THE LAPAROSOUND - AN ULTRASONIC HIFU LAPAROSCOPIC METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CANCER SURGERY

摘要

Background: Laparoscopic surgery, otherwise called keyhole surgery, is a preferred procedure for certain soft tissue surgeries. The advantages of this approach include less blood loss, fewer or no sutures, faster healing and shorter hospital stay. One of the challenges in laparoscopic surgery is the removal of tissue volume through a keyhole (morcellation). The approach proposed by us relies on High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) applied laparoscopically to the tissues through a wavguide. Methods: Numerical modeling of non-linear ultrasonic resonators were applied to facilitate the design of Laparosound device. It comprised a high frequency generator, a handpiece and the cutting waveguide. The waveguide parameters were designed using computer modeling and numerical optimization algorithms. The operating frequency of device was 23.5 kHz. Results: The prototype Laparosound device has been built and tested in-vitro at the University of California, Los Angeles. The device was proven to be capable of laparoscopic soft tissue morcallation such as uterine myoma. The Laparosound device attained a sustainable waveguide stroke amplitude of 300 micrometers peak-to-peak in a long, laparoscopic resonator configuration, which is required for soft tissue morcellation. Conclusion: Laparosound has been developed to facilitate the laparoscopic soft tissue removal using morcellation technique. The new device can find applications in laparo scopic myomectomy that requires removal of fibroids in uterine cancer patients.