A mains electricity (AC-powered) device that regulates an electrical current used to heat the electrode tip or wire loop of a cutting instrument used during surgical intervention to burn or sear body tissue. It is used to stop bleeding (cauterization of blood vessels), to treat superficial skin lesions, e.g., the removal of warts, the removal of gastrointestinal polyps via an appropriate endoscope or to occlude fallopian tubes during sterilization procedures. It will typically contain electronic circuits and have a built-in thermocoupler to help control the temperature at the electrode. This is not an electrosurgical diathermy system.