Ning Li, Gregory J Mancini, MD, FACS, Jindong Tan, PhD. The University of Tennessee
Background and Objective
Fully insertable laparoscopic cameras have been recently suggested and prototyped as a candidate for the next generation of surgical imaging device. However, to the best of our knowledge, most currently available designs suffer from the incumbrance tethering wires, which are required for powering and communication. Unfortunately, increasing the number of wires in the tether reduces its overall flexibilty, affects camera mobility, and causes tether-instrument interference. Thus, in order to improve camera in-vivo mobility, objective of this abstract is to introduce a "cable-free" wireless insertable surgical camera for minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.
Method and Implementation
Fig.1 Conceptual design of the camera wtih a close-up view
Design and working concept of the camera was given in Fig.1 wtih a close-up view of the inside layout. Characteristic design challenges arise from two aspects, non-contact actuation and cable-free powering and communication. A magnetic actuation method based on the principle of spherical motors was chosen for driving the in-vivo camera. Onboard electronic system of the camera was built around a 2.4GHz wireless MCU which could provide a wireless control link as well as necessary processing power. Meanwhile, a wireless video transmitter was also incorporated to stream vision of the surgical site captured by an integrated miniature CMOS sensor in real time for surgeon's reference. After all, the camera ran on FDA approved onboard batteries. By fitting all the aforementioned resources together with a few other illumination and sensing components into a compact-sized biocompatible shell, we have successfully prototyped and tested this cable-free wireless insertable laparoscopic surgical camera.
Preliminary Results
Fig.2 Implementation of the camera prototype
By the time of this abstract, mechanical parts and electronic modules had been fabricated as shown in Fig.2. The camera assembly and inside layout was also illustrated in Fig.2. A preliminary feasibility test has show viability and compatibility of the above design. The size of the camera as a whole is Φ12.5mm x 68mm as shown in Fig.1. RSSI of the wireless control link was better than -50dBm within a distance of three meters. Real-time video was achieved in the format of NTSC at 60fps. Camera illumination was adjustable up to 3300lux. Battery operation time is no less than 50min.
Conclusions and Future
Current progress of this work has shown technical feasibility of a cable-free wireless laparoscopic surgical camera based on off-the-shelf electronic components and industrial wireless standards operating in ISM frequency bands. Design and implementation of the camera hardware for the first time eliminates tethering wires and lays foundation for more dexterous camera in-vivo mobility. A systematical experiment using a mock anatomy will be performed in near future to further testify its mobility and imaging performance.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 83138
Program Number: ETP732
Presentation Session: Emerging Technology Poster
Presentation Type: Poster
