A novel suction/coagulation integrated probe for achieving better hemostasis: development and clinical use

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Technology
• Electrosurgery

Background:

• Soft coagulation, an electrosurgical mode, lacks widespread surgical adoption.
• Existing electrosurgical tools require optimization for effective coagulation.
• A novel integrated suction and coagulation device was conceptualized to address these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize the design of the Suction Ball Coagulator (SBC) through prototyping and preclinical testing.
• To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the SBC in clinical laparoscopic colorectal surgeries.
• To demonstrate the SBC's utility in hemostasis and vapor management during electrosurgery.

Main Methods:

• SBC prototypes were developed and tested in bench tests.
• Device optimization was conducted using a preclinical swine bleeding model.
• The optimized SBC was evaluated in 17 clinical laparoscopic colorectal surgeries.

Main Results:

• Bench tests identified optimal tip hole sizes and patterns for suction capacity.
• Preclinical studies determined the most accurate tip shape.
• Clinical use demonstrated SBC feasibility for rapid hemostasis, blunt dissection, and effective intraoperative vapor evacuation.
• No device-related adverse events were reported in clinical settings.

Conclusions:

• A novel integrated suction and coagulation probe, the SBC, was successfully developed and commercialized.
• The SBC offers a viable solution for enhancing hemostasis in laparoscopic procedures.
• The device effectively manages electrosurgical smoke, improving the surgical field visibility.