%0 PDF %T Design of an Instrumented Handle for Determining Forces Involved in Surgical Cutting. %A Britton, Nathaniel. %8 2017-04-18 %R http://localhost/files/3197xz53j %X 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 needed 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 SkinĀ® 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. %[ 2022-10-12 %9 Text %~ Tufts Digital Library %W Institution