Ultrasonic Laparoscopic Shears

An ultrasonic shear, also called an ultrasonic scalpel and in everyday language a harmonic shear, is a single-use laparoscopic instrument that cuts soft tissue and coagulates it in the same closure. The jaw heats the tissue it holds and divides it, and vessels up to 3 mm in diameter are sealed and divided. The indication is soft tissue incision where bleeding control and minimal thermal injury to the tissue are wanted.

Harmonic scalpel is a brand name that is also used in everyday language for the class of ultrasonic shears; in Turkish it is called a harmonik makas. The class has one working principle in common, mechanical vibration: the shear cuts soft tissue and coagulates it in the same closure, and the jaw heats the tissue it holds by friction. The AH-638-B and AH-631 families on this page are ultrasonic shears of this class and run on the AH-600 system. The brand name belongs to its owner, and the product on this page is not a product of that brand. This page does not compare the performance of the two.

The AH-600 system and its AH-638-B and AH-631 shears are in the same class as Harmonic scalpels: ultrasonic shears that cut soft tissue and coagulate it in the same closure by mechanical vibration. A buyer who asks for an alternative to a Harmonic scalpel is asking for an instrument of this class. The shears seal and divide vessels up to 3 mm in diameter and run on the AH-600 generator at 55 kHz. The brand name belongs to its owner, and the products on this page are not products of that brand. This page does not compare performance, compatibility or price.

The difference is the type of energy. The ultrasonic shear uses mechanical vibration: the transducer turns electricity into vibration, and the frictional heat at the jaw heats the tissue. LigaSure is the brand name of a vessel sealing system that works with bipolar electrical energy (radiofrequency). This page does not compare the performance of the two, such as vessel diameter, thermal spread, time or smoke. The brand name belongs to its owner, and the product on this page is not a product of that brand.

The instructions for use give the indication as open or laparoscopic general, gynecologic, urologic and thoracic procedures. The user is a surgeon trained in open and laparoscopic procedures, who decides in which case the instrument is used.

The AH-638-B comes at 14 cm (AH-638-B-T), 23 cm (AH-638-B-S) and 36 cm (AH-638-B-L). The AH-631 family adds a fourth length: AH-631-T 14 cm, AH-631-S 23 cm, AH-631-L 36 cm and AH-631-O 45 cm. The surgeon chooses the length for the reach the case needs.

It is single use. It leaves the factory sterilized with ethylene oxide, is not cleaned, disinfected or sterilized again, and goes into medical waste after the case. On the AH-631 the shaft is single use as well; only the AH-636-B handpiece it is seated in is reusable.

It runs on the AH-600 system: the AH-611 generator, the AH-616 transducer and the AH-618 foot switch. The drive frequency is 55 kHz at all five power levels, and the MAX and MIN buttons on the handle change the level from the hand that holds the instrument.

The AH-600 system drives its ultrasonic shears at 55 kHz ± 1 kHz at all five power levels. This is the drive frequency of the AH-611 generator. The value for the system of another maker is given in that maker's own instructions for use.

The price depends on the model, working length and quantity. The AH-638-B carries its own handle, and the AH-631 is the shaft alone, seated in the reusable AH-636-B handpiece. Wholesale and institutional orders use the same quote route. Use the Request an export quote button in the Export and Bulk Orders section of this page for a fast quote.

The jaw and the indication are the same and the build differs. The AH-638-B carries its own housing and trigger handle and is discarded whole after the case. The AH-631 is the shaft alone and is seated in the reusable handpiece AH-636-B, so a theatre that keeps the handpiece reorders shafts. Both families are rated for vessels up to and including 3 mm in diameter.

CE-marked trocars and endoscopes are required, and the trocar inner diameter has to be greater than 5.5 mm. Choosing a trocar and an endoscope that meet the requirement is left to the user.

Melekırmak, an Istanbul-based medical device distributor founded in 2006, supplies Affacare ultrasonic shears to hospitals across Türkiye and answers international enquiries. Bulk and institutional orders are quoted case by case. For an export order, state the model, the working length and the quantity, together with the destination country, and use the Request an export quote button in the Export and Bulk Orders section of this page. Availability, documentation and lead times in your country are confirmed in the reply.

This page does not state an HS code. The customs tariff line depends on the exact model and on the tariff of the destination country. Ask for the HS code of your model together with an export quote: give the model, the quantity and the destination country, and use the Request an export quote button in the Export and Bulk Orders section of this page.