Team members:
- Christopher Kitt
- Brenda Marcum
- Jacob Oliver
- Michael Roth
- Andrew Yuan
The members of team Smooth Operation are designing and building a surgical instrument which combines the current laparoscopic tool port with an imaging device. Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive abdominal operation in which tools are inserted through small incisions called ports. The surgery is performed using an inserted camera referred to as a laparoscope which allows the surgeon to view the surgical site. Current laparoscopic surgeries consist of multiple ports -- one for the camera module and others for the instruments necessary for the operation. Our design will eliminate one incision by incorporating a high resolution camera module with an existing instrument port. The instrument will also include an external LCD screen, providing the surgeon with a precise and convenient view of the surgical site. This will result in a reduction of patient trauma and also provide a more efficient procedure for the surgical team. The design will also include a method for video storage of the procedure for later instructional or legal purposes.