Aragon Surgical of Palo Alto, CA impressed our good pal DocInTheMachine at the latest Global Congress of Gyn Endoscopy with their LapCap device to prevent accidental puncture of abdominal organs during laparoscopic procedures.
What is done in standard surgery: The most common method used by gyn surgeons is the insertion of a needle (the veress needle) which fills the abdomen with carbon dioxide gas (called insufflation). Then a tool called a trocar is inserted into this space and the instruments go through this. The needle insertion step is the most dangerous because it is the blind step. various techniques are used including elevation of the abdominal wall to lift it off of and away from the underlying organs expecially the large vessels like the aorta nad vena cava. The second common method is the open or Hasson technique (invented by my good friend Gyn surgeon Harry Hasson) where the surgeon opens a small 10 mm incision and then inseted the trocar. Injuries occur with all known techniques.
The New System: The LapCap is a new system that puts a plastic dome on the abdomen attached to suction that then pulls a full thickness of the abdominal wall high up into it then allowing the veress needle to be inserted into a potentially larger and they claim safer spot.
Read on at DocInTheMachine…
Aragon Surgical homepage…