Research Group Single-Port

Funded by Deutschen Forschungsgesellschaft

Minimally-invasive-invasive endoscopic operating methods potentially induce an enormous reduction of trauma and therewith a faster recovery time for the patient. However, the full potential of this new method can only be exploited, if intelligent, flexible manipulators and instruments are connected to high-performance assistance systems. These assistance systems will put the laparoscopic and interventional endoscopic surgeon into a position in which they can break different kinds of barriers. An innovative endoscopic concept in terms of the creation of a single-port-technology as a platform for new treatment methods, hence, seems sensible. The term ‘single-port’ implies that several independently controllable instruments can be bundled within on single shaft or arm. Consequently the same access point as for standard endoscopy can be used and once the target has been reached the insertion arm will be exchanged by several opposable arms in order to significantly increase the mobility and to enable the opposability (opposite position of the instruments). Therewith an essential requirement is met for as well transabdominal (laparoscopy) as transluminal (NOTES) single-port-interventions. This innovative endoscopic concept will now be realized within a research group supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) in close collaboration between engineering (medical engineering, applied mechanics, robotics) and clinical disciplines (visceral surgery, gastroenterology).