Endoscopic techniques are revolutionizing surgery and further expansion is inevitable. Minimally invasive surgery requires a dry operating field to avoid major hemorrhage. Electrosurgical devices fulfill the need for cutting and coagulation in a cost-effective manner. However, monopolar systems can conduct current along unwanted pathways and cause tissue damage. Although recently developed bipolar scissors address safety concerns, the scissors are limited by slow or ineffective coagulation, relatively high cost to manufacture, and loss of 'feel' for the surgeon who is accustomed to 'metal to metal' cutting surfaces. Thus, in Phase l, we developed, built and tested new bipolar scissors, in which each blade is a bipolar electrode. This design allows for multiple local current pathways. In benchtop and in-vivo experiments, the Enable scissors had superior characteristics compared with other bipolar scissors; i.e., higher current densities, lower impedance, and greater coagulation efficiency. In Phase II, we will complete the development of the Enable scissors and compare the Enable bipolar scissors with other devices in benchtop and in acute and chronic in-vivo studies. The superior performance of the Enable scissors will improve patient care. In Phase III, similar to our current approach, we will market these scissors both nationally and internationally.
Our newly designed bipolar scissors will overcome the limitations of current bipolar scissors. The scissors would help to expand endoscopic surgery, and thus, improve patient care. The endoscopic market is a rapidly growing segment, having a growth rate of over 20%/year with total instrument sales exceeding $1 billion annually.
