Preliminary Work
Surgical Tools
These are images of the current tools, uses, and ways they are held.
Pilot Study
- A pilot study was completed to determine the proper load cell(s) for the instrumented surgical tools. It was important to determine the orders of magnitudes of forces and moments.
- Image 1 depicts the resultant forces and moments when a force is applied to one side of the forceps, as the other side remains stationary, compressing until fully compressed.
- Image 2 depicts the resultant forces and moments in a simulation of forceps pulling on skin. To simulate this, a suture was sewn in to the skin. The suture line was then attached to a load cell. The experimenter then pulled on the load cell with one hand while stabilizing surrounding tissue with the other.
- Image 3 depicts the resultant forces and moments of forceps squeezing a load cell.
- Image 4 depicts the resultant forces and moments of a scalpel cutting skin. A load cell was mounted to the scalpel at a common gripping location. The experimenter held on to one side of the load cell while cutting to ensure all forces were translated through the load cell.
Physical Assembly
Scalpel
Forceps