HospiMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News AI Critical Care Surgical Techniques Patient Care Health IT Point of Care Business Focus

Dissolvable Surgical Clip Improves Diagnostic Imaging

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 13 May 2015
Print article
Image: The Kobe dissolvable surgical clip (Photo courtesy of Kobe University).
Image: The Kobe dissolvable surgical clip (Photo courtesy of Kobe University).
A safe surgical clip could reduce postoperative complication rates and minimize problems associated with diagnostic imaging.

Developed by researchers at Kobe University (Japan), the 5-mm dissolvable surgical clip is made of a magnesium alloy that dissolves and is absorbed by the body after a certain period of time. The alloy also contains calcium and zinc to improve its microstructure, ensuring fastening ability and formability. To evaluate the safety of the clip, an implantation study was conducted in a subcutaneous mouse model. The results showed that very little gas was produced as the clip dissolved, and there was no inflammation of the surrounding tissues after 12 weeks.

As the volume of the implanted clip was reduced by almost half during that time, the researchers concluded it would likely dissolve completely within one year. Blood tests revealed that levels of magnesium and other substances in the blood were in the normal range after 12 weeks. To evaluate the functionality of the clip, it was tested in a rat model in which the biliary duct, portal vein, hepatic artery, and hepatic vein were occluded with the clip and a partial liver was removed. During a monitoring period of eight weeks, the clip functioned properly, and micro CT scanning revealed that the quality of images was not degraded.

“We will conduct further in vivo studies and a clinical study within two to three years,” said metallurgical engineer, Prof. Toshiji Mukai, PhD, of the Kobe University Graduate School of Engineering, who was involved in developing the clip. “Kobe University works toward the development of new medical devices. We will continue to promote collaboration between the graduate schools of medicine and engineering.”

Most surgical clips are made of titanium, and as many as 30 to 40 clips may be used during a single surgical procedure. The retained clips lead to diminished quality of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images around the wound area, and can potentially cause complications.

Related Links:
Kobe University

Gold Member
Solid State Kv/Dose Multi-Sensor
AGMS-DM+
Gold Member
Real-Time Diagnostics Onscreen Viewer
GEMweb Live
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
Mechanical Baby Scale
seca 725

Print article

Channels

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: The multi-sensing device can be implanted into blood vessels to help physicians deliver timely treatment (Photo courtesy of IIT)

Miniaturized Implantable Multi-Sensors Device to Monitor Vessels Health

Researchers have embarked on a project to develop a multi-sensing device that can be implanted into blood vessels like peripheral veins or arteries to monitor a range of bodily parameters and overall health status.... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The portable, handheld BeamClean technology inactivates pathogens on commonly touched surfaces in seconds (Photo courtesy of Freestyle Partners)

First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds

Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The Quantra Hemostasis System has received US FDA special 510(k) clearance for use with its Quantra QStat Cartridge (Photo courtesy of HemoSonics)

Critical Bleeding Management System to Help Hospitals Further Standardize Viscoelastic Testing

Surgical procedures are often accompanied by significant blood loss and the subsequent high likelihood of the need for allogeneic blood transfusions. These transfusions, while critical, are linked to various... Read more