July 28, 2008 - Novare Surgical Systems said it successfully completed the first pediatric single port splenectomy, using RealHand HD instruments.
The patient, an 8-year-old boy from San Jose, CA, is doing very well and one day after his surgery was sitting up in his hospital bed playing games and prepping to go home the next day. The ‘hidden scar’ procedure was performed by Sanjeev Dutta, M.D., at Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and required only a single skin incision in the patient’s belly button.
“It's called single port surgery,” Dr. Dutta said, “and it’s the next evolution in minimal access. And it’s definitely stealth, since we’re leaving no evidence a surgery even occurred. This pathway through the tummy is in the early stages of adoption in both kids and adults, but it’s rapidly gaining acceptance. It definitely takes some dexterity and it helps that we now have surgery tools that mirror my actual hand movements.”
RealHand HD instruments are the very first full range of motion hand-held laparoscopic instruments, according to the company. RealHand technology is designed to mirror the surgeon’s hand direction with the added benefit of tactile feedback. As such, when the surgeon’s hand moves in one direction, the instrument tip exactly follows.
For more information: www.novaresurgical.com