720488Novel robust cleaning system to remove stubborn human adipose tissue (HAT) from keyhole surgery laparoscopesClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKLaparoscopy is abdominal “keyhole” surgery used in General Surgery (e.g. Appendectomy, Hernia Repair, Gall Bladder Surgery and Obesity Surgery), Urology, Colorectal Surgery and Gynaecology. The laparoscope acts as the surgeon’s eyes by projecting an image of the operative site on an external screen. The scope lens is regularly contaminated by fluids, blood, tissue, fat or fogging any of which will impair the screen image. Until recently the only way of cleaning the scope was to remove it from the patient during a procedure. This results in the surgeon’s work flow and concentration being broken, the operation stopped and restarted, and there is a risk to patient safety since the surgeon can no longer see the operating field – and often at a critical moment (for example when there is bleeding). A 2013 Kings College Hospital study showed that the scope is removed on average 13 times per procedure and even then a surgeon will work 37% of the time with sub-optimal vision. The applicant, behind this application, developed and markets the OpClear, a device to clear the lens of all contamination whilst the scope remains within the patient. The OpClear is a disposable sheath that clips onto a laparoscope and delivers a bolus of CO2 across the lens surface to instantly clear the lens. In Clinical Evaluations the OpClear successfully clears all contaminants except one – Human Adipose Tissue (HAT). Essentially HAT is vaporised fat caused by using energy assisted techniques to cut or ligate tissue. This creates a fatty smear that clings to the lens. Market feedback is that if the HAT problem can be solved we can immediately sell the OpClear to the broad community of laparoscopic surgeons both in the UK and Europe. Without a solution sales will be are very difficult. We present the enclosed to develop a solution to integrate into OpClear to remove stubborn HAT contamination from the lens. The key objective is the validation of a prototype HAT system in a clinical setting.