A Novel Surgical Soft Tissue Manipulation/Retraction Device
Principal Investigator: Insoo Suh, M.D.
Team Members: Orlo Clark, M.D., Romain Roux, Isabelle Chumfong, M.D., Sachin Rangarajan
Challenge
Handling of soft tissue with instruments during surgery requires caution, as excessive forces can lead to tissue damage in the form of lacerations or crush injuries. Existing instruments apply mechanical force to tissue through a pair of metallic jaws or arms, most of which have rigid or sharp components. This issue is exacerbated in laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgical techniques, where the limited access and the restricted range of motion available to surgeons increase the difficulty in retracting tissue with minimal injury. The consequences of traumatic tissue damage can be particularly morbid when handling tumors (cancer seeding), and intestine (perforation, abdominal infection).
Solution
The Lamprey Retractor is a novel surgical device with an innovative design for tissue contact and handling that provides effective tissue manipulating ability without the traumatic effects of standard surgical instruments. The Lamprey Retractor will allow surgical operations to be performed more easily and efficiently, through smaller incisions, and in a shorter amount of time as compared with current devices.
Funding
CTSI Catalyst (Fall 2015)
Honors & Awards
Surgical Innovations Accelerator (Spring 2015)
Featured Media
Industry and Academia Partner to Reach Patients through Popular Catalyst Award - UCSF Clinical & Translational Science Institute - February 24, 2016