Cryotherapy is a treatment method that involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for a short period of time. Histofreezer and liquid nitrogen are two materials mainly used in cryotherapy.
What is the difference between Histofreezer and liquid nitrogen? Histofreezer is a cryogenic material containing a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane, whereas liquid nitrogen is a cryogenic fluid containing nitrogen in a liquid state.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Histofreezer
– Definition, Features
2. What is Liquid Nitrogen
– Definition, Features
3. Similarities Between Histofreezer and Liquid Nitrogen
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Histofreezer and Liquid Nitrogen
– Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Histofreezer and Liquid Nitrogen
– Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Key Terms
Histofreezer, Liquid Nitrogen
What is Histofreezer
Histofreezer is a cryogenic material that contains a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane, with a freezing temperature of around -60ºC. It is used as an alternative to liquid nitrogen for cryotherapy. Histofreezer offers medical professionals a convenient and effective method for treating various skin lesions, including common, plantar, and genital warts, as well as other benign skin lesions.
The relatively higher temperature of the Histofreezer means it does not cause tissue destruction by burning. Instead, it freezes the lesion without damaging the surrounding tissue. Moreover, it is portable and easy to use, making it accessible to many healthcare providers.
What is Liquid Nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen is nitrogen in a liquid state, existing at extremely low temperatures, which makes it a powerful cryogenic fluid. It is colorless, odorless, and has a molecular weight of 28. Liquid nitrogen has an extremely low boiling point of about −196 °C (−321 °F; 77 K).
Liquid nitrogen is primarily used in cryotherapy. When applied to living tissues, it causes rapid freezing and can lead to tissue destruction due to its extreme cold. Cell death, or necrosis, occurs during the thawing process right after the cells are frozen. As the cells freeze, their liquid content (cytoplasm) also freezes and expands. This expansion causes the cell membrane to freeze and lose its elasticity, leading to the rupture of the cell membrane. The rupture releases the cell’s contents, causing the organelles to stop functioning and resulting in cell death. Liquid nitrogen is frequently used to treat various lesions, including warts.
Liquid nitrogen is also used in the food industry for freezing and transporting food products, as well as in the preservation of biological samples. However, direct contact with liquid nitrogen can cause severe cryoburns and tissue damage. Therefore, it requires careful handling and storage.
Similarities Between Histofreezer and Liquid Nitrogen
- Both Histofreezer and liquid nitrogen are used in cryotherapy to treat skin lesions.
- They have very low temperatures.
- Both are useful in various healthcare settings.
Differences Between Histofreezer and Liquid Nitrogen
Definition
- Histofreezer is a cryogenic material containing a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane, whereas liquid nitrogen is a cryogenic fluid containing nitrogen in a liquid state.
Freezing Temperature
- The freezing temperature of Histofreezer is warmer than that of liquid nitrogen, reducing the risk of severe tissue damage.
Application
- Histofreezer is used for a variety of skin lesions but is not as aggressive as liquid nitrogen.
Conclusion
Both Histofreezer and liquid nitrogen are mainly used in cryotherapy. The main difference between Histofreezer and liquid nitrogen is that Histofreezer contains a mixture of dimethyl ether and propane, having a relatively higher freezing temperature, whereas liquid nitrogen is nitrogen in a liquid state, having a very low boiling point. Both cause the destruction of tissues by rapid freezing. However, histofreezer is considered relatively safer with reduced risk of tissue damage due to its relatively high freezing temperature.
FAQ: Histofreezer and Liquid Nitrogen
1. What is liquid nitrogen treatment called?
Liquid nitrogen treatment is often called cryotherapy. This is because of its use in cryotherapy. Cryo means “cold,” and therapy means “treatment.”
2. What is another name for liquid nitrogen?
Liquid nitrogen itself doesn’t have a widely used common name other than its descriptive term. However, cryogenic liquid refers to any liquid at extremely low temperatures, including liquid nitrogen.
3. What happens if liquid nitrogen touches the skin?
A small amount of liquid nitrogen will not cause a serious harm but a considerable amount when fallen on skin may cause cold burns, tissue damage or cold shock.
4. What is colder than liquid nitrogen?
Liquid nitrogen has a boiling point of -195.79 °C. Liquid helium has a much colder boiling point of -268.93 °C. Hence, liquid helium is much colder than liquid nitrogen.
5. What are the uses of liquid nitrogen?
Liquid nitrogen has many uses such as cryopreservation in of biological samples and in food industry. In the field of medicine, it is used in cryotherapy and in surgical procedures.
Reference:
1. “Cryosurgical Treatment of Warts: Dimethyl Ether and Propane Versus Liquid Nitrogen — Case Report and Review of the Literature.” JDD Online.
2. “Liquid Nitrogen.” Science Direct.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Liquid nitrogen tank” By Jeffrey M. Vinocur – Own work (CC BY 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia
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