Force transmission of laparoscopic grasping instruments

Summary In laparoscopic surgery, grasping instruments are used to manipulate tissue. These instruments are the only means of contact between tissue and the surgeon's hand. With well designed instruments, the pinching force on the hand should be a reliable measurement for the grasping force on the jaws. To evaluate this transmission of information by the mechanisms of existing grasping instruments, measurements and calculations were carried out. It was found that due to mechanical friction losses and variations in the transmission of forces over the working range, the information transmission is far from ideal. Ways to improve the transmission of information, by adjusting existing instruments or by designing alternative concepts, are indicated.