Magnetically Controlled Tools Assist in Minimally Invasive Surgery

A toolbox of magnetically controlled surgical instruments for minimally invasive surgery give surgeons greater maneuverability and range of motion, while reducing the number of entry ports into the abdominal cavity required for surgery.

The Magnetic Anchoring and Guidance System (MAGS) developed by researchers at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, TX, USA) and UT Arlington (USA), uses magnets outside the abdomen that attract others attached to instruments inserted within the abdomen, allowing internal movement. The MAGS system could potentially benefit the emerging fields of laparoendoscopic single site surgery (LESS) and natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). UT Arlington and UT Southwestern Medical Center have reached an agreement with Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick, NJ, USA), to further develop and manufacture the MAGS system.


"This is powerful technology and a very innovative concept,” said Daniel Scott, M.D., an associate professor of surgery and director of the Southwestern Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery. "These new instruments are much better than most of the currently available technology - offering much better stability and maneuverability.”

"A laparoscopic incision represents a fixed access point that has a limited working envelope that is conical in shape. We are working to develop the technology to move around more freely,” explained Jeffrey Cadeddu, M.D., a professor of urology and radiology and director of the clinical center for minimally invasive treatment of urologic cancer. "The magnetic maneuverability affords a much greater range of motion inside the abdominal cavity, allowing the surgical team to more easily position instruments in their optimum locations.”

"We are excited about the opportunity to codevelop the MAGS technology with the University of Texas at Arlington,” said Karen Licitra, company group chairman for Ethicon Endo-Surgery. "The collaboration between the clinical and engineering teams at UT Arlington is very much in line with our approach to achieving our vision of transforming patient care through innovation.”

Related Links:
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
University of Texas Arlington
Ethicon Endo-Surgery
Johnson & Johnson