Design and Development of Atraumatic Vacuum Assisted Delivery Devices

New medical devices have enabled many of the most significant developments in modern medicine, including minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and endoscopy. Complex intra-abdominal surgeries can now be performed through a number of small (1 - 4cm) incisions, while endoscopes make it possible to perform diagnostic imaging, biopsies and simple interventions in areas like the digestive system and urinary tract without breaking the skin. The massive reduction in trauma associated with this minimally invasive approach leads to significant benefits including reduced risk of post-operative complications and shorter recovery time. But access is only half the story. Where current surgical tools succeed in minimising access trauma they fall short in providing effective mechanisms to interact with internal tissues. To remedy this it is essential to understand the nature of these tissues and interact with them appropriately. This studentship will build on a previous work which investigated forceps to minimise tissue damage in laparoscopic surgery and apply these concepts to medical devices being developed by the host company.

Aim
The project aims to minimise damage in devices which interact closely with sensitive tissues. The project will be developed through a close industry partnership, in particular identifying pertinent areas of clinical need and commercial opportunity. The work will involve clinical evaluation and integration of novel research in tissue sensing and interaction.