Design of an improved approach to laparoscopic resection of the colon and surrounding mesentery
Exploring opportunities to improve clinical outcome in laparoscopic abdominal surgery using human factors methods to identify specific design needs.
Laparoscopic surgery requires the surgeon to perform complex operative procedures, utilising a relatively small set of standardised tools, including surgical laparoscopic instruments and laparoscopes, which are inserted into the patient through port sites in the abdomen. It is characterised by reduced risk of infection, reduced surgical invasiveness, shorter recovery times, smaller scars, better visualisation of internal anatomy for surgeons, and better postoperative clinical outcomes for the patient. Many abdominal surgical procedures can be performed using laparoscopic surgical techniques, and the list of compatible procedures is expanding.
Laparoscopic surgery has many benefits for the patient over open surgery but the remote nature of the procedures involves inherent human factors challenges which can impact on clinical outcome for the patient. These issues are compounded by the long duration of many abdominal laparoscopic surgeries.
The purpose of this research is to explore opportunities to improve clinical outcome in laparoscopic abdominal surgery, through the application of a multi-disciplinary approach to medical device design. This involves research-led development of instruments, testing protocols, testing rigs, and synthetic tissue facsimile development to ultimately aid in laparoscopic surgery innovation. A secondary aim is to gain a better understanding of the colorectal region through the application of 3D modelling of anatomically accurate soft tissue models.
