Design of an Instrumented Handle for Determining Forces Involved in Surgical Cutting.
Britton, Nathaniel.
2011
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Abstract: One of
the most important tools a surgeon uses in surgical procedures is surgical blades. To
provide insight into the act of cutting tissue, improve the quality of surgical blades,
and generate critical data necessary for creating realistic physical and virtual
training environments, it is critical to have good understanding of the biomechanical
properties of tissues and the forces ... read moreneeded to cut tissue. In this project, a novel
device consisting of a strain gauge-based force transducer mounted within a typical
scalpel-style handle was designed and fabricated to quantitatively measure the forces
(stabbing, cutting, and lateral forces) applied to surgical blades during a cutting
operation. The evaluation of the device focused on the accuracy and repeatability of
force measurement. Two surgical blades (Becton Dickinson #376500 and 376700) and two
different mediums (Dragon Skin® and porcine loin) were tested. The evaluation has
shown that forces involved in the stab and cut direction can be accurately measured with
this device and the resolution and repeatability are high enough to differentiate the
forces exerted between several blades interacting with different mediums. Future
modifications to the instrumented tool are envisioned, with the goal of improving
measurements in the stab direction, implementing on-board electronics for tetherless
operation, and allowing for in-vivo testing.
Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University, 2011.
Submitted to the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.
Advisor: Gary Leisk.
Committee: Anil Sigal, and Brian Woytowich.
Keywords: Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering.read less - ID:
- 3197xz53j
- Component ID:
- tufts:20751
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
