E. Kanehira et al., DEVELOPMENT OF A 23.5 KHZ ULTRASONICALLY ACTIVATED DEVICE FOR LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY, MINIMALLY INVASIVE THERAPY & ALLIED TECHNOLOGIES, 7(4), 1998, pp. 315-319
We tested, in an animal model, a newly developed ultrasonically activa
ted device for laparoscopic use. Porcine arteries, with a diameter of
3 mm, were successfully coagulated and divided using this device.,, II
segments of treated arteries were harvested and the pressure needed t
o burst the stump was measured in vitro. The maximum pressure required
to burst the stump of an artery ranged from 353 to 2126 mmHg, with an
average of 1121 mmHg. These data suggest that the arteries divided by
the new device can withstand the intraluminal pressure of arteries in
living animals. For a first clinical experience, we used this device
in laparoscopic splenectomy, on a patient with idiopathic thrombocytop
enic purpura. The short gastric vessels and branches of the main splen
ic vessels could be occluded and divided by the device without a clip.
The main splenic vessels were cut using a stapler. The operation took
80 min, with a blood loss of less than or equal to 10 mi. Post-operat
ive bleeding did not occur. The new, ultrasonically-activated device i
s a reliable instrument for occluding and dividing vessels of relative
ly small caliber. We conclude that this device is useful for a speedy
and safe dissection of the tissue during laparoscopic surgery.