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Structural design sensitivity analysis of an ultrasonically activated scalpel to improve contact pressure distribution

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Abstract

Ultrasonically activated scalpels (UAS) have excellent hemostatic effects with minimal tissue damage while dissecting tissue. However, inhomogeneous contact pressure (CP) distribution at the sealing site can decrease the quality of sealing strength and cutting. In this study, we evaluated the contact mechanics of UAS using 3D finite element analysis (FEA) simulations, and examined the effects of structural design parameters on the contact mechanics (average CP, standard deviation of CP, maximum CP, and contact area) using experiment-based sensitivity analysis. The largest positive and negative response of the average CP and standard deviation of CP were 0.68-0.85 MPa and 0.81-0.44 MPa, respectively (r = 0.32 and r = -0.73, P < 0.05) when the handle length, jaw cave, and tissue pad height were increased. In conclusion, design parameters (tissue pad height, jaw cave height, jaw cave length, and handle length) of UAS demonstrating high correlation with average CP, standard deviation of CP, maximum CP, and contact area should be considered to attain evenly distributed CP for improved structural optimization of UAS.

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Author notes

  1. These authors equally contributed to this work as first author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomechatronic Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seoburo, Jangangu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 16419, Korea

    Tae Hyong Kim, Ahnryul Choi, Joung Hwan Mun & Hyunggun Kim

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Catholic Kwandong University, 24 Beomilro 579 Beongil, Gangneung, Gangwon, 25601, Korea

    Ahnryul Choi

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seoburo, Jangangu, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 16419, Korea

    Mun-Taek Choi

Authors
  1. Tae Hyong Kim
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  2. Ahnryul Choi
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  3. Mun-Taek Choi
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  4. Joung Hwan Mun
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  5. Hyunggun Kim
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Correspondence to Joung Hwan Mun or Hyunggun Kim.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Won Hyoung Ryu

Hyunggun Kim is an Associate Professor of the Department of Biomechatronic Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. He received his Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Iowa. His research interests include the development of computational strategies for patientspecific cardiovascular evaluation and virtual simulation techniques for various surgical interventions.

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Kim, T.H., Choi, A., Choi, MT. et al. Structural design sensitivity analysis of an ultrasonically activated scalpel to improve contact pressure distribution. J Mech Sci Technol 32, 5533–5540 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-018-1051-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-018-1051-6

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