Magnetic anchor technique and its clinical application

Magnetic anchor technique (MAT) is an important part of the magnetic surgery that utilizes the characteristics of the “field” interaction of magnets. By operating the anchoring magnets outsides the body, it draws the target magnets in the body and the instruments carried by them to the target position to assist expose the surgical field. At present, MAT has been applied in many fields, such as general surgery, thoracic surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, urinary surgery and endoscopic operation. In the reduction trocar or single incision laparoscopic surgery, it is difficult to establish triangulation. Besides, the main operating instrument, laparoscopic grasping forceps, laparoscopic camera system, etc. need to be accommodated in a narrow surgical entrance, they are easy to collide and interfere with each other, which increases the difficulty of operation and makes it difficult for operators to master. With the chest and abdominal wall coupling, MAT successfully reduces the trocar and pulling instruments, establishes effective triangulation, obtains a good surgical insight, and makes the surgery more minimally invasive and precision. MAT has been successfully used in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, total hysterectomy, hysteromyomectomy, adnexectomy, ovarian cyst resection, nephrectomy and radical prostatectomy, thoracoscopic pulmonary wedge resection and esophagectomy, endoscopic submucosal dissection. Besides, it also works well in radical mastectomy and preparation of donor liver in liver transplantation. In magnet-assisted single trocar (MAST) surgery, magnetic instruments provide sufficient retraction, good triangulation and surgical field exposure, improving the human mechanics of the surgeon during appendectomy and cholecystectomy. With the help of MAT, single incision laparoscopic surgery has been successfully completed appendectomies, cholecystectomies, Nissen fundoplications, gastrojejunostomies, splenectomies, ovarian tumor/cyst resections, retroperitoneal lymphangioma resection, adrenalectomy, total abdominal colectomy and pulmonary wedge resection. The traction generated by the combination of external magnets and internal magnets makes it possible to carry out NOTES surgery in patients with thick abdominal walls, and obtain a powerful traction/reverse traction without abdominal puncturing. With the deep cross and integration of magnetic materials, biomechanics and clinical diagnosis and treatment technique, MAT will expand the application in the future and promote the progress of surgical diagnosis and treatment technique and medical device industry.