Miniscule Laparoscopy Tools Offer Enhanced Capabilities

The highly functional tools are used for performing advanced minimally invasive procedures, such as gastric band and gastric sleeve surgery. The instruments can be used independently or together with the Spider Surgical System, a single-incision and multiport device that delivers intra-abdominal triangulation, 360-degree flexible instrumentation, and a stable operative platform. Using both together, surgeons can perform advanced procedures through less invasive means.

Each instrument in the Spider MicroLap line is 2.7 millimeters in diameter, significantly smaller than the 5- to 10-millimeter range typical for laparoscopic equipment. The line of extremely small instruments includes all tools surgeons regularly use during laparoscopic procedures, including a needle driver, 0° and 30° Spider scopes, a combined suction and irrigator, various length cannulas and obturators, a sterilization tray, and a high pressure syringe. Since the tools are so small, the surgeon uses a special skin-incision pick, eliminating the need for a scalpel, since there are no open incisions.

The surgeon inserts the Spider surgical system through a single incision, usually located near the patient's belly button. The system then opens up within the abdomen, providing the surgeon with two flexible channels for right- and left-hand instruments with 360-degree range of motion, and two rigid channels for small cameras and other instruments. Once the procedure is completed, the system closes up and it is removed through the same incision; the patient comes away from the procedure with a barely visible, freckle-like mark. The Spider MicroLap instruments are a product of TransEnterix (Durham, NC, USA).

"As part of our focus in bariatric surgery, we anticipate that surgeons and patients will quickly embrace these smaller and less invasive tools,” said Todd Pope, president and CEO of TransEnterix. "By improving cosmetic results, Spider MicroLap tools also promote patient privacy, because no one--even surgeons--can tell just by looking at someone whether he or she has undergone a surgical procedure.”

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