Ultrasonic Shears Enhance Surgical Efficiency

A groundbreaking ultrasonic device allows precise dissection, grasping, coagulating, and cutting without exchanges.

The Harmonic Focus curved shear feels like traditional fine-dissection instruments, but is in fact a 9-mm ultrasonic energy delivery device used for both laparoscopic and open procedures. It offers simultaneous cutting and coagulation, minimal lateral thermal spread, minimal charring and desiccation, and minimal smoke for improved visibility. The Harmonic Focus curved shear cut and coagulates tissue at lower temperatures, thus minimizing lateral thermal tissue spread. This, in turn, results in minimal charring of the tissue, when compared to electrocautery; this offers safer dissection near vital structures, reliable sealing and dividing of up to 5 mm vessels, as well as lymphatic vessels. The Harmonic Focus curved shear is a product of Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Cincinnati, OH, USA).


"Over the course the development of the Harmonic Focus, it was clear that Ethicon Endo-Surgery was striving to deliver an instrument that was designed with collaboration and input from surgeons themselves,” said Professor Paolo Miccoli, M.D., director of the department of surgery, University of Pisa (Italy). "The continued feedback during prototype testing and the number of surgeons from different countries who were involved in the process was quite impressive. The Harmonic Focus curved shear is a truly innovative device that should serve surgeons and their patients well.”

The Harmonic Focus curved shear won a 2009 Gold International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) for the research and design process used in its development. The team observed and recorded 21 different surgical procedures in various parts of the world, in addition to studying the ethnographic and cultural differences within the operating rooms they visited. The findings, along with other market research, were used to develop prototypes, which were evaluated with preference testing and further improved upon, based on direct surgeon feedback.

Related Links:
Ethicon Endo-Surgery
University of Pisa