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Artificial hand for minimally invasive surgery: design and testing of initial prototype
Jennifer E Rosen1, Aaron Size, Yuzhang Yang
1Section of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Surgical Endoscopy
|June 29, 2014
Summary
Researchers developed a novel laparoscopic tool mimicking hand dexterity for minimally invasive surgery. This "lap-hand" prototype allows for precise organ manipulation, potentially improving surgical outcomes and patient recovery.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Innovation
- Medical Device Engineering
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
Background:
- Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) offers recovery benefits over open surgery but lacks the dexterity of human hands.
- Current MIS tools have limitations in organ manipulation and require enhanced end-effector functionality.
- Advanced MIS techniques necessitate novel instruments with superior dexterity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and fabricate a prototype laparoscopic tool with hand-like dexterity.
- To evaluate the functionality and utility of the novel laparoscopic tool.
- To address the need for improved organ manipulation in MIS.
Main Methods:
- A laparoscopic tool with two jointed fingers and a double-jointed thumb was designed and fabricated.
- The tool features three independent degrees of freedom for grasping, pinching, spreading, and lifting motions.
- The prototype was tested in a cadaver lab and a simulation device.
Main Results:
- The
Conclusions:
- A functional prototype of an artificial hand for MIS has been successfully developed and tested.
- This novel tool could reduce the need for additional incisions in MIS procedures.
- The
