SurgiQuest (Milford, CT) landed FDA clearance for the AirSeal access system to be used for transanal endoscopic surgery. Conventional insufflation and trocar systems use seals and valves to pass instruments into the abdominal cavity and for maintaining internal pressure, but the AirSeal is completely valve-free. Because of this, endoscopes inserted through the AirSeal are not smudged first and provide a clear view while working on the intra-abdominal organs. Moreover, when excising tissue, the valve-free construction of the device allows samples to pass through without being tugged and torn. The device continuously clears smoke caused by cauterization, keeping the internal volume clear for easy visualization.
It can be used for both transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) and transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) procedures. The hope is that having a consistent seal and clear visualization will speed up these procedures and allow surgeons to consistently remove entire polyps.
Here’s a company promo video showing off the functionality of the AirSeal:
Product page: AirSeal…
Source: SurgiQuest…