Investigation of heat transfer in trocar system for minimal invasive surgery

Laparoscopic surgery has transformed surgical procedures with its minimally invasive approach, involving small incisions and quicker patient recovery. Surgeons use different techniques to access deep tissues within the body. One common step in laparoscopic surgery is the insertion of a trocar system through one of these incisions. This allows for the introduction of instruments and the insufflation of the abdominal cavity with heated carbon dioxide to maintain a suitable operating environment. Here, we report a parametric study investigating the behaviour of different materials utilised in trocars in response to thermal exposure. The results obtained indicate that polycarbonate, acrylic, polyetherimide and polysulfone are favourable materials based on small CO2 temperature difference between inlet and outlet of the trocar due to heat loss to surrounding medium. They have a high thermal resistance with reduced heat loss from the CO2 flowing inside the trocar to the atmospheric air. The study provides insights for appropriate selection of materials for a trocar system.