Daijiworld Media Network – New York

New York, Feb 25: Scientists have developed an integrated water jet system that combines precision tissue cutting with simultaneous delivery of local anaesthesia, offering a potential breakthrough in surgical technology.

The innovative device is based on hydrodynamic principles and enables synchronous cutting and drug delivery through a single instrument. Researchers said the system is designed to reduce mechanical injury to tissues while enhancing surgical precision.

The experimental evaluation involved cutting-diffusion experiments, tissue surface morphology analysis and spatial tracking of anaesthetic diffusion using photoacoustic imaging. The results demonstrated a nonlinear positive correlation between jet parameters — including pressure and nozzle diameter — and both cutting depth and anaesthetic diffusion distance.

Optimal settings were found to vary according to tissue type. For muscle tissue, a pressure of 4 MPa with a 0.2 mm nozzle produced effective results, while adipose tissue required 8 MPa with the same nozzle diameter.

When compared with conventional scalpel excision, the water jet method significantly reduced tissue damage. Muscle fibre breakage decreased by 51 per cent and the overall damaged area reduced by 35 per cent, while preserving up to 39.45 micrometres of functional tissue structure.

Photoacoustic imaging further revealed that anaesthetic diffusion followed a nonmonotonic pattern, reaching its maximum adjacent to the cutting depth at 18.31 (±2 mm). This indicated a cutting-guided diffusion mechanism in which anaesthetic delivery is closely linked to the dissection process.

Researchers noted that the device enables precise control of both cutting and drug administration, potentially improving surgical efficiency and patient safety. The technology may contribute to the development of minimally invasive, multifunctional surgical tools aimed at reducing recovery time and post-operative complications.

The study lays the groundwork for integrating device functionality with targeted drug delivery in surgical settings. Future research will focus on validating the system in larger preclinical models, expanding its application across various surgical procedures and refining operational parameters to further optimise precision and minimise collateral tissue impact.