A miniature robotic steerable endoscope for maxillary sinus surgery called PliENT.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Medical Engineering
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Endoscopic maxillary sinus surgery involves navigating narrow nasal passages.
• Current rigid instruments necessitate extensive resection of healthy tissue for optimal access.
• Pathology location often dictates additional, potentially damaging, tissue removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and build a functional, single-handed, steerable endoscope for endoscopic maxillary sinus surgery.
• To overcome the limitations of rigid endoscopes in accessing maxillary sinus pathology.
• To reduce the need for resecting healthy tissue and functional structures.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel, slender, actively steerable endoscope.
• Validation of the endoscope's performance by two surgeons.
• Cadaveric dissection and assessment of surgical access and tissue preservation.

Main Results:

• The developed endoscope is the most slender active steerable endoscope reported for this procedure.
• Surgeons experienced an increased field of view compared to conventional endoscopes.
• A reduced need for resection of healthy tissue was confirmed during cadaveric validation.

Conclusions:

• The steerable endoscope provides enhanced maneuverability and visualization in endoscopic maxillary sinus surgery.
• This innovation can potentially minimize collateral damage to healthy tissues and functional structures.
• The new endoscope represents a significant advancement in minimally invasive sinus surgery techniques.