DEVELOPMENT OF OJIGI ELECTROCAUTERY AND OTHER OJIGI INSTRUMENTS

In laparoscopic surgery, the key to the effective use of electrocauter y is to aim an appropriately-shaped tip to the target tissue at a prec ise angle. However, each laparoscopic electrocautery currently availab le has its own fixed tip shape, so the surgeon must change the whole i nsulated steel rod to accommodate different electro-dissecting situati ons. Recognizing that there is a significant number of points for impr ovement, we developed a laparoscopic instrument called ojigi electroca utery that has a freely mobile triangular-shaped tip. This instrument was found to be useful in many kinds of electro-dissection, especially when separating the gall bladder from the liver bed. The freely rotat able ojigi electrocautery is currently being developed to provide grea ter freedom and control.