What diathermy method produces a spray effect with superficial tissue damage while keeping the electrode away from the tissue?

The method that produces a spray effect with superficial tissue damage while keeping the electrode away from the tissue is known as fulguration. Fulguration involves delivering a high-frequency current that generates an arc of electrical energy. This arc effectively vaporizes superficial tissue while minimizing deeper thermal injury.

During fulguration, the electrode is held at a distance from the tissue, allowing for a controlled and precise application of energy. This distance is key to creating the "spray" effect, as it helps to ensure that only the superficial layers of tissue are affected. This characteristic makes fulguration especially useful in procedures aimed at removing lesions or creating surface changes without causing significant damage to the underlying tissues.

In contrast, other methods like dessication mode and coagulation mode involve direct contact or closer proximity of the electrode to the tissue, which results in deeper tissue damage or different thermal effects. The blend mode refers to a combination of both coagulation and cutting effects and does not specifically pertain to the superficial spray effect that fulguration achieves.