Re-invention of common surgical device improves grasper technology
Laparoscopic surgery is the most common surgical intervention, with over 15 million procedures performed annually worldwide. State-of-the-art graspers used in this form of surgery have remained virtually unchanged for the past two decades, but it is claimed their conventional design limits the ‘force sensation’ felt by the hands of surgeons. In fact, 38 % of all grasper movements are recorded as unsuccessful, meaning the surgeon is unable to perform the desired action without repeated clamping, slipping or obvious tissue trauma. Furthermore, a 2018 survey recorded that 77 % of surgeons demanded added force feedback capabilities for both patient and user benefits. The EU-funded SensAtouch Grasper project tackled this challenge by developing a new line of force feedback surgical graspers to replace the current state-of-the-art technology. “The initiative addresses immediate clinical needs and satisfies three key business trends as it is more sensitive, cost effective, and can be miniaturised without loss of performance,” says Milton Aguirre, project coordinator and CEO of Dutch SME Milton Medical Innovations B.V.
Greater safety and ease of use
Researchers developed surgical instruments that can save patients’ lives by reducing the risks of tissue complications, while building confidence in the hands of surgeons. “Our cost-effective grasper technology is easier and safer to use, so we can provide better healthcare delivery systems in our home country and in economically disadvantaged countries, where affordable surgery is necessary,” explains Aguirre. Milton Medical Innovations is currently commercialising a new line of force feedback surgical graspers that replace the root technology of the state-of-the-art (i.e. the ToolTip) with a patented compliant mechanism that acts as a spring to absorb and notify surgeons of hazardous tissue forces.
More cost effective
According to Aguirre, the project has been a great success. “I am proud to say that we have achieved our core goals. Most notably, we finalised the design and manufacturing for pre-production according to the clinical requirements for minimally invasive surgical devices. Our final design substantially reduces the manufacturing costs by 85 % by switching to injection moulding manufacturing techniques for critical components. This facilitates a product solution that is both superior in clinical performance and more affordable in procurement for rapid market entrance and sustainable uptake.” Benefits from SensAtouch Grasper will increase exponentially with the number of doctors using the new technology. Doctors, patients and even hospitals will all benefit from instrumentation that is safer, more effective and cheaper to use. “Surgeons will benefit from added instrument control and force feedback, as current devices are associated with hand cramps and muscular complications at the later stages of one’s surgical career. Patients will benefit from safer surgical procedures, thereby reducing the health risks of post-operative complications,” notes Aguirre. In addition, the hospitals benefit by offering improved healthcare services with lower financial investment, saving on procurement costs, training costs and unforeseen hospital expenses due to post-operative complications. “Overall, the biggest contribution is making minimally invasive surgery more accessible to people around the world by offering surgical devices that are safer, easier to use and cost-effective,” Aguirre concludes.
Keywords
SensAtouch Grasper, tissue, force feedback, laparoscopic surgery, surgical grasper, injection moulding
