"Soft" angled bulldog clamp for carotid control

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Surgical Instrumentation
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Carotid endarterectomy requires precise control of blood flow.
• Existing vascular clamps may exert excessive force on delicate vessels.
• Minimally invasive techniques demand specialized, lightweight instruments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To modify a bulldog vascular clamp for reduced weight and clamping force.
• To enhance ease of use for controlling delicate vessels during surgery.
• To provide an improved instrument for carotid endarterectomy.

Main Methods:

• Modification of a standard bulldog vascular clamp.
• Testing of reduced weight and clamping force parameters.
• Evaluation of instrument's usability on delicate vessels, including the internal carotid artery.

Main Results:

• The modified clamp demonstrated significantly reduced weight and clamping force.
• The instrument proved easy to handle for controlling the internal carotid artery.
• The final design retains a simple and effective mechanism.

Conclusions:

• The modified bulldog vascular clamp is suitable for delicate vascular control.
• This instrument enhances safety and precision in carotid endarterectomy.
• The design offers a practical solution for surgeons operating on critical arteries.