Suction-fixing surgical device for assisting liver manipulation with laparoscopic forceps

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Robotics and Instrumentation
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Laparoscopic liver resection faces challenges with noninvasiveness and stability.
• Inadequate grasping force can lead to liver damage and bleeding.
• Grasping instability compromises surgical safety and cutting precision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel surgical device for improved stability in laparoscopic liver manipulation.
• To address the critical issues of noninvasiveness and grasping force control in liver surgery.

Main Methods:

• A suction-fixated device with tunable stiffness, featuring soft beams and pneumatic control.
• The device forms a bulge on the liver surface for secure grasping by laparoscopic forceps.
• Tested for shape followability, stiffness transition, invasiveness, and operational usability on phantoms and porcine livers.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated good object-shape followability and stable liver holding (2.43-N vertical, 4.90-N shear force at -80 kPa).
• Reduced invasiveness to an acceptable level of liver damage.
• Successfully transferred surgical forceps operations to the liver surface with enhanced stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed device effectively enhances laparoscopic liver manipulation.
• Achieved stable and less invasive liver holding.
• Successfully transmitted forceps operation force to the liver surface, improving surgical outcomes.