In this section

Human-centred Automation, Robotics and Monitoring

Head of Group

Dr George Mylonas

About us

We use perceptual methods, AI, and frugal robotics innovation to deliver transformative diagnostic and treatment solutions.

Youtube: HARMS Lab

What we do

The HARMS lab leverages perceptually enabled methodologies, artificial intelligence, and frugal innovation in robotics (such as soft surgical robots) to deliver transformative solutions for diagnosis and treatment. Our research is driven by both problem-solving and curiosity, aiming to build a comprehensive understanding of the actions, interactions, and reactions occurring in the operating room. We focus on using robotic technologies to facilitate procedures that are not yet widely adopted, particularly in endoluminal surgery, such as advanced treatments for gastrointestinal cancer.

Why it is important?

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How can it benefit patients?

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Meet the team

Dr George Mylonas BEng, MSc, DIC, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Robotics and Technology in Cancer

Dr Adrian Rubio Solis
Research Associate in Sensing and Machine Learning

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Robertson:2022:10.1007/s00464-021-08807-1,
author = {Robertson, D and Sterke, F and van, Weteringen W and Arezzo, A and Mintz, Y and Nickel, F and Technology, committee of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery EAES and Horeman, T},
doi = {10.1007/s00464-021-08807-1},
journal = {Surg Endosc},
pages = {4542--4551},
title = {Characterisation of trocar associated gas leaks during laparoscopic surgery.},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00464-021-08807-1},
volume = {36},
year = {2022}
}

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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY - JOUR
AB - BACKGROUND: During laparoscopy, the abdominal cavity is insufflated with carbon dioxide (CO2) that could become contaminated with viruses and surgical smoke. Medical staff is potentially exposed when this gas leaks into the operating room through the instruments and past trocar valves. No detailed studies currently exist that have quantified these leakage pathways. Therefore, the goal of this study was to quantify the gas leakages through trocars and instruments, during minimally invasive procedures. METHODS: A model of the surgical environment was created, consisting of a rigid container with an interface for airtight clamping of laparoscopic equipment such as trocars and surgical instruments. The model was insufflated to 15 mm Hg using a pressure generator and a pneumotachograph measured the equipment gas leak. A protocol of several use cases was designed to simulate the motions and forces the surgeon exerts on the trocar during surgery. RESULTS: Twenty-three individual trocars and twenty-six laparoscopic instruments were measured for leakage under the different conditions of the protocol. Trocar leakages varied between 0 L/min and more than 30 L/min, the instruments revealed a range of leakages between 0 L/min and 5.5 L/min. The results showed that leakage performance varied widely between trocars and instruments and that the performance and location of the valves influenced trocar leakage. CONCLUSIONS: We propose trocar redesigns to overcome specific causes of gas leaks. Moreover, an international testing standard for CO2 leakage for all new trocars and instruments is needed so surgical teams can avoid this potential health hazard when selecting new equipment.
AU - Robertson,D
AU - Sterke,F
AU - van,Weteringen W
AU - Arezzo,A
AU - Mintz,Y
AU - Nickel,F
AU - Technology,committee of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery EAES
AU - Horeman,T
DO - 10.1007/s00464-021-08807-1
EP - 4551
PY - 2022///
SP - 4542
TI - Characterisation of trocar associated gas leaks during laparoscopic surgery.
T2 - Surg Endosc
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00464-021-08807-1
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34731302
VL - 36
ER -