Assessing underlying pulsatile structures with laparoscopic tools using proximal vibroacoustic sensing

Abstract

This work presents a novel approach for detecting underlying pulsatile structures with laparoscopic tools by using proximal vibroacoustic sensing. This new method could detect pulsations at a depth of up to 1.5 cm. The outcome of this work indicates the potential of identifying deep-seated pulsatile structures during robot-assisted laparoscopy, where haptic feedback is highly limited, to help surgeons prevent vascular damage that may lead to injuries.

Keywords

• robot-assisted laparoscopy
• haptic feedback
• vascular damage
• vibroacoustic sensing