A Cardiff University life sciences spin-out company has set its sights on the lucrative US medical device market after successfully securing FDA (Food and Drug Administration)approval for its Ultravision device.
The Ultravision device, from Alesi Surgical, clears the vapour and particulate matter generated by modern surgical cutting instruments during abdominal keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery.
The device, which produces a small, low-energy electrostatic charge similar to the principal of static electricity, is able to greatly improve visibility for surgeons by actively getting rid of surgical ‘smoke’. The technology also benefits the patient as it minimises the amount of cold, dry carbon dioxide gas – used to create a working space inside the abdomen – which a patient is exposed to during the keyhole procedure.
It is not uncommon for abdominal keyhole procedures to require several hundred litres of this gas to clear the visual field throughout the procedure. Excessive use of carbon dioxide contributes to postsurgical pain and prolongs recovery time for the patient.
Despite concerns over the potential consequences of long-term exposure, the smoke produced during surgery is often released into the operating room where it can be breathed in by hospital operating room staff. However, the use of Ultravision prevents the release of the smoke into the operating room during surgery, helping to address this health and safety hazard for healthcare staff.
