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Fitzgerald TN, Zambeli-Ljepović A, Olatunji BT, Saleh A, Ameh EA. Gaps and priorities in innovation for children's surgery. Semin Pediatr Surg 2023; 32:151352. [PMID: 37976896 DOI: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2023.151352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Lack of access to pediatric medical devices and innovative technology contributes to global disparities in children's surgical care. There are currently many barriers that prevent access to these technologies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Technologies that were designed for the needs of high-income countries (HICs) may not fit the resources available in LMICs. Likewise, obtaining these devices are costly and require supply chain infrastructure. Once these technologies have reached the LMIC, there are many issues with sustainability and maintenance of the devices. Ideally, devices would be created for the needs and resources of LMICs, but there are many obstacles to innovation that are imposed by institutions in both HICs and LMICs. Fortunately, there is a growing interest for development of this space, and there are many examples of current technologies that are paving the way for future innovations. Innovations in simulation-based training with incorporated learner self-assessment are needed to fast-track skills acquisition for both specialist trainees and non-specialist children's surgery providers, to scale up access for the larger population of children. Pediatric laparoscopy and imaging are some of the innovations that could make a major impact in children's surgery worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara N Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alan Zambeli-Ljepović
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Fransisco, USA
| | | | | | - Emmanuel A Ameh
- Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
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Woods A, Nguyen CC, Islam MSU, Lovell NH, Nho Do T, Tsai D. Towards a single-use, low-cost endoscope for gastroenterological diagnostics. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023; 2023:1-4. [PMID: 38083612 DOI: 10.1109/embc40787.2023.10341003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Early diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract including colorectal cancers (CRC) via natural orifices have led to a significant increase in patient survival rates. Most screening procedures utilize image-guided techniques via a conventional endoscope. The cost of conventional endoscopes is substantial, ranging in the tens of thousands of USD or more. This presents significant burden for developing countries, which are disproportionally affected by gastroenterological diseases. Conventional endoscopes also require sterilization between use. This increases the chance of cross-infection between patients. To address these problems, this paper introduces a soft endoscope with a disposable insertion tube that can be articulated. This prototype device is hydraulically actuated, capable of a 10 mm bend radius and 180-degree bend angle. The camera system provides 110 degrees field-of-view. The component parts of this disposable endoscope costs less than 200 USD.Clinical relevance-Our low-cost, single-use endoscope eliminates the sterilization step required by conventional systems, thereby reducing the risks of infection and lowering the operating costs. There is also significant scope for our device to be used beyond the human GI track, such as screening for lung or bladder cancers. Given the compact footprint, the minimal cost of the disposable parts, the proposed platform can widen cancer screening programs with quantifiable economic benefit for many patients, particularly those in developing countries.
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Zadey S, Leraas H, Gupta A, Biswas A, Hollier P, Vissoci JRN, Mugaga J, Ssekitoleko RT, Everitt JI, Loh AHP, Lee YT, Saterbak A, Mueller JL, Fitzgerald TN. KeyLoop retractor for global gasless laparoscopy: evaluation of safety and feasibility in a porcine model. Surg Endosc 2023:10.1007/s00464-023-10054-5. [PMID: 37074419 PMCID: PMC10338623 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-023-10054-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many surgeons in low- and middle-income countries have described performing surgery using gasless (lift) laparoscopy due to inaccessibility of carbon dioxide and reliable electricity, but the safety and feasibility of the technique has not been well documented. We describe preclinical testing of the in vivo safety and utility of KeyLoop, a laparoscopic retractor system to enable gasless laparoscopy. METHODS Experienced laparoscopic surgeons completed a series of four laparoscopic tasks in a porcine model: laparoscopic exposure, small bowel resection, intracorporeal suturing with knot tying, and cholecystectomy. For each participating surgeon, the four tasks were completed in a practice animal using KeyLoop. Surgeons then completed these tasks using standard-of-care (SOC) gas laparoscopy and KeyLoop in block randomized order to minimize learning curve effect. Vital signs, task completion time, blood loss and surgical complications were compared between SOC and KeyLoop using paired nonparametric tests. Surgeons completed a survey on use of KeyLoop compared to gas laparoscopy. Abdominal wall tissue was evaluated for injury by a blinded pathologist. RESULTS Five surgeons performed 60 tasks in 15 pigs. There were no significant differences in times to complete the tasks between KeyLoop and SOC. For all tasks, there was a learning curve with task completion times related to learning the porcine model. There were no significant differences in blood loss, vital signs or surgical complications between KeyLoop and SOC. Eleven surgeons from the United States and Singapore felt that KeyLoop could be used to safely perform several common surgical procedures. No abdominal wall tissue injury was observed for either KeyLoop or SOC. CONCLUSIONS Procedure times, blood loss, abdominal wall tissue injury and surgical complications were similar between KeyLoop and SOC gas laparoscopy for basic surgical procedures. This data supports KeyLoop as a useful tool to increase access to laparoscopy in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddhesh Zadey
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
- Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR), Pune, MH, India.
| | - Harold Leraas
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Aryaman Gupta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Arushi Biswas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Julius Mugaga
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Jeffrey I Everitt
- Department of Pathology, Duke University of School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Amos H P Loh
- Duke-NUS Medical School, SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - York Tien Lee
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ann Saterbak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jenna L Mueller
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tamara N Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
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Wang R, Deutsch RJ, Sunassee ED, Crouch BT, Ramanujam N. Adaptive Design of Fluorescence Imaging Systems for Custom Resolution, Fields of View, and Geometries. BME FRONTIERS 2023; 4:0005. [PMID: 37849673 PMCID: PMC10521686 DOI: 10.34133/bmef.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective and Impact Statement: We developed a generalized computational approach to design uniform, high-intensity excitation light for low-cost, quantitative fluorescence imaging of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo samples with a single device. Introduction: Fluorescence imaging is a ubiquitous tool for biomedical applications. Researchers extensively modify existing systems for tissue imaging, increasing the time and effort needed for translational research and thick tissue imaging. These modifications are application-specific, requiring new designs to scale across sample types. Methods: We implemented a computational model to simulate light propagation from multiple sources. Using a global optimization algorithm and a custom cost function, we determined the spatial positioning of optical fibers to generate 2 illumination profiles. These results were implemented to image core needle biopsies, preclinical mammary tumors, or tumor-derived organoids. Samples were stained with molecular probes and imaged with uniform and nonuniform illumination. Results: Simulation results were faithfully translated to benchtop systems. We demonstrated that uniform illumination increased the reliability of intraimage analysis compared to nonuniform illumination and was concordant with traditional histological findings. The computational approach was used to optimize the illumination geometry for the purposes of imaging 3 different fluorophores through a mammary window chamber model. Illumination specifically designed for intravital tumor imaging generated higher image contrast compared to the case in which illumination originally optimized for biopsy images was used. Conclusion: We demonstrate the significance of using a computationally designed illumination for in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo fluorescence imaging. Application-specific illumination increased the reliability of intraimage analysis and enhanced the local contrast of biological features. This approach is generalizable across light sources, biological applications, and detectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roujia Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Riley J. Deutsch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Brian T. Crouch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nirmala Ramanujam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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Zadey S, Mueller J, Fitzgerald TN. Improving Access to Laparoscopic Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. JAMA Surg 2022; 157:844-845. [PMID: 35857291 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.2675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Siddhesh Zadey
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.,Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR), Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Jenna Mueller
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park
| | - Tamara N Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.,Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina
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