The SMART Trocar: Force, Deviation, and Impedance Sensing Trocar for Enhanced Laparoscopic Surgery

Abstract

Intra-abdominal organ and vascular injuries during laparoscopic trocar placement remain a significant cause for surgical complications during laparoscopic procedures. These complications can arise if the surgeon deviates from the proper placement axis, requiring additional applied force to obliquely traverse the abdominal wall. This increase in force application increases the risk of internal vessel and organ damage immediately after entrance to the peritoneal cavity. To mitigate this risk, our group designed a trocar that provides real-time feedback of deviation from the proper insertion axis, applied force, and position of the trocar tip within the tissue. This was performed using an accelerometer, load cell, and electrical impedance measurement. Our device was tested in a surgical simulation laboratory by medical students using a porcine abdominal wall model. Results establish our device as an effective training tool for educating surgeons on trocar placement in laparoscopic surgery.