Trends in Laparoscopy: Sealing Technology
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Author:youwai
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Published time: 2019-09-10
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Laparoscopy is a type of minimally invasive surgery in which surgeons operate through tiny incisions in the body. Laparoscopic surgical procedures (also called endoscopic surgeries) are faster, cause less pain, and result in fewer complications and faster recovery than traditional surgical procedures. Such positive outcomes and substantial cost-effectiveness have created strong growth for devices as the number of procedures increase on a yearly basis. According to a November 2008 report by market research group Frost & Sullivan, the global market for minimally invasive devices was worth $6 billion in 2005 and will be worth approximately $18 billion in 2015. This means a
compound annual growth rate of close to 12% per year.
During such surgery, a number of small sealing ports, called trocars, are inserted into the abdominal wall. Trocars provide a tunnel through which surgical instruments are passed. One very important mechanical component of the trocar is an operating seal. In laparoscopic applications, seals must fit securely around a variety of surgical instruments and yet provide complete flexibility for the surgeons. These seals are required to hold shape during complex and lengthy surgical procedures and to prevent gas or fluid migration. This article describes the nature of these seals and discusses new designs that are influencing endoscopic surgery.
