New technology has the potential to make surgical procedures more efficient and effective, reduce errors, and improve patient care and outcomes. It'll take some time before we know which innovations will be adopted as standard practice, but here are a few new items that 2014 brought.
Echelon Flex GST Stapler
This new stapler, by Ethicon, has a gripping surface that eliminates slippage when stapling tissue that has different dimensions of thickness. The stapling procedure time is reduced because gynecologists don’t have to stop and reload the stapler. The stapler gives consistently good firing results due to the improved grasping technology.
The Extracorporeal C-Incision Tissue Extraction
The Extracorporeal C-Incision Tissue Extraction (ExCITE) technique provides a new alternative for extracting contained tissue when performing gynecological surgery. Myomectomy and hysterectomy are prime examples of procedures that can use ExCITE to extract tissue without using power morcellation. This extraction device uses the Anchor Medical containment bag and the Applied Medical self-retaining retractor. This device standardizes the approach to safe tissue extraction, but whether it will catch on is yet to be determined.
Birthing Simulators
The Noelle S2200 birthing simulator, called "Victoria," is a life-sized doll that can go into "labor" and "give birth." It has an 8-hour rechargeable battery, which helps students and trainees stay engaged and in-the-moment during extended labor scenarios. Physicians can experiment with various birthing experiments, which can help reduce errors and improve patient care.
Antiretroviral "Tampon"
An antiretroviral pseudo-tampon, currently being studied and not ready for use, has the potential to protect women from HIV transmission when inserted into the vagina at least 6 minutes before sexual intercourse. The tampon is made of water-soluble nano fibers that contain an antiretroviral agent that coat and protect the vagina when the dissolved. Intercourse further distributes the dosage throughout the vagina. The tampon administration is also being considered for contraceptive use. Although this product may not hit the market for another 10 years, it is given serious consideration because it far exceeds the messiness of gels and the long-dissolve time of the films.