BOWA electronic GmbH & Co. KG: company profile and product range

About BOWA electronic GmbH and BOWA MEDICAL

BOWA electronic GmbH & Co. KG is headquartered in Gomaringen, Germany, and supplies complete high-frequency (HF) surgery systems together with complementary instruments and accessories. The company markets under the name BOWA MEDICAL and describes itself as a specialist in energy-based surgery rather than a general supplier of surgical equipment.

A UK subsidiary, BOWA MEDICAL UK in Devon, designs and manufactures the LOTUS torsional ultrasonic scalpel and has been part of the group since 2016. Users are supported by technical service and by the BOWA Academy training programme. For the full brand page see BOWA in our catalogue.

Portfolio overview: generators, instruments and smoke evacuation

The core of the range is the ARC family of electrosurgical generators. The ARC 400 is the flagship unit, combining monopolar and bipolar cutting, coagulation and vessel sealing, with up to five instruments connected simultaneously and 400 W maximum power in monopolar and bipolar modes. Smaller models cover other needs, such as the ARC 350 and the compact ARC series. The ARC PLUS argon unit docks with the ARC 400 or ARC 350 for argon plasma coagulation.

Around the generators sits a set of instruments: the ERGOact laparoscopic bipolar instrument with finger-switch activation, ERGOseal vessel sealing instruments, BiZZER bipolar scissors, the LOTUS ultrasonic scalpel and gynaecological morcellation products. Our guide to electrosurgical generator manufacturers shows how these compare on neutral criteria.

COMFORT and system thinking

BOWA's RFID-based COMFORT system lets ARC generators recognise compatible instruments, preselect basic settings and count remaining uses. For an OR team this reduces set-up time and wrong-setting errors, and for biomedical engineering it makes the use count of reusable instruments traceable.

When assessing any manufacturer, look at the whole system rather than the generator alone: instruments, cables, smoke evacuation and training. BOWA positions its portfolio around that idea, from the generator to the instrument at the surgical site.

Smoke evacuation: SHE SHA

Smoke evacuation is part of the BOWA range. The SHE SHA uses a four-stage filter (pre-filter, ULPA-15, activated carbon and post-filter) with a stated 99.999 % efficiency for particles down to 0.1 micrometres, a filter life of up to 35 hours, three suction levels and a maximum noise level of 55 dBA. A universal sensor starts the unit when smoke is produced, so it can be used with any electrosurgical device, while with ARC generators activation runs through a connecting cable.

Read about it in the context of surgical smoke evacuation guidelines when drafting a theatre policy.

BOWA in the UAE: what to ask a distributor

When sourcing BOWA UAE equipment, confirm that the distributor is authorised by the manufacturer, ask for the device registration status with the relevant authority (MOHAP federally, with DHA and DOH licensing facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi), and check that service, spare parts and user training are available locally. Requirements change, so verify current rules with the authority that licenses your facility.

Also ask for the validated reprocessing instructions of reusable instruments, the number of uses allowed, and the plan for software updates, which the ARC 350 receives via USB.

It is also useful to decide in advance who in the hospital owns the process: service requests, consumables and training of new staff. Then the choice of manufacturer rests not only on technical data but on how the equipment will work in the daily life of the operating department.

Talk to the team

Beckfinity supplies BOWA equipment in the UAE. To discuss configurations, request datasheets or arrange a demonstration, use our contact page.