Therapeutic laparoscopy. An update on the instrumentation

The ancillary instruments in therapeutic laparoscopy can be divided into passive ones, which stabilize or manipulate, and active ones, which "treat" the tissue. Eight new instruments have been developed. In the passive category are oviduct, mesoovary, adhesion and pin forceps. In the active category are a dividing spatula, bipolar microforceps, self-tying suture and swab carrier. This diversification of instrumentation ensued from the restricted number of instruments that may be used simultaneously at laparoscopy, and the new designs help reduce the duration of laparoscopic operations.