Browse Topic: Surgical procedures

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Precision Robotics Offers Hope for Heart Disease TreatmentTBMG-5216512/1/2024
The Hospital for Sick Children/University of Toronto Toronto, ON, Canada
That Others May Live: The Courageous Story of MASH Helicopter Detachments during the Korean War, 1950-1953F-0080-2024-00435/7/2024
Prior to 1950, use of the helicopter for evacuation was extremely limited, as military top brass often considered it a worthless contraption; thus, rescue was uncertain at best for downed pilots and wounded soldiers stranded behind enemy lines. However, this all changed in Korea, where twelve U.S. Army helicopters from three detachments, working in tandem with seven, newly created Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) units, would fundamentally change the Army's medical-evacuation doctrine forever. Using several models of the Bell H-13, the Hiller H-23, and the Sikorsky H-5 and H-19, this small band of courageous pilots pushed themselves and their aircraft to their limits, transporting 21,212 critically wounded soldiers for life-saving surgery to various MASH units, cutting the fatality rate from World War II in half. Adopting the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron's motto, "That Others May Live," these pilots and their helicopters were affectionately known to the wounded as "Angels of Mercy."
Fardink, Paul
Soft Robotic System for Brain SurgeryTBMG-497771/1/2024
Researchers have laid the groundwork for a soft robotic tool and control system that could grant surgeons an unprecedented degree of maneuverability within the brain. A recent study demonstrates that the new system is both intuitive and highly accurate. The early results suggest that, with further development, the robot could one day speed up and improve the efficacy of minimally invasive surgeries for life-threatening brain aneurysms and other serious conditions.
2022 Medical Winner: The Novel Squid Glaucoma MicroShuntTBMG-4695711/1/2022
Noninvasive Therapy for Cartilage RegenerationTBMG-4691811/1/2022
Extraction of Largely Unexplored Bodily Fluid Could Be a New Source of BiomarkersTBMG-4691911/1/2022
Antimicrobial Coating for Orthopedic Implants Prevents Dangerous InfectionsTBMG-4691711/1/2022
Thin, Stretchable Biosensors Could Make Surgery SaferTBMG-464939/1/2022
A research team developed bio-inks for biosensors that could help localize critical regions in tissues and organs during surgical operations. The ink is biocompatible and provides a user-friendly design with workable time frames of more than one day. Simultaneous recording and imaging could be useful during heart surgery in localizing critical regions and guiding surgical interventions such as a procedure for restoring normal heart rhythms.
Tiny Wireless Device Illuminates Neuron Activity in the BrainTBMG-397629/1/2021
Researchers are creating new tools for a method called optogenetics, which shines light at specific neurons in the brain to excite or suppress activity. Optogenetics experiments are aimed at increasing understanding of how the brain works, allowing scientists to develop and test potential cures for illnesses such as neurodegenerative diseases.
Soft Robotic Gripper Based on Twining PlantsTBMG-395928/1/2021
Scientists often look to nature for cues when designing robots — some robots mimic human hands while others simulate the actions of octopus arms or inchworms. Now, researchers have designed a soft robotic gripper that draws inspiration from an unusual source: pole beans. While pole beans and other twining plants use their touch-sensitive shoots to wrap themselves around supports like ropes and rods to grow upward, the new robot is designed to firmly but gently grasp objects as small as 1 millimeter in diameter.
Xenon Improves Properties of Maxillofacial and Orthopedic ImplantsTBMG-385462/1/2021
Tomsk Polytechnic University Tomsk Oblast, Russia
Miniscule Robots of Metal and PlasticTBMG-385152/1/2021
Researchers have been pursuing the development of robots so tiny that they can maneuver through blood vessels and deliver medications to certain points in the body. Now, scientists have succeeded in building such micromachines out of metal and plastic in which these two materials are interlocked as closely as links in a chain. This is possible thanks to a new manufacturing technique they have devised.
Ultra-Thin, Battery-Free Strain Sensors for Industrial Robotic ArmsTBMG-384922/1/2021
Fabricated using flexible, stretchable, and electrically conductive nanomaterials called MXenes, novel strain sensors were developed that are ultra-thin, battery-free, and can transmit data wirelessly. By controlling the surface textures of MXenes, researchers were able to control the sensing performance of strain sensors for various soft exoskeletons. The sensor design principles developed will significantly enhance the performance of electronic skins and soft robots.
Ultra-Thin, Highly Sensitive Strain Sensors Improve Robotic ArmsTBMG-385502/1/2021
A research team from NUS, led by Assistant Professor Chen Po-Yen, has taken the first step toward improving the safety and precision of industrial robotic arms by developing a new range of nanomaterial strain sensors that are 10 times more sensitive when measuring minute movements, compared to existing technology.
Scientists Propose Laser Scalpel with a ‘Curved’ BladeTBMG-383111/1/2021
Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University and Saratov State University teamed up with colleagues from Taiwan and proposed to make a laser “blade” for a medical scalpel with a specified curved shape using a photonic “hook.” Currently there are laser scalpels only with an axisymmetric focus area, i.e., with a cylindrical blade. According to scientists, changing the shape of the blade will expand the possibilities of using the laser in medicine, while it is about two times thinner than the cylindrical option. The concept and its rationale are published in the Journal of Biophotonics.
Implantable Sensor Could Measure Bodily Functions and Safely BiodegradeTBMG-383091/1/2021
Sensors that monitor a patient’s condition during and after medical procedures can be expensive, uncomfortable, and even dangerous. Now, an international team of researchers has designed a highly sensitive flexible gas sensor that can be implanted in the body — and, after it’s no longer needed, safely biodegrade into materials that are absorbed by the body.
Photonic Wireless System Powers Medical ImplantsTBMG-383491/1/2021
Medical implants, such as pacemakers, serve various functions in patients and help to improve their quality of life. But to power these devices, re-implanted devices and invasive surgery are often required, which may lead to a risk of surgical complications. In search of a more permanent solution, scientists developed a photonic device that reduces the need for re-implants.
Low-Cost, Customized Prosthesis Using 3D PrintingTBMG-383071/1/2021
Upper limb forequarter amputations that involve the removal of the entire arm and scapula require highly customized prosthetic devices that are expensive but yet usually underutilized due to their high maintenance and low comfort levels. At the same time, while cosmetic prostheses — artificial limbs that provide patients the appearance of a pre-amputated body part — have a higher rate of continuous use, they have limitations in functional use.
3D Printed Bioink-Loaded Stents Treat InflammationTBMG-383281/1/2021
Pohang University of Science and Technology Gyeongbuk, Korea
Extraction of Largely Unexplored Bodily Fluid Could Be a New Source of BiomarkersTBMG-383221/1/2021
Using an array of tiny needles that are almost too small to see, researchers have developed a minimally invasive technique for sampling a largely unexplored human bodily fluid that could potentially provide a new source of information for routine clinical monitoring and diagnostic testing.
Surgical Robotics: The Art of Saving Costs with CablesTBMG-383121/1/2021
Ever hear of the respected bicycle manufacturer known as Cannondale? You probably have. Perhaps you even own one of their bikes. I actually do. Since 1971, Cannondale has produced among the most well-recognized and trusted, high-performance bicycle brands in the United States. But they don’t actually make everything their bikes comprise.
Technology Aids Surgeon-Guided Robotic HandsTBMG-3819512/1/2020
Steady hands and uninterrupted, sharp vision are extremely critical when performing surgery on delicate structures like the brain or hair-thin blood vessels. While surgical cameras have tremendously improved what surgeons see during operative procedures, the steady hand remains to be enhanced. New surgical technologies, including surgeon-guided robotic hands, cannot prevent accidental injuries when operating close to fragile tissue.
Glove-Like Device Mimics Sense of TouchTBMG-3821012/1/2020
Haptic technology mimics the experience of touch by stimulating localized areas of the skin in ways that are similar to what is felt in the real world through force, vibration, or motion. The human hand has a large number of tactile receptors that are used to perceive most objects. There are many situations in which the sense of touch would be useful such as in a telehealth consultation where a doctor is unable to physically examine a patient.
System Allows Untethered, High-Quality, Multi-Player Virtual RealityTBMG-3817512/1/2020
Virtual reality (VR) headsets and application programs for VR are not gaining traction with users because of a chicken-and-egg dilemma, lack of VR content, and slow market penetration of custom-made VR units.
Human-Like Hands with Flexible, Hybrid Pneumatic ActuatorsTBMG-3813812/1/2020
In industrial settings, robots often are used for tasks that require repetitive grasping and manipulation of objects. The end of a robot where a human hand would be found is known as an end effector or gripper. Researchers have developed a humanoid hand design that is a soft-hard hybrid flexible gripper. It can generate larger grasping force than a traditional pure, soft hand and simultaneously be more stable for accurate manipulation of heavier objects.
Small Brain Implant Helps Paralyzed PatientsTBMG-3816912/1/2020
A tiny device the size of a small paperclip has been shown to help patients with upper limb paralysis to text, e-mail, and even shop online in the first human trial. The device, Stentrode™, has been implanted successfully in two patients, who both suffer from severe paralysis due to motor neuron disease (MND) — also known amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — and neither had complete ability to move their upper limbs.
Diamond-Studded Silk Wound Dressing Detects Infection and Improves HealingTBMG-3815912/1/2020
RMIT University Melbourne, Australia
Smart, Self-Powered Knee ImplantsTBMG-3796711/1/2020
Knee replacement surgery is the most common joint replacement procedure, with the number of surgeries increasing every year. This surgery is being performed for younger, more active patients who are faced with a dilemma: When they undergo the surgery, they are expected to remain physically active for their overall health but that activity can also wear down the new implant. Often, doctors don’t know if patients are overexerting themselves until they begin to develop symptoms. By that point, the damage to the implant has already been done. For a young patient, going through knee replacement surgery every five or 10 years is a daunting task but finding the perfect balance of activity levels to maintain the integrity of the implant has been equally daunting.
Improved Electrosurgical Grounding Pad Prevents Patient Skin Burn During ElectrosurgeryTBMG-3806011/1/2020
The high-power electrosurgical and radio-frequency (RF) ablation devices that apply a high level of RF current to the patient for extended periods can increase the risk of patient skin burns at the grounding pad’s attachment site. Safety measures that have been proven effective using traditional electrosurgical procedures may not be sufficient to prevent grounding pad burns when used in procedures that require any combination of high current, long activation times and the use of conductive fluids (e.g., saline) for irrigation or distention. 1
Small Innovations Could Help Robotic Surgery Become Big BusinessTBMG-3808011/1/2020
Material and equipment innovations, coupled with the stepped-up collaborative efforts of device manufacturers and their supply partners, continue to advance the development of micro parts and devices used in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures for orthopedic, neurostimulation, and cardio, to name a few disciplines. This article takes a closer look at this trend and how smaller parts and devices will likely play bigger roles in the advancement of robotic surgery and telesurgery, followed by examples of robotic platforms in use at healthcare facilities in the United States and abroad.
Imaging Technology Could Improve Cancer SurgeryTBMG-3799911/1/2020
A new imaging technology uses the way light from lasers interacts with cancerous and healthy tissues to distinguish between them in real time and with no physical contact — an advancement with the potential to eliminate the need for secondary surgeries to get missed malignant tissue. Intraoperatively, during surgery, the surgeon will be able to see exactly what to cut and how much to cut.
Q&A: Soft Electronics Treat Heart ArrythmiasTBMG-3798311/1/2020
Professor Igor Efimov and a team at George Washington University in Washington, DC — in collaboration with Professor John Rogers’ laboratory from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL — are pioneering a new class of medical instruments that uses flexible electronics to improve patient outcomes in minimally invasive surgeries.
Tiny, Magnetically Powered Neural StimulatorTBMG-3800811/1/2020
Neuroengineers have created a tiny surgical implant that can electrically stimulate the brain and nervous system without using a battery or wired power supply. The device draws its power from magnetic energy and is about the size of a grain of rice. It is the first magnetically powered neural stimulator that produces the same kind of high-frequency signals as clinically approved, battery-powered implants that are used to treat epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, and other conditions.
Optical Imaging Technology May Help Surgeons Better Treat Cancer, Brain DiseasesTBMG-3807211/1/2020
A new tool for medical professionals may help shed more light on tumors in the body and how the brain operates.
Mixing Silk with Polymers Could Lead to Better Biomedical ImplantsTBMG-3785710/1/2020
By combining silk, which is safe for use in the human body, with synthetic compounds, one research team is getting closer to developing new implantable composite materials with the best properties of both. Potential applications could include structures that hold bone in place after surgery or replacements for the cartilage cushions in the knee.
Biorubber Glue Offers Faster Surgical RecoveryTBMG-3784910/1/2020
Researchers have developed a new type of surgical glue that can help join blood vessels and close wounds faster and may also serve as a platform to deliver pain relief drugs. The glue can bond soft tissues, including muscle and blood vessels, even when their surfaces are wet. Named CaproGlu, it is activated by a low dose of ultraviolet (UV) light that cures it in seconds, turning it from a liquid glue into a solid but flexible biorubber — a biocompatible material that can be resorbed by the tissue after a few weeks.
Origami-Inspired Miniature ManipulatorTBMG-3783610/1/2020
Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, in which a surgeon uses tools and a tiny camera inserted into small incisions to perform operations, has made surgical procedures safer for both patients and doctors. Surgical robots further assist surgeons by allowing them to manipulate multiple tools at once with greater precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with traditional techniques. These robotic systems are extremely large, often taking up an entire room and their tools can be much larger than the delicate tissues and structures on which they operate.
Tips for Innovating in a Post-Pandemic Market: A Primer on E2E ConversationsTBMG-3784410/1/2020
Heading into 2020, the medical device industry enjoyed promising market conditions. KPMG released a study in 2019 that showed annual sales of medical devices were expected to climb an average of 5 percent annually for the next decade, with 2030 culminating in a $800 billion global market. The U.S. market was the largest component of those escalating revenue figures, with an expected 2030 volume of $180 billion. Much of that growth was expected to be driven by new technologies — surgical robots, 3D printing, telehealth, predictive analytics, and other emerging solutions have all gained the attention of every forward-thinking health system and hospital in the world.
Reimagining Knee Replacements with Additive Technology and Artificial IntelligenceTBMG-3784810/1/2020
Italian medical implant manufacturer REJOINT is introducing mass customization and therapy personalization through a combination of electron beam melting (EBM) and computerized analysis of intraoperative and post-operative data collection through IoT-connected sensorized wearables.
Robotic Arm Helps Perform Delicate SurgeriesTBMG-375809/1/2020
Steady hands and uninterrupted, sharp vision are critical when performing surgery on delicate structures like the brain or hair-thin blood vessels. While surgical cameras have improved what surgeons see during operative procedures, the “steady hand” remains to be enhanced — new surgical technologies, including sophisticated surgeon-guided robotic hands, cannot prevent accidental injuries when operating close to fragile tissue.
How Unlimited-Length Flexible Printed Circuits Are Transforming Electrical Interfaces in Medical DevicesTBMG-375839/1/2020
Undergoing surgery is a costly procedure, often involving a hospital stay and the ongoing monitoring of the patient after discharge. During and after an operation, the patient is put through considerable stress, both mentally and physiologically, which affects the body’s respiratory, cardiovascular, excretory, and immune systems in particular. Whenever possible, limiting the size and number of incisions made during surgery by using minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques is extremely beneficial to the patient’s recovery time.
Thin Film Electrodes Show Potential for Transforming NeurosurgeryTBMG-375949/1/2020
Advances in thin film technology could soon offer a less invasive and more cost-effective solution to enhance neurosurgery for people with neurological brain conditions, including epilepsy.
Engineers 3D-Print Sensors Onto Moving OrgansTBMG-376689/1/2020
A new technique allows 3D printing of hydrogel-based sensors directly on the surface of organs, such as lungs — even as they expand and contract. The technology was developed to support robot-assisted medical treatments. According to the researchers, along with a robot's ability to assist a surgeon with removing a tumor from a lung, for example, this technology could 3D print a sensor onto the surface of the lung to monitor how well it functions during and following the procedure.
Spinal Stimulators Repurposed to Restore Touch in Lost LimbTBMG-375799/1/2020
Imagine tying your shoes or taking a sip of coffee or cracking an egg but without any feeling in your hand. That’s life for users of even the most advanced prosthetic arms.
Tiny, Magnetically Powered Implant Stimulates Brain Without BatteryTBMG-373448/1/2020
Rice University neuroengineers have created a tiny surgical implant that can electrically stimulate the brain and nervous system without using a battery or wired power supply.
Smart Design: How to Develop Your Next Orthopedic Product During the COVID-19 PandemicTBMG-373478/1/2020
The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty and delays in procedures, but hospitals and surgeons still need a steady supply of product, meaning that the orthopedics industry must keep innovating. One thing is certain, 2020 will be a turbulent year for procedure demand. Early on, analysts predicted that because many orthopedic procedures are elective, they would be postponed to help free up space for critically ill patients. While the recovery of orthopedic procedures has begun more quickly than analysts initially expected, it seems likely it will take longer than expected to reach full recovery as we look into 2021. June ordering patterns were already much higher than May, but the quicker recovery may indicate a second decline (W-shaped) versus a sharp decline followed by a quick recovery (V-shaped).
Products of Tomorrow: August 2020TBMG-374578/1/2020
This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow. To learn more about each technology, see the contact information provided for that innovation.
Hydrogel Contact Lens to Treat Eye DiseaseTBMG-374478/1/2020
Corneal melting is a condition that is a significant cause for blindness worldwide. The incurable eye disease can be initiated by a number of different causes such as autoimmune diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus, or Stevens-Johnson syndrome), chemical burns, or some surgical procedures (like LASIK and cataract procedures). The patient’s cornea melts due to the uncontrolled production of certain zinc-dependent enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by the patient’s immune cells in the cornea. To help prevent this, a new hydrogel was developed that deactivates those enzymes by removing the zinc ions.
User Interface Development Tools Speed Time to Market for More Intuitive ProductsTBMG-373558/1/2020
Over the years, technological innovation has allowed the medical equipment sector to become a mission-critical part of the healthcare industry, delivering such benefits as lower operating costs and improved patient outcomes. But competitive pressures are driving the need for device developers to provide a richer experience for users, incorporating broader capabilities and features and more options.
Light-Emitting Nanoparticles for Imaging Living CellsTBMG-374378/1/2020
Light-emitting nanoparticles have been demonstrated to see deep into living tissue. The specially designed nanoparticles can be excited by ultra-low-power laser light at near-infrared wavelengths considered safe for the human body. They absorb this light and emit visible light that can be measured by standard imaging equipment.
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