Hydraulic Abdominal Retractor

Munazza Khalid, Aina Zulfiqar and Ghania Malik

Abstract
Laparoscopic surgery is subject to certain limitations that can be a problem when
performing complex minimally invasive operations. Robotic surgery was developed
precisely to overcome such technical limitations. A model of the robotic abdominal
retractor arm is made to demonstrate robotic surgery and its advantages. It will be based
on the hydraulic system which works on the principle of Pascal's law

Introduction:

Laparoscopy, also known as diagnostic laparoscopy, is a surgical diagnostic procedure used

to examine the organs inside the abdomen. With conventional laparoscopy, the surgeon
must look up and away from the instruments, to a nearby 2D video monitor to see an image
of the target anatomy. The surgeon must also rely on a patient-side assistant to position the
camera correctly. In contrast, in robotic surgery a surgeon sits behind a screen and looks at a
magnified view of the surgical site while operating the machine’s robotic arms. To
demonstrate this a model of the hydraulic abdominal retractor is made. The retractor is
moved with the help of syringes (containing water) by pushing the plunger of one syringe
which then moves the syringe connected to it with a tube according to Pascal's Law which
states, "Pressure applied to any part of a confined fluid transmits to every other part with no
loss. The pressure acts with equal force on all equal areas of the confining walls and
perpendicular to the walls. This is the basic principle for any hydraulic system."

Methodology:

The model of the hydraulic surgical retractor comprises of two primary parts; the retractor
and the fixture on which all the components are to be attached. The shape of the retractor
blades are cut out on a corrugated Fiberboard using a blade cutter and are pinned together
at the pivot point using a stainless steel self-tapping screw. A corrugated fiberboard box is
used as a fixture on which the retractor is horizontally attached with the same screw for
undisturbed movement. Several pieces of aluminum wire are looped and bent to form teeth
on the hooks of the retractor. For the systematic working, two syringes are used for the to
and fro movement of each blade; with the plunger of the first syringe being joined to each
handle (of the retractor) and the second syringe is connected to the first one via a tube. For
demonstration purposes a small hole is made on the fixture where the tip of retractors is
placed and two pieces of an elastic material are glued on the hole with an opening in the
middle to represent an incision. This incision will be opened with the teeth of the retractor
with the help of the syringes.
Conclusion:

The robotic arms can get into hard-to-reach places, promising patients less bleeding, faster
recovery, less chance of damage to important nerves, and smaller scars than traditional
surgeries.