Ob/Gyn Archives

Kinect-Powered Surgical Robot to Replace Scrub Nurses?

by Gene Ostrovsky on Feb 7, 2011 •

hh9320dy Kinect Powered Surgical Robot to Replace Scrub Nurses?In a complex case, scrub techs and nurses can have plenty of manual tasks to perform at the same time. With multiple surgeons to assist, two hands are often not enough. Hence, there is a need for a manual task robotic assistant. Now an international team has been working on such a robot. Researchers from Purdue University, the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel combined computer vision technology and a robotic arm into a unified system. They’re using a Microsoft Kinect camera for hand gesture recognition to give commands to the robot and to browse through radiological images on a nearby computer screen. See for yourself:


Press release: Future surgeons may use robotic nurse, ‘gesture recognition’
Abstract in Communications of the ACM: Vision-Based Hand-Gesture Applications
Flashback: Microsoft Kinect 3D Camera for Hands-Free Radiologic Image Browsing

Ob/Gyn / Surgery / Thoracic Surgery / Urology

InnoPort from Innovia Now Available in U.S.

by Gene Ostrovsky on Jan 31, 2011
InnoPort from Innovia Now Available in U.S.

Single port access surgery, a laparoscopic procedure with just one incision, is seeing increased use, and companies are stepping up to make it easier and safer. Innovia out of Miami, Florida has released its InnoPort laparoscopy access device to the U.S. market. Up to three rigid, curved, or articulating devices can be used via the port at the same time with two additional ports for insufflation and exhausting smoke.

The InnoPort™ is Innovia LLC’s new laparoscopic Single Port Access device comprising a hollow flexible cone secured in the incision with two stay sutures. The InnoPort has three 5mm ports with bellowed walls to allow a wide range of manipulation without jeopardizing pneumoperitonium as well as two ancillary ports which permit insufflation and smoke exhaustion. Surgeons report that they like this device because it is easy and quick to place and remove, the stay sutures prevent inadvertent pop-out, the exhaust port can double as a fourth port for cholangiogram catheter entry and the hollow cone allows removal of specimens without contacting surrounding tissue.

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Ob/Gyn / Surgery / Thoracic Surgery / Urology

Force Feedback Controller for Keyhole Surgery

by Gene Ostrovsky on Jan 25, 2011
Force Feedback Controller for Keyhole Surgery

At Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands, Eleonora Westebring-van der Putten has received her PhD for developing an interesting new grasping haptics (force feedback) interface for endoscopic and laparoscopic surgeries. In traditional procedures, how hard one presses on the instruments is directly proportional to the pressure one feels back from the tissue. It would therefore make sense to try to bring a bit of that to laparoscopic surgery.
Here’s Ms. Westebring-van der Putten explaining the functions of her controller:

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Ob/Gyn

VizAblate Transcervical Uterine Fibroid Therapy System Gets European Approval

by Gene Ostrovsky on Jan 21, 2011
VizAblate Transcervical Uterine Fibroid Therapy System Gets European Approval

Gynesonics out of Redwood City, California has receive EU’s CE Mark of approval for the firm’s VizAblate system. VizAblate uses ultrasound to locate uterine fibroids and a multi-prong radiofrequency antenna to ablate them.
From the announcement:

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Cardiac Surgery / ENT / Ob/Gyn / Surgery / Thoracic Surgery / Urology

New da Vinci Skills Simulator from Intuitive Surgical

by Gene Ostrovsky on Jan 13, 2011
New da Vinci Skills Simulator from Intuitive Surgical

Intuitive Surgical, maker of the da Vinci surgical robot, has developed a stand-alone simulator of the machine that can be used for training and in preparation for procedures. The da Vinci Skills Simulator feels like the real thing, but through the viewfinder you get to play around with virtual sutures and digital tissues:

The straightforward set-up allows users to practice unassisted or with supervision, according to their preference.

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Ob/Gyn

Viveve System for Vaginal Laxity Receives CE Approval

by Wouter Stomp on Jan 13, 2011
Viveve System for Vaginal Laxity Receives CE Approval

Viveve, from Palo Alto, CA, has received approval for a condition we never heard of before: vaginal laxity. On the other hand, of course, in this age where vaginoplasties are quickly becoming as normal as nose jobs, we should not be really surprised. The device uses radiofrequency to treat laxity of the vaginal introitus after childbirth, to improve the female sexual function. The system consists of a RF generator, a hand piece and single-use disposable tips. The procedure can be performed without anesthesia in approximately 30 minutes. According to studies cited by the company in the press release, women have reported improved feelings of vaginal tightness at several months after treatment (no words about male satisfaction though). Bingo, a new market has been created!
Press release: Viveve obtains CE mark for gynecologic treatment of vaginal laxity… (.pdf)

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Ob/Gyn

ImageSense for Digital Colposcopy FDA Approved

by Wouter Stomp on Jan 12, 2011
ImageSense for Digital Colposcopy FDA Approved

STI Medical Systems, from San Diego, CA., has received FDA clearance for its ImageSense technology for colposcopy. It is an image-subtraction technique for use with the UltraSight digital colposcopy system. Acetic acid is often applied to the cervix during colposcopy after which areas that turn white are considered for biopsy. This technology enhances the visibility of the white areas.
From the press release:

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Ob/Gyn / Surgery

OmniGuide Releases New BeamPath-GYN Surgical Laser

by Gene Ostrovsky on Dec 13, 2010
OmniGuide Releases New BeamPath-GYN Surgical Laser

OmniGuide out of Cambridge, MA has released a new laser for gynecologic surgery in its BeamPath product line. The system allows for varying power levels and easy reach thanks to a flexible fiber used to deliver the energy.

The small profile of the BeamPath fiber, coupled with the precision of CO2 laser energy, provides surgeons with an ideal tool for careful dissection and superficial tissue vaporization during minimally invasive gynecology procedures. The BeamPath system includes a portable, small footprint laser system that can easily be maneuvered around the operating room. This system greatly improves ease of use and access of a laser technology that has already been widely accepted in this clinical specialty.

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Ob/Gyn

Philips Takes Pride for Hosting First Birth Inside MRI

by Gene Ostrovsky on Dec 9, 2010
Philips Takes Pride for Hosting First Birth Inside MRI

A couple days ago we wrote about Berlin’s Charité University performing the first live birth imaged by MRI. Today Philips announced that a modified version of their Panorama high field Open MRI was the device used for the procedure.

This operation was the culmination of two years of research and development work by the "open high-field MRI" task force specialising in radiology. "We had to develop a new type of foetal surveillance monitor whose measuring technology is not adversely affected by the extremely strong magnetic field of the MRI scanner," says project manager Felix Güttler in explaining one of the challenges the team faced. The Philips Avalon CTS cordless monitoring system, which was used with the appropriate modifications, provided doctors and midwives with vital information throughout the birth about the child’s heart tones and movements, the strength of contractions, as well as the mother’s blood pressure.

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