SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 9, 2011- A University of Utah surgeon has performed the first successful procedure with the FMwand, a new medical device developed by Salt Lake City-based Domain Surgical that, in essence, acts as a bloodless knife, cauterizing as it cuts.
The FDA recently cleared the device for use in humans. Joel MacDonald, M.D., a neurosurgeon with the University of Utah鈥檚 Clinical Neurosciences Center and an associate professor in the School of Medicine, used the FMwand during three surgical procedures this week鈥攖wice for spine surgery and once for brain surgery.
"The wand allows for precise control," says MacDonald. "It minimizes collateral tissue damage in multiple surgical procedures, which is good news for patients. With less tissue damage, I鈥檓 optimistic about the potential for improved healing and less postoperative pain."
Using heat during surgery isn鈥檛 new. Electrosurgery accounts for roughly 90 percent of all surgeries performed in the U.S., and has been used for decades. Recent refinements include the use of lasers and ultrasound. But this technology has its limitations; patients must be grounded because of the electrical current, heat isn鈥檛 delivered in a precise manner which can cause significant collateral tissue damage, and heat can鈥檛 be used in areas that contain body fluid such as the knee.
But the FMwand contains a special thin layer of deposited alloy on the tip that produces heat with no electricity. The alloy heats and cools instantly and the coating produces focused, precise energy, making it a viable tool for removing tumors in the brain or doing other delicate neurological work. 鈥淭his opens up new possibilities in the field of neurosurgery,鈥 says MacDonald. 鈥淲e can reach areas we couldn鈥檛 before and remove tumors more precisely.鈥
In addition to the precision, the tool cauterizes tissue instantly, resulting in a minimal loss of blood. This holds promise for faster healing and fewer side effects for patients. The tool also self-cleans, eliminating the need to remove debris from the tip of the instrument during surgery.
An interesting side note, the device was invented in the Utah basement of a pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Kim Manwaring. Manwaring was on a quest to find a material that could deliver precise heat. Tinkering in his basement with parts from a ham radio, he came up with the concept for the device and then came across a special alloy developed by a NASA engineer, which he used for the tip of the instrument.
During the next several months the FMwand System, developed by Manwaring鈥檚 company Domain Surgical, will demo the system in a variety of surgical procedures at many of the leading medical institutions across the United States. 鈥淲e have sought out thought leaders across the U.S. to use the device,鈥 says Manwaring. 鈥淥ver the next year, we anticipate the assessments of the evolving role of this device to very difficult neurosurgical procedures.鈥
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