Surgical energy device using steam jet for robotic assisted surgery

Abstract

In robotic assisted surgery, the carbonization and the adherence of coagulated tissues caused by surgical energy devices are problems. We propose a surgical energy device using a steam jet to solve the problems. The device applies a steam jet and performs coagulation and hemostasis. The exposed tissue is heated quickly with latent heat of the steam. The carbonization and the adherence of the tissue can be avoided. We prototyped a steam jet coagulator to prove the concept. The coagulator was mounted on the laparoscopic surgical robot. The effectiveness of the coagulation and hemostasis using steam was confirmed by the in vitro experiment on the chicken's liver and the in vivo experiments on the pig's spleen under the robotic assisted laparoscopic environment.