Validation of a Novel “Windshield Wiper” for Laparoscopes in Cadaver and Live Porcine Models

Abstract

Background

During laparoscopic surgeries, laparoscopes are inserted through a trocar port into the body cavity, which is then insufflated with carbon dioxide. Laparoscope lens clarity frequently becomes compromised via condensation or smearing of blood and adipose. This problem is well-known in the field, yet a viable in vivo solution has yet to address the issue and be successfully clinically adopted.

Research Design

A structured cadaveric study evaluated the cleaning performance and clinician satisfaction with a novel laparoscope lens cleaning device against 2 gold-standard lens cleaning products. The novel device was also tested in a live animal porcine model to assess cleaning performance in a warm body environment qualitatively. The validation in the porcine model did not have the same evaluation process and comparison with other lens clearing methods as the cadaveric experiment.

Results

Cleaning events were timed individually and analyzed post hoc. Average times to clean scopes for the novel device, Clearify™, and Fred™ Anti-Fog solution were 5 ± 5, 16 ± 7, and 14 ± 6 seconds, respectively. In 100 cleaning events with the novel device, the laparoscope was removed from the body zero times, with an average of 2 ± 1.29 cleaning actuations per event. Clearify™ and Fred™ Anti-Fog were removed from the body 102 and 116 times, with an average number of cleaning actuations of 1.07 ± 0.26 and 1.19 ± 0.53 per event, respectively. In the live porcine model, the novel device consistently cleared all debris deposited on the lens, including fog, tissue, blood, and bile fluid.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the novel device’s reduction in cleaning duration and scope removals compared to gold-standard technologies, suggesting a potential for improved workflow and reduced intra-operative interruptions.