Minimally invasive therapies

Minimally Invasive therapies minimize surgical incision to reduce trauma to the body. These procedures often use small diameter catheters in conjunction with endoscopes, fluoroscopes and other imaging devices to guide the procedure. Our Dunn specialty tubing product line of single-lumen, multi-lumen and multi-layer constructions using PEBA, nylons, TPUs, polyolefins and other materials are used throughout the minimally invasive surgical market.

Endoscopy

Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to examine a person’s digestive tract. Using an endoscope, a flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it, the physician can view pictures of the digestive tract on a monitor.

During an upper endoscopy, an endoscope is passed through the mouth and throat and into the esophagus, allowing the doctor to view the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine. Similarly, endoscopes can be passed into the large intestine (colon) through the rectum to examine this area of the intestine. This procedure is called sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy depending on how far up the colon is examined.

A special form of endoscopy called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography, or ERCP, allows pictures of the pancreas, gallbladder, and related structures to be taken. ERCP is also used for stent placement and biopsies. Special catheters are used to deploy stents during endoscopy. Dunn specialty multi-lumen tubes are commonly used for these delivery devices.

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopy is a type of minimally invasive surgery that takes its name from the laparoscope, a slender tool that has a tiny video camera and light on the end. When a surgeon inserts it through a small cut and into the body, a video monitor provides visibility of the surgical area. These procedures are commonly associated with abdominal and pelvic related procedures. Polymer tubes are frequently used to provide channels for surgical tubes.

Robotic surgery is version of laparoscopic surgery, whereby a robot’s mechanical arms hold the instruments and cameras instead of a surgeon. With robotic surgery, the monitor gives the surgeon a 3-D, high-resolution, magnified image inside the body. This allows the surgeon be more exact, and it can mean less impact on the body and less bleeding.

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure of a joint, such as a shoulders, knees, wrists and ankles. The advantage over traditional open surgery is that the joint does not have to be opened up fully. For knee arthroscopy only two small incisions are made, one for the arthroscope and one for the surgical instruments to be used in the knee cavity. This reduces recovery time and may increase the rate of success due to less trauma to the connective tissue. Surgical instruments used in arthroscopy are smaller than traditional instruments, and may include small polymer tubes to allow for insertion of the instrument.