Three-Phase Energy Model for Surface Fracture Mechanisms in Cutting Soft Tissues with Snare-Type Tools

Snare-type tools are widely used for polyp tissue resection in cold snare polypectomy. Due to the characteristics of snare-type tools, which fracture the inner tissue first and the surface later, high friction in the contact area may hinder the extension of cracks to the surface, resulting in a lower-quality cut and an increased risk of bleeding. This study is to investigate the mechanism of tissue surface fracture and give guidance on the optimization of tools and techniques.

This paper proposes a three-phase energy model to explain the mechanism of soft tissue surface fracture. The energy changes in these three phases are characterized by experiments and finite element simulations. The factors affecting the cutting ability of the tool and the surface fracture state are further explored through single-factor experiments.

The results show the effectiveness and consistency of cutting fracture toughness and section root-mean-square (RMS) height as indexes for evaluating the cutting ability and surface fracture state of snare-type tools. High cutting speeds can increase cutting fracture toughness and reduce the RMS height, and surface lubrication reduces the RMS height, but wire diameter has no significant influence on them.

This study introduces a novel energy-based model for clearing the understanding of surface fracture mechanisms for the field of soft tissue cutting and provides guides for the optimization of snare-type tools and surgery technologies.