Development of intrauterine endoscopic surgical tools at early stage during pregnancy

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Surgery of fetus and embryo is being shifted from open fetal surgery to fetoscopic procedure. In this research, several endoscopic surgical tools have been developed for intrauterine endoscopic surgery at early stage during pregnancy, for example, ultrasonic endoscope for observation of fetus and embryo, micro laser scanning tool and focused ultrasonic probe as treatment tools.For precise laser treatment in uterus, a 2D (two dimensional) laser scanning micro tool has been developed. The tool is made up of an optical fiber, a micro rod lens and a 2D microscanner. The 2D microscanner has three piezoelectric unimorph cantilevers. The mirror is supported by a pivot from underside and is inclined by pushing down by three cantilevers on the top of the mirror. Scanning of 100-um-diameter spot of KTP laser was confirmed. For insertion the tool into a working channel of a conventional endoscope, these components are packaged into a 3.8-mm-external-diameter polymer tube. As ultrasonic tools, convex-shaped 8 ring array ultrasonic imager of 3-mm-diameter and concave-shaped ultrasonic transducer for ultrasonic treatment have been developed. Each transducer of the imager can detect echo signal from an aluminum board in water. Imaging of tissue in the fetus / embryo will be tested. A 6-mm-diameter ultrasonic treatment tool has been fabricated and power generation of ultrasound at intensity for treatment was confirmed.