Laparoscopic surgery, a form of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), is the most common surgical intervention with over 15 million procedures performed annually worldwide. The benefits, as compared to open surgery, includes less scaring, less post-operative pain and shorter hospital stays; but, the risk remains that patient complications is 2-4% higher per operation.
State-of-the-art laparoscopic graspers lack force feedback capabilities, which is responsible for accidental tissue trauma, a primary factor of post-operative complications and patient fatalities. It is recorded that 38% of all grasper movements are unsuccessful, meaning the surgeon is unable to perform the desired action without repeated clamping, slip, or obvious tissue trauma. Surgeons continue to demand added force feedback capabilities for both patient and user benefits.
The trending market of Mini-Laparoscopy is driving the development of diametrically smaller graspers that further deteriorate force sensitivity due to the mechanical effects in smaller assemblies, which can lead to increased complication rates and costs. Simultaneously, the clinical demand for added sensitivity is driving the commercialisation of expensive electro-mechanical grasper systems that are increasing hospital costs, disrupting operating room dynamics, and adding unquantified patient risks.
Milton Medical Innovations is commercializing disruptive force feedback graspers to address this immediate clinical need. Our graspers are more sensitive, cost effective, and can be diametrically miniaturized without loss of performance. It operates on the same working principles as state-of-the-art instruments and is attachable onto the vast majority of commercially-available grasper handles.
