manager.

Languages?

English and Russian.