Figure 7.

A photomicrograph (mag 40×) of the application of the HET device at 55°C viewed with polarized light.

Notes: The treated area is above the arrows and marked as T; the normal area is marked as N. As collagen is heated, the molecule loses its isotropic conformation and becomes anisotropic; when viewed under polarized light the isotropic collagen appears bright and denatured collagen is dark. The normal isotropic collagen molecule appears bright and is represented in the lower area as several bands; however, closer to the treatment application and in the treated area, there is denaturation of collagen (loss of brightness).

Abbreviations: HET, HET Bipolar Ligator; T, treated area; N, normal area.