Transenterix

With the introduction of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), there has been interest in the general surgery community for developing safe, scarless surgery. NOTES itself brought additional risks to GI surgery, and as such it has not achieved mainstream acceptance. Single site is considered by many surgeons as a bridge between traditional laparoscopic surgery and NOTES without the inherent risks of NOTES. However, initial single-site procedures using standard instrumentation are technically challenging due to the absence of instruments that facilitate triangulation, avoid conflicts between the instruments and the camera, maintain pneumoperitoneum, and reduce operative stress...

INTRODUCTION: Single-port or single-incision cholecystectomy with current rigid laparoscopic devices is limited by in-line visualization, restricting the ability to approach the surgical site with proper angles and instrumentation. A single-port access system with articulating arms and strong instrumentation should minimize these issues. The TransEnterix system may facilitate safe and straightforward single-port surgery. METHODS: The TransEnterix single-port surgery system was used in both survival and nonsurvival porcine laparoscopic cholecystectomies under animal use committee approval...