The system makes use of off-the-jaw tactile sensing to evaluate tissue stiffness and thickness in minimally invasive surgical procedure. It incorporates a sensor-equipped deal with that integrates simply with numerous surgical instruments in a plug-and-play method, reliably distinguishing between smooth and stiff tissues with out the necessity for complicated calibration. Moreover, the system supplies enhanced tactile suggestions and visible cues to help the surgeon
Researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi’s Superior Microfluidics and Microdevices Laboratory (AMMLab) have developed an progressive sensing system that restores the lacking tactile suggestions in minimally invasive surgical procedure (MIS), enhancing precision, ease of use, and security. The brand new “off-the-jaw” system integrates power and angle sensors into the deal with of laparoscopic instruments, offering surgeons with real-time measurements of greedy forces and insights into tissue stiffness and thickness.
Minimally invasive surgical procedure (MIS) entails small incisions, decreasing ache, shortening restoration occasions, and decreasing an infection dangers. Nonetheless, conventional MIS instruments eradicate the surgeon’s sense of contact, making it troublesome to find out the suitable power to use or distinguish between various kinds of tissue. This lack of tactile sensation can result in errors, comparable to over- or under-grasping delicate tissues.
The NYU Abu Dhabi researchers’ distinctive “off-the-jaw” design, detailed in IEEE Entry, marks a major departure from earlier approaches, which usually positioned sensors on the jaws of surgical instruments. It’s the first answer to separate the sensing mechanism from the surgical website itself. This answer affords a simplified, cost-effective different that seamlessly integrates with any commercially obtainable laparoscopic software, addressing challenges associated to sensor integration, wiring complexity, contamination, and sterilization necessities.
Past bettering surgical precision and security, this new know-how may additionally shorten the training curve for brand new surgeons by offering goal tactile suggestions, accelerating their mastery of MIS strategies. Its scalability means it could possibly be tailored for robotic-assisted surgical procedure, endoscopy, telemedicine, and different medical functions.
Wael Othman and Mohammad A. Qasaimeh. Credit score: NYU Abu Dhabi
“Minimally invasive surgery has revolutionized the field, but the lack of tactile feedback remains a challenge,” mentioned NYU Abu Dhabi Affiliate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering Mohammad A. Qasaimeh. “Our new system restores this missing sense of touch, giving surgeons real-time data on tissue stiffness and thickness. This ‘off-the-jaw’ approach not only eliminates contamination risks but also makes the technology easier to integrate without requiring complex modifications to existing surgical tools.”
“Early trials have demonstrated a 30% improvement in surgical task efficiency, highlighting the practical impact of this technology on surgical performance,” added Wael Othman, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher on the AMMLab. “Looking ahead, we plan to refine this system for robotic-assisted surgeries and explore even more sensitive microfluidic-based sensors for enhanced tissue differentiation.”
Extra info:
Wael Othman et al, Off-the-Jaw Tactile Sensing System for Tissue Stiffness and Thickness Evaluation in Minimally Invasive Surgical procedure, IEEE Entry (2025). DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3550948
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