West China Hospital of Sichuan University to Transfer Foot-Controlled, Bendable Electrocautery Hook Patent for RMB 100,000
Recently, West China Hospital of Sichuan University released a public notice on the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, indicating that the university intends to transfer related technologies through negotiated pricing.“A Foot-Controlled, Bendable Electric Hook with a Hook Rod”Relevant patents were transferred to industrial partners, with a transfer amount of100,000 yuan. The inventors of this patent areLiao Hu and his team.
Liao Hu:Associate Chief Physician, M.D., Master’s Supervisor. Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of common thoracic surgical conditions, such as esophageal cancer, esophageal foreign bodies, mediastinal tumors, pneumothorax, empyema, and pleural effusion. Has published more than 20 papers as first or corresponding author in SCI-indexed journals and core Chinese journals, and holds 10 national patents (including invention patents and utility model patents). Has presided over four research projects funded by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology and other agencies. Has delivered presentations at numerous academic conferences organized by the Chinese Medical Association, the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, and the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS). Awarded First Prize in the Young Physicians’ Paper Competition of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and participated in a project that received the First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress of Sichuan Province.
This invention belongs to the field of medical devices and is designed for single-port multi-channel laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery. It addresses three major challenges in single-port multi-channel procedures: “instrument interference, incomplete coverage, and insufficient precision.” Furthermore, through foot-controlled design, ergonomic optimization, and structural simplification, it enhances surgical continuity, safety, and efficiency, while reducing instrument costs and lowering the operational threshold.
Single-port multi-channel minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery has been widely adopted in clinical practice due to its core advantages of minimal trauma and rapid recovery. However,Issues with the Compatibility of Surgical InstrumentsHowever, it has become a key bottleneck limiting the full realization of its therapeutic efficacy.
This surgical technique involves the insertion of a multi-channel trocar through a single port at the umbilicus, resulting in a single instrument entry path, and the trocar height is greater than that of traditional single-port trocars.Approximately 30 mm. Existing surgical instruments present numerous significant pain points in clinical applications, severely compromising the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures.
From a technical perspective,Current surgical instruments exhibit significant limitations in their structural design and functional configuration.
On the one hand, traditional surgical instruments mostly adopt a straight-shaft structure, lacking flexible bending adjustment capabilities and featuring relatively uniform length specifications. Consequently, they cannot accommodate variations in abdominal cavity depth among patients of different body types, making it difficult to reach peripheral organ regions such as the kidneys. This results in incomplete surgical coverage and prevents comprehensive intra-abdominal procedures. Meanwhile, when multiple straight-shaft instruments are introduced into the abdominal cavity simultaneously, their concentrated operational paths easily lead to cross-interference, thereby disrupting the surgeon’s workflow.
On the other hand, the handle operation angles of some existing curved electrosurgical hooks have significant limitations. Adjusting the orientation of the hook tip is inconvenient, and the lack of intuitive operational guidance forces surgeons to repeatedly adjust the device to find an appropriate working angle, thereby compromising surgical continuity. Furthermore, the hook tips of traditional electrosurgical hooks are mostly manufactured as a single integrated component, which demands extremely high precision in machining the central lumen. This not only leads to increased defect rates and higher costs but also makes the metal articulated section prone to bending and deformation due to dimensional variations, resulting in operational instability and reduced surgical precision.
Furthermore, most existing electrosurgical hooks rely on manual buttons to control cutting and coagulation functions. During operation, surgeons must simultaneously manage handle grip and button actuation, which restricts the rotational freedom of the handle, increases the surgeon’s operational burden, and indirectly prolongs surgical duration.
These issues directly limit the efficiency and safety of clinical surgeries:Insufficient instrument coverage prevents the completion of surgeries in complex anatomical regions; operational interference and instability increase the risk of accidental tissue injury; manual button controls reduce operational flexibility.
For single-port multi-channel minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, existing instruments struggle to meet the core clinical demands for operational flexibility, coverage, and precision. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a novel electrosurgical hook tool that is flexible, foot-controlled, and highly adaptable, to overcome the key bottlenecks in surgical manipulation.
This foot-controlled electric hook with a flexible shaft leverages targeted structural innovations and functional optimizations to comprehensively address the application limitations of traditional surgical instruments in single-incision multi-port laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery. It establishes significant advantages in operational flexibility, coverage, precision, and clinical adaptability, providing a more efficient and safe solution for such procedures.
From the perspective of core structural innovation,The patent, featuring a bendable design and multi-specification compatibility, achieves comprehensive coverage of the surgical field.
On the one hand,Adopts a metal articulated bending structure,Each segment can bend up to 10°, and the four-segment combination achieves a maximum bending angle of 40°. Paired with hook rods available in three lengths (330 mm, 360 mm, and 420 mm), the system not only flexibly avoids multi-instrument cross-interference but also accommodates variations in abdominal cavity depth among patients of different body types. This enables easy access to peripheral organs such as the kidneys, thoroughly resolving the problem of incomplete coverage associated with traditional straight-shaft instruments.
On the other hand, the outer diameters of both the hook head and the functional tube are5mm, and is widely compatible with various endoscopic surgical procedures. Compared with traditional bending components, the metal articulating segment structure offers superior load-bearing capacity, minimizes lateral deviation during bending, and can withstand a hook pull force of 10 N, thereby ensuring stability and efficiency when cutting fascial tissue.
In terms of operational control,Innovatively AdoptFoot Switch Controller, with the assistance ofIndependent Switches for Cutting and CoagulationAchieve functional control, completely eliminating the limitations imposed by manual button operations on the rotation angle of the tool holder, enabling surgeons to focus on instrument positioning and manipulation, thereby enhancing procedural continuity.
In terms of handle design,ApplicationUmbrella-Handle Ergonomic Design, supports 360° omnidirectional adjustment of the gripping angle, and features a "straight/curved" deflection indicator at the distal end. This allows physicians to rapidly control the flexion and extension of the working channel with one hand via the drive wheel, enabling intuitive and convenient adjustment of the hook tip orientation, thereby significantly improving operational precision.
In terms of structural details,The hook head section is divided intoHook Base and Alloy Steel Hook Head. The base is manufactured using a molding process, which not only reduces the precision requirements and production costs associated with traditional integrated machining but also eliminates operational instability caused by dimensional variations. The alloy steel hook tip effectively prevents eschar formation and tissue adhesion during electrocoagulation, while its unique design further ensures cutting efficiency. The dual-circuit conductive structure (comprising the hook tip–driving spring–inner drive rod circuit and the hook tip–metal articulated segment–outer tube circuit) ensures stable electrical conduction for both electrosurgical cutting and coagulation functions. This structure forms a reliable circuit in conjunction with the high-frequency electrosurgical generator and the disposable neutral electrode pad, thereby enhancing surgical safety.
These advantages directly empower clinical surgical practice: the steerable structure and multi-specification design enable comprehensive, blind-spot-free maneuverability throughout the surgical field, reducing the frequency of instrument exchanges; foot-controlled operation combined with a 360° adjustable handle reduces the surgeon’s operational burden and enhances procedural continuity; precise structural design and material selection ensure surgical accuracy while lowering instrument costs and defect rates.
For single-port multi-channel minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, this patented technology not only overcomes the functional limitations of traditional instruments but also achieves a triple enhancement in operational flexibility, coverage range, and clinical safety through structural innovation and detailed optimization, providing strong support for the precise and efficient performance of such procedures.
Currently, in view of the core requirements for instrument flexibility, coverage, and operational precision in single-port multi-channel laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery, medical enterprises and research institutions have accelerated the pace of related technology R&D and product deployment, forming a competitive market landscape centered on structural optimization and operational adaptability.
Olympus HiQ+ Monopolar High-Frequency Electrode Hook (Model A6282)Designed with specifications of 5×330 mm, it is suitable for conventional laparoscopic procedures. The electrode features anti-adhesive properties and excellent operational stability. It is a commonly used instrument for single-port surgery in tertiary hospitals and has obtained both EU CE certification and China NMPA certification.
Hangzhou Tonglu Yida Medical Instrument & Equipment Co., Ltd.ofSteerable Electrosurgical Hook, featuring a purpose-designed articulating structure. When used in conjunction with a single-port trocar, this electrocautery hook minimizes cross-interference between instruments, and its specifications meet the requirements of conventional laparoscopic surgery. Furthermore, this articulating electrocautery hook can be used in combination with other articulating instruments, such as dissecting forceps and grasping forceps.