Surgical Instrument for Fasciectomy to Avoid Nerve Injury in the Hand

Conceptual Design and Evaluation

Master thesis (2023)

Authors

L.Y. Hupkens Mechanical Engineering

Contributors

P. Breedveld Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (supervisor 1)
G. Smit Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (supervisor 2)
Gerald A. Kraan Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis (coach)
Faculty
Mechanical Engineering
Copyright: © 2023 Lisanne Hupkens
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Published Date

25-08-2023

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

Goal: Nerve injury is a typical complication of a fasciectomy, a surgical treatment for Dupuytren's contracture. This research focuses on the creation of a surgical device to prevent this medical complication.
Design: A mechanical feedforward-based device with a spreading and cutting mechanism was proposed. Stretching the target tissue causes a larger biomechanical difference between this tissue and the nerves. This helps to avoid damaging the nerves during the dissection phase. The DisDis prototype with a precision handling grip was develop. It uses a nitinol tube for the spreading mechanism and a conventional scalpel for the cutting mechanism.
Evaluation: The performance and ergonomics of the prototype are disappointing, compared to the conventional fasciectomy dissection method. Despite this unfavourable result, it is thought that mechanical feedforward-based devices could be still make a positive impact.