Long-Term Survival and Cost of Treatment in Patients with Stage IIIC Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

A spark electrode assembly and method of assembling same is disclosed. A ceramic housing having a cylindrical passage provides clearance for a conductive metal electrode of rod construction. The electrode has a body portion having a relatively large diameter, an emitter portion of relatively smaller diameter extending concentrically from one side of the body portion, and an umbrella-shaped portion extending concentrically from the other side of the body portion. During assembly, the electrode is inserted into the passage of the ceramic housing until the umbrella portion of the electrode makes contact with an annular side wall of the passage. An impact force on the electrode forces the umbrella portion to expand radially outwardly, thereby engaging an annular groove portion of the ceramic housing for holding the electrode in the housing. Further, the one end of the electrode body is simultaneously deformed by the impact force radially outwardly until it firmly engages the inner wall of the passage of the housing, thereby preventing the electrode from moving within the housing. That part of the electrode body that is not in contact with the housing still has ample room to expand within the housing.