Morcellation Solution Provides Complete Tissue Containment and Extraction

A minimally invasive system can provide a laparoscopic surgery option to avoid open hysterectomy and myomectomy.

The Olympus Contained Tissue Extraction System is comprised of the Pneumoliner containment device and the next-generation PK Morcellator. The PneumoLiner is designed to create a barrier between the targeted tissue and non-targeted abdominal contents, significantly reducing the risk of disseminating cells and tissue into the peritoneal cavity during power morcellation. Once insufflated, it allows space and vision throughout the procedure, while maintaining a barrier to the escape of fluids, cells, and tissue fragments.


The laparoscopic PK Morcellator uses energy rather than blades to break up tissue. Attachments include cutting forceps with a unique five-in-one design that grasps, dissects, coagulates, transects, and retracts tissue all in one easy-to-use device across a wide variety of procedures; the Lyons dissecting forceps, with a two-tiered, tapered jaw design with serrated surfaces to provide secure grasping and retraction of tissue as well as pinpoint or wide-based coagulation; and the Plasma Spatula with a unique angled tip and broad surface to provide the ability to precisely cut, coagulate and dissect in a variety of procedures.

Also available are the Plasma J-Hook, which simultaneously cuts and coagulates to reduce procedure time, with a tip design that is designed for skeletonization and mobilization. Finally, an adjustable needle electrode allows the surgeon to adjust the depth of the cut for precise control and minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The Olympus Contained Tissue Extraction System is a product of Olympus Medical (Tokyo, Japan), and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“The Olympus Contained Tissue Extraction System provides gynecologists and their appropriate, low-risk patients with what they want again: a choice,” said Todd Usen, President of the Olympus Medical Systems Group at Olympus Corporation of the Americas. “The Olympus Contained Tissue Extraction System is the solution that will allow gynecologists to once again safely and effectively offer minimally invasive hysterectomies and myomectomies as options to certain low-risk patients.”

“Contained tissue extraction is continually evolving. As surgeons, it is our duty to evaluate potential solutions to the surgical challenges we face in clinical practice,” said Arnold Advincula, MD, vice-chair and chief of gynecology at Sloane Women’s Hospital (New York, NY, USA). “We are pleased that Olympus has taken the initiative to develop a unique and well tested system designed specifically to facilitate the option for a laparoscopic approach in women who are at a low risk of having an unexpected malignancy at the time of surgery.”

All surgeons who wish to use the containment system will be required to complete aformal training protocol before use, as required per mandate of the FDA. The system is not indicated for women with tissue that is known or suspected to contain malignancy, and should not be used for removal of uterine tissue containing suspected fibroids in patients who are peri- or post-menopausal, or in candidates for en bloc tissue removal vaginally or via mini-laparotomy.

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