OBJECTIVE: To develop a novel laparoscopic system of moveable instruments that are positioned intra-abdominally and "locked" into place by external permanent magnets placed on the abdomen. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In conventional laparoscopy, multiple trocars are required because of the limited degrees of freedom of conventional instrumentation, and the limited working envelope (an inverted cone) created by the fulcrum motion around each port. While robotic systems can improve the number of degrees of freedom, they are restricted by even smaller working envelopes. METHODS: A collaborative research group from the Department of Urology and the Automation & Robotics Research Institute of the University of Texas, Arlington built a prototype system of magnetically anchored instruments for trocar-less laparoscopy. The only design mandate was that the developed technology be able to pass into the abdomen through one existing 12-mm diameter trocar. RESULTS: A transabdominal "magnetic anchoring and guidance system" (MAGS) platform was developed to incorporate instruments, retractors, and a controllable intra-abdominal camera. In vitro, the platform was able to anchor 375 and 147 g across porcine tissue 1.8 and 2.5 cm thick, respectively. The permanent magnet platforms were sufficiently strong to retract the porcine liver and securely anchor the camera. Its versatility was demonstrated by moving the camera to virtually any location in the peritoneum with no working envelope restrictions and the subsequent completion of porcine laparoscopic procedures with 2 trocars only. CONCLUSIONS: Trocar-less laparoscopy using magnetically anchored instruments is feasible and may expand intracorporeal instrument manipulation substantially beyond current-day capability. The ability to reduce the number of trocars necessary for laparoscopic surgery has the potential to revolutionize surgical practice.
OBJECTIVE: To develop a novel laparoscopic system of moveable instruments that are positioned intra-abdominally and "locked" into place by external permanent magnets placed on the abdomen. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In conventional laparoscopy, multiple trocars are required because of the limited degrees of freedom of conventional instrumentation, and the limited working envelope (an inverted cone) created by the fulcrum motion around each port. While robotic systems can improve the number of degrees of freedom, they are restricted by even smaller working envelopes. METHODS: A collaborative research group from the Department of Urology and the Automation & Robotics Research Institute of the University of Texas, Arlington built a prototype system of magnetically anchored instruments for trocar-less laparoscopy. The only design mandate was that the developed technology be able to pass into the abdomen through one existing 12-mm diameter trocar. RESULTS: A transabdominal "magnetic anchoring and guidance system" (MAGS) platform was developed to incorporate instruments, retractors, and a controllable intra-abdominal camera. In vitro, the platform was able to anchor 375 and 147 g across porcine tissue 1.8 and 2.5 cm thick, respectively. The permanent magnet platforms were sufficiently strong to retract the porcine liver and securely anchor the camera. Its versatility was demonstrated by moving the camera to virtually any location in the peritoneum with no working envelope restrictions and the subsequent completion of porcine laparoscopic procedures with 2 trocars only. CONCLUSIONS: Trocar-less laparoscopy using magnetically anchored instruments is feasible and may expand intracorporeal instrument manipulation substantially beyond current-day capability. The ability to reduce the number of trocars necessary for laparoscopic surgery has the potential to revolutionize surgical practice.
Authors: Johannes Bodner; Paolo Lucciarini; John Fish; Reinhold Kafka-Ritsch; Thomas Schmid Journal: J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 1.878
Authors: Chris Braumann; Christoph A Jacobi; Charalambos Menenakos; Ulrich Borchert; Jens C Rueckert; Joachim M Mueller Journal: Dis Colon Rectum Date: 2005-09 Impact factor: 4.585
Authors: Nabeel A Arain; Jeffrey A Cadeddu; Sara L Best; Thomas Roshek; Victoria Chang; Deborah C Hogg; Richard Bergs; Raul Fernandez; Erin M Webb; Daniel J Scott Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2011-11-02 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Sara L Best; Richard Bergs; Makram Gedeon; Juan Paramo; Raul Fernandez; Jeffrey A Cadeddu; Daniel J Scott Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2010-06-09 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Nabeel A Arain; Luisangel Rondon; Deborah C Hogg; Jeffrey A Cadeddu; Richard Bergs; Raul Fernandez; Daniel J Scott Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2012-05-31 Impact factor: 4.584