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Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery using innovative articulating instruments: preclinical evaluation of the
Jin-Woo Jung1, Woo Heon Cha, Byung Ki Lee
11 Department of Urology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital , Seongnam, Korea.
Journal of Endourology
|October 5, 2013
Summary
The novel RoboHand™ instrument offers stronger articulation and comparable clinical performance for laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery compared to existing tools. This innovation aims to overcome limitations in current articulating instruments for minimally invasive procedures.
Area of Science:
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Surgical Robotics
- Laparoscopic Instrumentation
Background:
- Conventional articulating instruments for laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery suffer from weak articulating force, crowding, and mirror imaging.
- These limitations hinder instrument maneuverability and surgical precision in LESS procedures.
- Development of novel instruments is crucial to enhance LESS surgical capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and evaluate the RoboHand™, a new articulating instrument designed to address the drawbacks of existing LESS surgical tools.
- To compare the mechanical properties and clinical performance of the RoboHand™ against established articulating instruments.
- To assess the potential of RoboHand™ to improve surgical outcomes in LESS procedures.
Main Methods:
- Ex vivo testing to measure and compare the joint force of RoboHand™ with LaparoAngle™ and SILS™ instruments.
- In vivo porcine nephrectomy model to evaluate operative times and clinical feasibility of RoboHand™.
- Comparative analysis of mechanical properties and surgical efficiency between RoboHand™ and LaparoAngle™ groups.
Main Results:
- RoboHand™ demonstrated 2.5 to 3 times greater joint force compared to LaparoAngle™ and SILS™ instruments in ex vivo tests.
- Operative times in the RoboHand™ group (28.8±6.6 min) were shorter than in the LaparoAngle™ group (39.7±5.4 min) in the porcine model, though not statistically significant (P=0.146).
- The RoboHand™ prototype exhibits superior mechanical properties and comparable clinical performance to existing instruments for LESS.
Conclusions:
- The RoboHand™ instrument shows significant mechanical advantages, particularly in joint force, over current articulating laparoscopic tools.
- It appears to be clinically non-inferior to the LaparoAngle™ instrument for LESS procedures.
- RoboHand™ represents a promising innovation for improving instrument functionality and potentially surgical outcomes in single-site laparoscopic surgery.