High Pressures Are Generated at the Tip of Laparoscopic Graspers

Abstract

High pressures are generated at the tip of laparoscopic graspers. Pressures increase as the angle of incidence of the grasper in relation to the tissue increases. The changes in pressure with change in angle are independent of load and handle pressure.

Forces and displacements in colon surgery

“…Many of the instruments presently available can easily cause damage to the colon because of limited tactile feedback [2], badly rounded-o edges, and sharp grip pro®les [1,6]. The last two lead to very high pressure peaks in the tissue [3] which easily lead to colon perforations, either during the surgical procedure or after a few days. Such perforations should be avoided as they can cause potentially fatal peritonitis.…”

Preclinical Methods to Assess Collateral Mechanical Damage to Tissues Caused by Surgical Procedures and Devices

“…Since the tips of laparoscopic graspers are small, high pressures can be generated locally on the tissue, resulting in damage or even perforation. As one example, the pressure profile between jaws and the object generated at the tip can be measured by a thin film pressure transducer 33) .…”

Problems with Laparoscopic Instruments: Opinions of Experts

“…1,2,10,[15][16][17] Insufficient ergonomics includes deficiencies due to inadequate workplace and instrument design, resulting in back pain, finger numbness, and muscle fatigue. 2,5,8,9,[18][19][20] The quality of the image was defined as insufficient if the camera image was disturbed or did not provide a clear overview of the complete area where manipulations were carried out. [21][22][23] Disturbed depth perception is caused by the indirect sight on the operation field through a camera.…”