2019 Automatic Suture Device to Reduce Bleeding in Gastric Bypass Surgery

Team: Mariana Alvarez, Blake Feldmar, Sofia Haile, Manooshree Patel, Brandon Zhang
Client: Jonathan Carter, M.D., Associate Professor of Surgery, Bariatric & Gastrointestinal Surgery Programs, Division of General Surgery, UCSF

Gastric bypass surgery is often performed using the Endo GIA Universal Stapler, which simultaneously cuts and seals tissue by placing three lines of staples on either side of the incision. However, these staples are often unable to completely seal the tissue, and bleeding occurs along the staple-line.

Our top need is to develop a device that minimizes bleeding in laparoscopic (roux-en-y) gastric bypass surgeries in order to decrease the need for multiple sealing methods during surgery, follow-up care and/or follow-up surgery, and patient mortality rates.

photo of capstone team