FORCE TRANSMISSION OF LAPAROSCOPIC GRASPING INSTRUMENTS

In laparoscopic surgery, grasping instruments are used to manipulate t issue. These instruments are the only means of contact between tissue and the surgeon's hand. With well designed instruments, the pinching f orce on the hand should be a reliable measurement for the grasping for ce on the jaws. To evaluate this transmission of information by the me chanisms of existing grasping instruments, measurements and calculatio ns were carried out. It was found that due to mechanical friction loss es and variations in the transmission of forces over the working range , the information transmission is far from ideal. Ways to improve the transmission of information, by adjusting existing instruments or by d esigning alternative concepts, are indicated.