Bipolar electrocoagulation was introduced as early as 1940. The difference between it and monopolar electrocoagulation is that the inactive electrode in contact with the patient's buttocks is eliminated, and the two electrodes are connected to both sides of a pair of forceps. On the blade, there is insulation between the two blades of this tweezer. When applied, the current only passes through the tissue between the two tips of the forceps, so the power required is greatly reduced. Generally, it only requires 1/4 to 1/3 of monopolar electrocoagulation. The power can even be reduced when hemostasis in important parts such as the spinal cord. It is less than 1/10 of that of monopolar electrocoagulation, so the spread of heat and adjacent damage are reduced accordingly.

In addition, bipolar electrocoagulation can also perform electrocoagulation and hemostasis in the presence of liquid such as physiological saline, cerebrospinal fluid or blood, which is beyond the reach of unipolar electrocoagulation. Unipolar electrocoagulation can be used in contact with a variety of surgical instruments such as hemostats, forceps, aspirators, scalpels or wire snares to stop bleeding or cut. However, it requires a large amount of power and has a large thermal diffusion range, which is harmful to The damage to the surrounding tissue is relatively large, and tissue changes can still be seen 1 cm away from the electrocution. Therefore, unipolar electrocoagulation should not be used in important parts such as cortical functional areas, near important blood vessels, and in the brainstem, spinal cord, nerve roots, etc.