Ultra-thin surgical swab: its development and clinical application

Abstract

Introduction

Ultra-thin (diameter: 3 mm) surgical swabs have not been in practical use as it is difficult to manufacture these using the pre-existing methods; therefore, a new technology has been adopted. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficiency of ultra-thin surgical swabs in bench-top and preclinical settings.

Material and methods

We performed liquid particle counter (LPC) test, cotton strength test, shaft bending comparison and surgical vision test for checking the durability of swabs as bench-top investigation, and laparoscopic surgery in a porcine model as preclinical investigation. All tests were compared with conventional 5-mm swabs.

Results

The ultra-thin swabs had fewer eluted particles in the LPC test, endured a 5 kg pulling force in the cotton strength test, their shaft did not break at 100 mm bending in the shaft bend comparison test, and interfered less in the surgical vision test. They were used for manipulating organs with no damage in preclinical investigation.

Conclusions

Three millimeters ultra-thin surgical swabs manufactured with the new manufacturing technology are effective and safe.

Keywords:

• Laparoscopic surgery
• needlescopic surgery
• reduced port surgery
• surgical swab
• thin-diameter instruments

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic surgeons (SAGES) for the opportunity to provide an interim presentation on this research at annual meeting in Houston, Texas, US, March 16–18, 2016.

Declaration of interest

This research was conducted through a joint research and development project between Sanyo Co., LTD. and Osaka University, with no benefits transferred. Shota Fujii, Tomoya Ueda, Kazuhiro Maeda work for Sanyo Co., LTD. All the other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study is a successful case of ‘Fiscal 2014 budget of the small and medium enterprise agency monodukuri, commerce, service innovation subsidy’ supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (2014).