![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/W.E.L.D.Logo-copy-300x186.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\r\n<\/p>\r\n
Women\u2019s Engineering in Life Design, or W.E.L.D, aims to improve outcomes for surgeries commonly undergone by women. We create novel surgical instruments, such as the IllumiCath, that make obstetrics and gynecologic procedures with high risk for complications safer at a lower cost than existing minimally invasive surgical techniques.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
Hysterectomies, or surgical procedures during which part or all the uterus<\/a> is removed, are the second most common elective procedure done for women in the United States1<\/a><\/sup>. While laparoscopic and robotic methods are considered minimally invasive, vaginal hysterectomies<\/a><\/strong> are a more minimally invasive<\/strong> procedure in which the uterus is removed through the natural orifice of the vaginal opening only, bringing shorter recovery times<\/span>, less post-operative time<\/span>, and no creation of extra incisions in the abdomen<\/span>. Comorbidities that complicate visualization<\/span> of the surgical planes (fibroids, extensive endometriosis, etc.), in combination with decreased rates of surgical training<\/span> in this procedure specifically are factors that can currently increase the risk of harm for this procedure2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cFor my generation of training\u2026 people can feel uncomfortable performing a vaginal hysterectomy because the planes between the bladder and peritoneal tissue can be hard to see\u201d Therefore there is a need for an instrument for GYN surgeons that minimizes bladder injury<\/strong><\/span> in vaginal hysterectomy patients<\/strong><\/span> to avoid urinary complications and bladder repair procedures<\/strong><\/span> during the anterior colpotomy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u200bProblem<\/strong><\/span>\/Population<\/strong><\/span>\/Outcome<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n Figure 1: <\/b>Bladder and Peritoneal Tissue is difficult to differentiate during vaginal hysterectomies\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Solution<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The IllumiCath highlights bladder tissue and borders to allow gynecologic surgeons to differentiate between neighboring tissue with a faster, more controlled method than traditional injections of methylene blue or indocyanine green dyes.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n Our solution utilizes tissue-reveal-technology (TRT) which consists of ABS infused with Indocyanine (ICG) dye that is excited by a laser emitter, and consequently fluoresces. This device is useful with devices such as the Stryker Spy-Phi NIR emitter and camera system, which overlays the fluorescent image with the visible light image to allow providers to differentiate between tissue types.<\/p>\r\n Figure 2:<\/strong> Final Prototype Iteration for the IllumiCath.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cIn brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might. Beware my power \u2013 Green Lantern’s light!\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n ~ Green Lantern, Comic Series3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Main Menu<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
~ Dr. Jared Floch, URMC<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/needstatement-280x300.png\")
<\/p>\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IllumiCath-297x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Green-Lantern-DC-Comics-Lifesize-Cardboard-Cutout-available-now-at-starstills__02462-178x300.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_2972-2-1024x724.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_2973-2-1024x524.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_2974-2-1024x721.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_2975-2-1024x707.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_2976-2-1024x557.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Image-1_4-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/IMG_2978-2-1024x708.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Image-1_5-1-1024x496.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Image-1_2-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.hajim.rochester.edu\/senior-design-day\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Image-1_3-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n