Surgeons could save time in key-hole operations if a novel laparoscopic tool that combines three functions in one, developed by the University of Malta, is commercialised.

The research has been coordinated by the university’s Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering over two years and a patent for the invention is being sought.

While minimally invasive surgery has numerous benefits, including less bleeding, scarring, infections and recovery time, it also has a couple of disadvantages, such as the multiple swapping of single-functioning tools, explained Jonathan Borg, from the department.

Outlining the motivation behind the research, he said operation time was increased by 30 per cent and the idea was to understand how it could be reduced.

In the researchers’ observation of the swapping of traditional tools, similar patterns were identified, which led them to believe the combination of scissors, a hook and a grasper would achieve that aim. Prof. Borg said the concept of multifunctional tools was not new but it was the combination of these three that was innovative. “As far as we know, that specific combination does not exist,” he said.

The team faced manufacturing challenges in the course of the development process due to the minute size of the tool, which went from 150mm x 80mm in the first prototype to 35mm x 10mm in the fourth. Surgeons approached so far have shown “encouraging” feedback and were “optimistic” about the tool, said Prof. Borg, adding that some training would be required to handle the three-in-one biomedical device. The university has filed a patent with the World Intellectual Property Organisation and the next step would be to push the product and work on its commercialisation.

The project – ICT-based design tool from the development of micro-parts for a laparoscopic surgery tool, IDeLap – was financed by the Malta Council of Science and Technology, through a €200,000 grant from its National Research and Innovation Programme. The valuable knowledge and expertise that emerged from the development process has also been captured in an intelligent CAD tool for re-use in other industries that are concerned with the design and manufacture of micro-scale devices, Prof. Borg said.

The research also aimed at developing an ICT-based tool to aid designers in the early stages of micro-scale biomedical devices, he said.

Its spin-offs include the generation of scientific publications and their presentation at international conferences to transfer the knowledge to the industry.