An automated surgical device, the ventilator tube applicator (VTA), enables a grommet insertion surgery for patients with otitis media with effusion (OME) to be completed in a short time automatically and precisely, eliminating the use of general anesthesia (GA) typically required in such procedure. However, its current design limits the usefulness of the device as it is restricted by the properties of the tympanic membrane (TM), such as angle, thickness, and strength. Therefore, a novel design was conceptualized and the insertion control algorithm was improved to overcome the current challenges of the VTA. This innovative cover-cutter instrument design allows three-dimensional (3D) motion on an oblique surface using a single axis actuator. Experimental results on mock membranes showed great improvements in terms of robustness and success rate. The new design allowed the procedure to be performed on wider range of TM angles and hence increased the effectiveness of VTA. Grommet insertion force was reduced by an average of 66%, and the overall peak force reduced by an average of 14%. Finite element (FE) analysis on a cadaveric TM model further validated the usefulness of the cover-cutter instrument, and showed some interesting insights in the grommet insertion process.
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September 2018
Research-Article
Novel Design and Validation of a Micro Instrument in an Ear Grommet Insertion Device
Cailin Ng,
Cailin Ng
NUS Graduate School for Integrative
Sciences and Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: cailin.ng@u.nus.edu
Sciences and Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: cailin.ng@u.nus.edu
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Wenyu Liang,
Wenyu Liang
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: liangwenyu@nus.edu.sg
Computer Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: liangwenyu@nus.edu.sg
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Chee Wee Gan,
Chee Wee Gan
Department of Otolaryngology,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: entgcw@nus.edu.sg
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: entgcw@nus.edu.sg
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Hsueh Yee Lim,
Hsueh Yee Lim
Department of Otolaryngology,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: lynne@drlynnelim.com
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: lynne@drlynnelim.com
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Kok Kiong Tan
Kok Kiong Tan
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: kktan@nus.edu.sg
Computer Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: kktan@nus.edu.sg
Search for other works by this author on:
Cailin Ng
NUS Graduate School for Integrative
Sciences and Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: cailin.ng@u.nus.edu
Sciences and Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: cailin.ng@u.nus.edu
Wenyu Liang
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: liangwenyu@nus.edu.sg
Computer Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: liangwenyu@nus.edu.sg
Chee Wee Gan
Department of Otolaryngology,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: entgcw@nus.edu.sg
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: entgcw@nus.edu.sg
Hsueh Yee Lim
Department of Otolaryngology,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: lynne@drlynnelim.com
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: lynne@drlynnelim.com
Kok Kiong Tan
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: kktan@nus.edu.sg
Computer Engineering,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119077
e-mail: kktan@nus.edu.sg
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received December 8, 2017; final manuscript received April 11, 2018; published online July 13, 2018. Assoc. Editor: Carl Nelson.
J. Med. Devices. Sep 2018, 12(3): 031004 (12 pages)
Published Online: July 13, 2018
Article history
Received:
December 8, 2017
Revised:
April 11, 2018
Citation
Ng, C., Liang, W., Gan, C. W., Lim, H. Y., and Tan, K. K. (July 13, 2018). "Novel Design and Validation of a Micro Instrument in an Ear Grommet Insertion Device." ASME. J. Med. Devices. September 2018; 12(3): 031004. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4040185
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