Browse Topic: Surgical procedures
To meet the need for better 3D imaging that works during live surgery, researchers recently developed a new kind of surgical microscope called the Fourier light-field multiview stereoscope, known as FiLM-Scope.
Machining metal has its challenges as many shops will attest, but machining glass is another matter – one that Dan Bukaty Jr., President of Precision Glass & Optics (PG&O) is well schooled in. Mr. Bukaty and his 35-person shop manufacture high-end precision glass optics for customers such as IMAX, Intuitive Surgical, Boeing and NASA, to name a few. The products PG&O make can range from the ordinary to the extraterrestrial, such as mirrors that it fabricated for the Hobby–Eberly Telescope to measure dark energy in outer space.
Biomedical metal implant materials are widely used in clinical applications, including dental implants, hip replacement, bone plates, and screws. However, traditional manufacturing processes face limitations in meeting customized medical needs, internal structural control, and efficient material utilization. For example, when producing complex-shaped titanium alloy parts using conventional methods, the material consumption ratio is as high as 10:1–20:1, leading to significant material waste.
University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique, has transformed surgical procedures in high-income countries. This method, which uses a laparoscope to perform surgeries through small incisions, offers significant benefits such as reduced infection rates and quicker recovery times. Despite its advantages, laparoscopic surgery remains largely inaccessible in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to the high cost of equipment and other logistical challenges.
Bladder cancer has a cure rate of over 90 percent when detected early, but it has a high recurrence rate of 70 percent, necessitating continuous monitoring. Late detection often requires major surgeries such as bladder removal followed by artificial bladder implantation or the use of a urine pouch, significantly lowering the patient’s quality of life. However, existing urine test kits have low sensitivity, and cystoscopy, which involves inserting a catheter into the urethra for internal bladder examination, is both painful and burdensome. This highlights the urgent need for a simple yet accurate diagnostic technology for patients.
A thin film that combines an electrode grid and LEDs can both track and produce a visual representation of the brain’s activity in real time. The device is designed to provide neurosurgeons visual information about a patient’s brain to monitor brain states during surgical interventions to remove brain lesions including tumors and epileptic tissue.
Electrosurgery has revolutionized the field of medicine, offering precise and efficient methods for tissue cutting, coagulation and ablation. With advancements in technology, new trends are emerging and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in surgical interventions. Among these trends, pulsed field ablation (PFA) stands out as a promising technique with the potential to redefine electrosurgical procedures. In this blog, we’ll delve into the current trends in electrosurgery, with a special focus on pulsed field ablation.
Did you know that pythons initially hold onto their prey with their sharp, backward-curving teeth? Medical researchers have long been aware that these teeth are perfect for grasping soft tissue rather than cutting through it, but no one has yet been able to put this concept into surgical practice.
Synthetic cartilage-capped regenerative osteochondral plugs (CC-ROPs) offer a potential off-the-shelf surgical device to treat OCDs and avoid total knee replacement.
Researchers worldwide are currently working on the next evolution of communication networks, called “beyond 5G” or 6G networks. To enable the near-instantaneous communication needed for applications like augmented reality or the remote control of surgical robots, ultra-high data speeds will be needed on wireless channels. In a study published recently in IEICE Electronics Express, researchers from Osaka University and IMRA AMERICA have found a way to increase these data speeds by reducing the noise in the system through lasers.
Researchers at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed the Portable Knee Dynamometer, a device that enables quadricep and hamstring strength assessment, rehabilitation, and exercise capabilities for a user outside of a traditional clinical setting. Clinical orthopedic dynamometers for high-strength muscle groups tend to be large, heavy, and typically not readily transportable. NASA’s novel device can be easily carried to a patient who may be homebound or otherwise unable to travel to a clinic due to surgery, injury, or pathology.
Linear actuators, in particular, electromechanical linear actuators, have become integral components of modern medical devices because of their high precision, accuracy, and ability to deliver repeatable motion control. Patient comfort, positioning and mobility, robotic surgery, imaging equipment, infusion, and pumping are just a few of the applications where the use of linear actuators has revolutionized the way medical devices are designed, improving patient outcomes and enhancing the overall quality of care.
In recent years, significant advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and medical imaging have driven the growth of robotic surgery, enabling complex procedures with greater precision and reduced complications. Robotic surgical systems now incorporate high-definition 3D imaging and microscale instruments, enhancing surgeons’ ability to navigate delicate anatomical structures with minimal tissue damage. The development of remote telesurgery has also improved access to specialized care, overcoming geographical barriers.
Recent advancements in robotics have greatly enhanced surgical procedures, enabling minimally invasive techniques that offer patients the promise of better outcomes with fewer complications and shorter recovery times. Much of this innovation is driven by advanced motion control systems and constant component miniaturization.
The advancements in the design of robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) systems continue to aim toward enabling operations to be performed through small incisions. This is done by providing the surgeon the ability to control robotic arms and cameras with precision. The goal of RAS is to help surgeons perform procedures reproducibly in a minimally invasive manner, which, in turn, can lead to advantages such as reduced pain and shorter hospital stays.
Two insect-like robots, a mini-bug and a water strider, developed at Washington State University, are the smallest, lightest and fastest fully functional micro-robots. Such miniature robots could someday be used for work in areas such as artificial pollination, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, micro-fabrication or robotic-assisted surgery.
Many surgeries today are performed via minimally invasive procedures, in which a small incision is made, and miniature cameras and surgical tools are threaded through the body to remove tumors and repair damaged tissues and organs. The process results in less pain and shorter recovery times compared to open surgery.
A surgical robot’s precision is critical to the success of the surgery — and to the outcome of the patient. Advances in motion system technology will go a long way toward improving surgical robotic precision, unlocking opportunities for previously high-risk procedures, enabling new minimally invasive surgical techniques, reducing damage to tissue and facilitating patient recovery times.
Ultrasonic handpieces are being used with growing frequency in medical applications, for example, with minimally invasive surgical procedures and in dentistry. These instruments, which include ultrasonic scalpels, phaco handpieces, and scalers, use acoustic waves to facilitate the processing of hard or soft tissue. Part 1 of this article, which ran in March 2023, looked at the general structure, design variants, and system design of ultrasonic medical handpieces. Part 2 now reviews driver design, special applications, drive electronics, and failure mechanisms.
Monitoring the success of surgery on blood vessels is challenging, as the first sign of trouble often comes too late. By that time, the patient often needs additional surgery that carries risks similar to the original procedure. A new device could make it easier for doctors to monitor the success of blood vessel surgery.
Tubing for wound draining is an essential medical component used to manage the drainage of fluids from surgical or traumatic wounds. This tubing is commonly employed after surgical procedures to facilitate the removal of excess fluids (such as blood or serous fluid) from the wound site, or in traumatic Injuries where there is a need to control and remove fluids to aid in the healing process. Other uses include draining abscesses or fluid collections, helping to prevent infection, and promote faster healing, or to manage fluid accumulation in body cavities, preventing complications like seromas or hematomas. By removing excess fluids, tubing promotes a cleaner wound environment, which is conducive to faster healing.
Ultrasonic handpieces are being used with growing frequency in medical applications, for example, with minimally invasive surgical procedures and in dentistry. These instruments, which include ultrasonic scalpels, phaco handpieces, and scalers, use acoustic waves to facilitate the processing of hard or soft tissue. Part 1 of this article looks at the general structure, design variants, and system design of ultrasonic medical handpieces. In a future issue, Part 2 will examine driver design, special applications, drive electronics, and failure mechanisms.
A novel surgical implant developed by Washington State University researchers was able to kill 87 percent of the bacteria that cause staph infections in laboratory tests, while remaining strong and compatible with surrounding tissue like current implants.
Medical devices are becoming smaller and smaller, and the need for advanced material solutions keeps growing. There’s also a critical call for manufacturers to adhere to stringent regulations while improving device functionality. Through our deep understanding and application of fundamental chemistry, Chemours materials have emerged as effective alternatives — helping innovators in the medical industry achieve continued success across medical device design.
A beating heart makes for a formidable surgical arena, but a new robotic catheter could someday equip surgeons to operate in the cardiac environment with greater ease.
Researchers have laid the groundwork for a soft robotic tool and control system that could grant surgeons an unprecedented degree of maneuverability within the brain. A recent study demonstrates that the new system is both intuitive and highly accurate. The early results suggest that, with further development, the robot could one day speed up and improve the efficacy of minimally invasive surgeries for life-threatening brain aneurysms and other serious conditions.
Researchers have laid the groundwork for a soft robotic tool and control system that could grant surgeons an unprecedented degree of maneuverability within the brain. A recent study demonstrates that the new system is both intuitive and highly accurate. The early results suggest that, with further development, the robot could one day speed up and improve the efficacy of minimally invasive surgeries for life-threatening brain aneurysms and other serious conditions.
A novel aero-elastic pressure sensor, called eAir can be applied to minimally invasive surgeries and implantable sensors by directly addressing the challenges associated with existing pressure sensors.
For nearly three decades, Intuitive Surgical has been a leader in robotic-assisted surgical systems. The company is driven by creating a healthcare future that is less invasive and where diseases are identified early and treated quickly. As a mature company, Intuitive is focusing on adoption of its systems.
Medical and surgical instruments are utilized daily to save and improve lives. Because of this, they demand an exact level of accuracy and infallibility in their manufacture. Traditionally, aluminum and other metals have been the standard material of choice for medical and surgical instruments due to their weight, strength, durability, and cost benefits. However, new advances in technology are challenging the status quo and offering exciting new manufacturing possibilities that allow for greater material choices. One such advancement already making waves in the aerospace, leisure, and automotive industries — and poised to benefit medical and surgical manufacturing — is Additive Fusion Technology (AFT)™.
A multi-faceted device is effective for treating deep, noncompressible, and irregularly shaped wounds. The device provides rapid hemorrhage management, has minimal inflammatory effects, and provides infection control. It also has tunable biodegradation rates, making it usable for both internal and external use and features sensing capabilities for long-term hemorrhage monitoring. The device is highly beneficial for timely alerts and control of bleeding from surgical wounds, traumatic injuries, and critical illnesses.
The introduction of endoscopy in surgical practice is one of the greatest success stories in the history of medicine, and there is no end in sight in terms of the development of minimally invasive surgical procedures and instruments. Advances in material sciences, imaging, sensors, and robotics are driving a need for new innovative approaches to manufacturing the next generation of surgical instruments.
Our brains contain an intricate network of arteries that carry blood throughout the organ along winding paths. For neurosurgeons, following these paths with a wire — which is just a third of a millimeter in diameter and enters the body through the femoral artery — to reach an obstructed blood vessel can be tricky. For instance, if they want to point the wire in a different direction, they often have to pull the instrument out and then reinsert it, lengthening surgery times and increasing the risk of complications.
Sutures are used to close wounds and speed up the natural healing process, but they can also complicate matters by causing damage to soft tissues with their stiff fibers. To remedy the problem, researchers from Montreal have developed innovative tough gel sheathed (TGS) sutures inspired by the human tendon.
Medical technology is nearing the brink of a large-scale disruption. Attitudes are shifting, and there is a renewed focus on interoperability and data. Throughout 2023, I’m excited to see clinical influencers increasingly engaged to apply their expertise to clinical product development. Companies will be tapping these experts for insight into developing new technologies. We’ll also see legacy technologies begin to evolve with advancement in surgical navigation. The medical technology industry is ripe for disruption, and we can expect to see a shift away from legacy technologies and to see new navigational tools enter the marketplace as we step into the future.
Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) has long shaped product development across a variety of areas, including the medtech industry. Use of these trends can significantly improve diagnostics and, therefore, treatment. This applies, for example, to surgery and to the adjustment of medication regimens to reflect the patient’s needs. To do this, medical practitioners use recommendations provided by AI, which in turn draws on a broad digital database.
Linear actuators — in particular, electromechanical linear actuators — have become integral components of modern medical devices because of their high precision, accuracy, and ability to deliver repeatable motion control. Patient comfort, positioning and mobility, robotic surgery, imaging equipment, infusion, and pumping are just a few of the applications where the use of linear actuators has revolutionized the way medical devices are designed, improving patient outcomes and enhancing the overall quality of care.
There is a high risk of cancer recurrence if even a small number of cancerous cells are left behind after surgical resection. To prevent this, researchers have developed fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS). In FGS, patients are injected with a fluorescent probe that preferentially binds to tumor cells, enabling surgeons to easily identify lesions with the help of specialized endoscopes that emit the necessary excitation light. A team has now reported a novel endoscopic imaging system whose design could greatly accelerate the adoption of multitracer FGS.
A tiny robot that could one day help doctors perform surgery was inspired by the incredible gripping ability of geckos and the efficient locomotion of inchworms.
An injectable biomaterial with significantly improved adhesive strength, stretchability, and toughness could enable improved surgical sealing. This chemically modified, gelatin-based hydrogel has attractive features, including rapid gelation at room temperature and tunable levels of adhesion. This custom-engineered biomaterial is ideal as a surgical wound sealant, with its controllable adhesion and injectability and its superior adherence to a variety of tissue and organ surfaces.
A team of engineers and clinicians has developed an ultra-thin, inflatable device that can be used to treat the most severe forms of pain without the need for invasive surgery. The device, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, uses a combination of soft robotic fabrication techniques, ultra-thin electronics, and microfluidics.
Preclinical laboratories at academic facilities and contract research organizations (CROs) have traditionally relied on five main imaging modalities: optical, acoustic, x-ray, MRI, and nuclear. Now, photoacoustic imaging, which combines optical and acoustic modalities, is enabling some of the most promising medical research, including providing images of biological structures for increased visibility during surgery and facilitating the analysis of plaque composition to better diagnose and treat coronary artery disease (CAD).
Researchers have developed a simple, yet effective approach for on-demand tactile sensing in minimally invasive surgery, overcoming a key limitation — the inability of surgeons to feel tissues during an operation. The tool uses off-the-shelf sensors integrated into a laparoscopic grasper.
Surgery is complex. When performing similar procedures, surgeons with various skill levels, training, and experience can have vastly different outcomes. Physical demands of surgery can also compound the problem, with longer procedures causing increased levels of fatigue, elevating the chances of making technical errors, and limiting the number of procedures that can be performed each day. Through new technological advancements incorporated into surgeons’ day-to-day routines, these fundamental inconsistencies are narrowing. And while it’s important to acknowledge the pivotal role these new technologies — AI and robotics — play in the operating room — the goal of machine integration should be to elevate a surgeon’s skill level, bandwidth, and performance, not to replace them.
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed an ultra-tiny endo-microscope that could help improve breast cancer treatment and cut NHS waiting lists. The endo-microscope, a microscope designed to be inserted into the body to provide views of tissues and organs, can be steered through extremely small, tight spaces in the body during surgery, producing images with unprecedented speed.
The SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital’s pediatric maxillofacial surgery team has used 3D printing technology to successfully perform a complicated operation to resect a malignant tumor in an 11-year-old boy. Given the complexity of the operation, the medical team, led by Dr. Josep Rubio, head of the maxillofacial surgery unit at SJD, decided to carry out preoperative planning and simulation using BCN3D’s technology and 3D anatomical models of the parts of the patient’s skull.
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