Miniature Cotton Swabs for Laparoscopic Surgery

New cotton swabs with a reduced tip diameter of just three millimeters assist surgeons absorb secretions during laparoscopic procedures.

The Sanyo (Osaka, Japan) Dr. Huby micro 3mm medical cotton swabs, developed in collaboration with Osaka University (Japan), are manufactured by spraying cotton powder to the end of small tip and smoothing it. The production method enables not only a reduction in the size of the cotton swab, but also helps create its irregular shape. The new micro swabs are expected to have many advantages, including reduction of visible scars, an unhindered view of the operating area, and more detailed work.

Testing with a particle counter confirmed that elution from the Dr. Huby micro 3mm cotton swab is over 1,000 times less than a five mm swab, which means less release of foreign substances into body fluids, thereby reducing the risk of surgical site infection (SSI). The exact mechanism by which the cotton swab prevents SSI is unclear, but it is hypothesized that swabbing wounds allows contaminated fluid trapped within soft tissues to drain, reducing the bacterial burden while still maintaining the moist environment needed for successful wound healing.

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