title: Assessment of suturing in the vertical plane shows the efficacy of the multi-degree-of-freedom needle driver for neonatal laparoscopy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have developed a thin needle driver with multiple degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) for neonatal laparoscopic surgery. The tip of this needle driver has three DOFs for grasp, deflection and rotation. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of the multi-DOF needle driver in vertical plane suturing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six pediatric surgeons performed four directional suturing tasks in the vertical plane using the multi-DOF needle driver and a conventional one. Assessed parameters were the accuracy of insertion and exit, the depth of suture, the inclination angle of the needle and the force applied on the model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In left and right direction sutures, the inclination angle of the needle with the multi-DOF needle driver was significantly smaller than that with the conventional one (p = 0.014, 0.042, respectively). In left and right direction sutures, the force for pulling the model with the multi-DOF needle driver was smaller than that with the conventional one (p = 0.036, 0.010, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that multi-directional suturing on a vertical plane using the multi-DOF needle driver had better needle trajectories and was less invasive as compared to a conventional needle driver.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan.
authors: Shinya
authors: S
authors: Takazawa
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Ishimaru
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Fujii
authors: Kanako
authors: K
authors: Harada
authors: Naohiko
authors: N
authors: Sugita
authors: Mamoru
authors: M
authors: Mitsuishi
authors: Tadashi
authors: T
authors: Iwanaka
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009339:Needles; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*
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