The Feasibility of Using the Ultravision™ System to Facilitate Low Impact Laparoscopic Surgery for the Treatment of Endometriosis
The Feasibility of Using the Ultravision™ System to Facilitate Low Impact Laparoscopic Surgery for the Treatment of Endometriosis
This is a prospective single arm study. The study will enroll 20 patients. Comparisons to prior clinical trials and published literature will be made to assess the relative significance of the study results.The study will enroll patients indicated for laparoscopic surgery to treat endometriosis. Patients must meet all inclusion/exclusion criteria.
There are five main study objectives:
Background/Introduction: The Ultravision™ System is an FDA-cleared medical device that removes surgical smoke by means of electrostatic precipitation from the visual field during laparoscopic surgical procedures. "Surgical smoke" refers to the suspended particulate matter that is generated as a by-product of the combustion and other processes that are associated with the use of energy-based surgical instruments. Surgical smoke can obscure (partially or totally) the surgeon's view of the operative field and this has obvious safety implications for the patient. In the case of laparoscopic procedures, which are increasing in popularity, the smoke is retained within the "closed abdomen" and this, coupled with the CO2 pneumoperitoneum, presents additional challenges for the surgical team. The Ultravision™ System can therefore be considered an accessory to electrosurgical instruments to clear the surgical smoke generated during their use and as such will only be used when such devices are in use. The ability to operate at under "low impact" laparoscopic conditions has been shown by others to improve clinical outcomes by, for example, reducing post-surgical pain and with smaller incision sizes, improved cosmesis. For the purposes of this study "low impact" is defined as (1) a target pneumoperitoneal pressure of 10mm Hg; and (2) instead of 10mm and/or 12mm ports, the use of 3mm ports and one 5mm port. Using a standard insufflator, the combination of lower pneumoperitoneal pressure and smaller size ports creates visualization challenges for the surgeon due to the difficulty of preventing the buildup of surgical smoke within the abdomen. "Venting" or actively extracting the smoke through a trocar is known to be largely ineffective due to the narrow internal diameter of 3mm trocars, certainly unless the instrument is removed beforehand, which creates additional surgical challenges. Furthermore, operating under lower pressure can cause pneumoperitoneum to be lost upon venting of the smoke. The research question that is posed in this study is whether the Ultravision™ System, due to its unique mode of action which (unlike other smoke management approaches) provides smoke management without needing to extract or exchange CO2, provides effective visual field clearing, thereby facilitating low impact laparoscopic surgery when using a conventional insufflator. In addition, Ultravision™ does not require CO2 removal and replacement to achieve its intended use, thereby minimizing to the greatest extent possible patient CO2 exposure. CO2 is dry (effectively 0% relative humidity) and cold (typically 65F) and exposure is linked to postoperative pain and other adverse consequences such as patient cooling and tissue desiccation. Due its mode of action, Ultravision™ minimizes CO2 exposure to the patient. Laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of endometriosis is a common procedure for the removal of mild to moderate endometriosis. Diathermy is commonly used to remove the lesions which can be extensive, therefore this procedure presents an appropriate surgical procedure for this study. Assessments in terms of surgical field visualization, CO2 consumption, end tidal CO2, patient satisfaction for cosmesis, and postoperative pain will be conducted in order to determine if the Ultravision™ System is effective in enabling laparoscopic surgery under low impact laparoscopic conditions. Adverse event information will be reported. The study is an open label single arm study.
Study Purpose: There are five main study objectives:
Study Hypothesis: The primary hypothesis being tested in this study is that Ultravision facilitates the utilization of low impact laparoscopic surgery techniques whilst maintaining an adequate visual field throughout the procedure with low demand for CO2 replenishment to maintain pneumoperitoneal pressure. Study Population The study will enroll patients indicated for laparoscopic surgery to treat endometriosis. Patients must meet all inclusion/exclusion criteria.
Study Design: This is a prospective single arm study. The study will enroll 20 patients. Comparisons to prior clinical trials and published literature will be made to assess the relative significance of the study results.
Study Endpoints: Success will be based on demonstration that the procedures using the Ultravision™ System achieves the following endpoints:
Other Data Collection:
Duration of Study: The target for the overall duration of the study is four months.
Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics for all endpoints will be applied to analyze the results.
Intended Use(per instructions for use): The Ultravision™ System is indicated for the clearance of smoke and other particulate matter that is created during laparoscopic surgery.
Device Description: The Ultravision™ System is an accessory to electrosurgical instruments that is used to clear the surgical smoke generated during their use and as such will only be used when such devices are in use. The system includes the following elements: Standalone battery-operated generator unit Ionwand™, which is introduced into the abdomen of the patient through either the Ultravision™ 5mm Trocar or a 2.5mm percutaneous catheter and provides the source of the electrons that create the negative ions that transiently charge the surgical smoke particles. Other accessories include a patient return adaptor and battery recharging station.
US Regulatory Status: The Ultravision™ System obtained regulatory clearance through US FDA's De Novo Classification Process (DEN 150022). The system has been in distribution in Europe since January 2014 and in the US since December of 2016, over 250 systems are currently in use. To date there have been no incident or medical device reports (patient injury reports) and there have been no product recalls.
Subject Identification & Selection: Potential subjects will be identified from the clinical practice of the participating investigator or by their respective research staff. Patients presenting to the clinical practice of the participating investigator for diagnosis or treatment consistent with the inclusion criteria will be informed about the study. With referral from the treating physician, patients scheduled for surgery prior to the start of the study may be contacted via telephone by a study team member to inform them of the study, assess their interest and assess their eligibility to participate. An IRB approved script will be used for such calls. For interested patients, a copy of the informed consent can be mailed or emailed to the patient for their review and consideration prior to their next clinic visit or the scheduled procedure. Each new subject presenting for evaluation or inclusion is to be assessed for adherence to the following inclusion/exclusion criteria. Determination of whether subjects satisfy the criteria may be established by review of medical records, subject interview, physical examination, or testing as appropriate. A baseline form is used to collect subject screening information and baseline assessments. Patients are considered enrolled once it has been demonstrated that the inclusion/exclusion criteria have been met and the patient signs the informed consent.
Subject Informed Consent: A partial waiver of HIPAA Authorization is being requested for the purposes of initial screening for study eligibility and recruitment purposes. Identifiable health information to be accessed under this waiver will include contact information, demographics, and medical history. Only study team members will have access to this information. Safeguards to maintain privacy and confidentiality of information will be taken as described in the data collection and management section of the protocol. Patient inclusion could be substantially hindered without the ability to review patients' records for eligibility and recruitment purposes, particularly for patients who may have already been scheduled for surgery at the time the study begins. Referred patients presenting for diagnosis or treatment consistent with the inclusion/exclusion criteria will undergo the informed consent process to authorize the gathering of data recorded on the Subject Screening & Enrollment Form. The study investigator will administer informed consent or may delegate the responsibility to a qualified individual as long as it is defined on the study responsibility log. When administering consent, it must be evident that the participant comprehends the nature of the study and the risks and benefits. Evidence is the patient is able to verbalize these topics in sufficient detail to confirm comprehension. Completion of the informed consent does not constitute enrollment. Enrollment occurs once screening is complete and all criteria for participation have been met. Subjects must document their consent for study participation by signing the Institutional Review Board approved Informed Consent Form. The informed consent process must be consistent with the Declaration of Helsinki. The subject must be given the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, study personnel prior to a request to sign the Informed Consent Form. This form is to be co-signed by the investigator. Failure to obtain consent prior to subject participation is considered a protocol deviation and must be reported to the Institutional Review Board. After the subject and investigator sign the Informed Consent Form, the original is to be filed in the subject's study binder. Copies will be filed in the subject's medical record and the subject is also to be given a copy.
Screening & Enrollment: Patient demographics and other baseline information will be collected to establish whether the patient meets the requirements for the study. It is assumed that a physical exam will be conducted as part of the standard of care. Each patient will be assigned a unique study number. Baseline information will be collected, consistent with the standard of care. Baseline assessment is conducted at the preoperative visit.
Procedure Protocol: The device is used in accordance with the instructions for use. An initial target pneumoperitoneal pressure setting of 10mmHg will be used for the procedure. At the discretion of the surgeon investigator, pressure will be adjusted as needed to accomplish the surgical procedure. A standard insufflator with 3mm ports and one 5 mm ports will be used for the procedure.
Surgeon Survey: Immediately post procedure the investigator will be asked to provide feedback regarding visibility, smoke management and complexity of the procedure.
Post Procedure Follow-Up Protocol: Post-operative days 1-7:
Subjects will be asked to complete a daily diary/self-assessment of pain. Assessment will include a pain rating, location of pain and medications taken for pain. The diary/self-assessment is included as a separate document.
Post-operative 2 week (± 3 days) follow up visit: A 2 week follow up visit is current standard of care. At this visit, adverse events will be assessed. A final pain assessment will be administered during this visit.
Post-operative 4 week (± 1 week) follow up phone call: Patient satisfaction for cosmesis (scar appearance) after the surgery will be collected by means of a telephone follow-up where a simple cosmesis satisfaction survey will be administered by a study team member.
Adverse Event Categories: For purposes of this protocol the adverse event definitions are derived from Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards and FDA Guidance. The signs, symptoms, and sequelae of an underlying adverse event (linked pathophysiologically to the AE) should not be reported as separate adverse events. All adverse events, of any type, are to be recorded on an "Adverse Event Form". Adverse events are to be characterized by their severity, relatedness the implant procedure, need for therapy, and resolution status. Adverse events will initially be characterized as "serious" or "non-serious" by the study investigator.
Adverse Event Adjudication: Events are to be initially judged by the investigator as to their relatedness to the study device, surgical procedure, or "other etiology". The classifications will be "not related", "probably not related", "undetermined", "probably related", or "related".
Reporting of Adverse Events and Unanticipated Problems: Serious adverse events and Unanticipated Problems related to the research will be reported to the Mercy Institutional Review Board.
Subsequent Surgical Interventions: Some complications may lead to a subsequent surgical intervention. The reason for each subsequent surgical intervention and the action taken is recorded on the case report form, along with the identification of the type subsequent surgical interventions according. The exact type of intervention must be specified.
Patient Withdrawal: A patient may choose to withdraw from participation in the study at any time without penalty. If a patient chooses to withdraw, they will still receive medical care consistent with the standard of care. The investigator may at their discretion withdraw a patient from participation or where intraoperative exclusions (defined in the I/E criteria) occur. Other examples include if the procedure necessitates conversion from laparoscopic to open technique, lack of adherence to visit schedule, adverse events, or safety concerns. For all withdrawals the date, point in the study, and reason for withdrawal will be recorded. Patients that withdraw prior to the procedure or are withdrawn from the study due to an intraoperative exclusion are replaced.
Study Suspension/Termination: If for any reason the principle investigator chooses to suspend or terminate the study, the IRB shall be informed of the decision and the basis of the decision.
Provision and Inventory of Study Devices: The device and required materials will be provided to the Investigator by Alesi Surgical Ltd.
Data Collection and Management: The investigator and study team members as delegated are responsible for collecting the data from the study.
Imaging Diagnostics: All imaging performed for patients is considered consistent with standard of care.
Sample Size Justification: Ultravision is already cleared by the FDA for use in laparoscopic endometriosis. This post-market study is intended to evaluate user satisfaction and the relative impact the Ultravision™ System has on the procedure as opposed to demonstrating safety and efficacy. The sample size selected (20) is considered to be a sufficient quantity to establish whether or not low impact surgery is facilitated with the use of the Ultravision™ System. This is designed as a single arm study to demonstrate feasibility of device use under low impact laparoscopy. The Ultravision will either enable the procedure to be completed as planned or not, therefore a control arm is not considered necessary to make this determination. In addition, incorporating a control arm using the same conditions without the use of Ultravision may not be in the best interest of the patient. The study design is considered to appropriate for the research question that is being posed.
Data Analysis: Data collected will be summarized using descriptive statistics. Results from other studies conducted by Alesi as well as clinical data gleaned from the medical literature will be used to assess the relative significance of the study results. Additional exploratory analysis may be conducted during data analysis.
Training Procedures: The Principal Investigator in the study is a current Ultravision user, no additional device training is required. To ensure compliance with the study plan and regulatory requirements as well as accurate data collection, site training will include a detailed review of this Investigational Plan, case report form (CRF) completion instructions, adverse event reporting, device handling and inventory, monitoring logistics, and regulatory requirements.
Administration: This study is being conducted as an "Investigator Sponsored" post-market study. The Investigator holds ultimate responsibility for the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of the results from this study and is the primary contact for all matters related to this investigational plan. The Primary Investigator is also accountable for monitoring this investigation and performing those actions necessary to protect the scientific credibility of the way this study is conducted.
Regulatory Compliance: The Principal Investigator is responsible for ensuring that the study is implemented at their site according to the Investigator Agreement, this protocol, applicable laws, regulations, and any conditions of approval by either the respective Institutional Review Board. The Principal Investigator is also responsible for ensuring that this study is conducted in a scientifically credible and ethical manner. The Principal Investigator is responsible for the selection, training, and supervision of site-specific research personnel. The Principal Investigator shall always perform responsibilities in a manner which protects the rights, safety, and well-being of subjects. The Principal Investigator and all research staff participating in this investigation are expected to adhere to this investigational plan, Good Clinical Practices, applicable privacy laws, the Declaration of Helsinki, and any approval requirements imposed by an Institutional Review Board. The study will be submitted for review and approval by the Mercy Institutional Review Board.
Privacy and Confidentiality: This study is to be performed in accordance with all applicable privacy laws. All data and information concerning subjects and their participation in this trial are considered confidential. Only authorized investigators and approved study personnel will have access to some portions of these confidential files. Institutional Review Boards and other regulatory authorities also have the right to inspect and copy records pertinent to this trial.
Investigator Records: Records to be maintained by the investigator in a designated study file include: Site information: Site signature log, Responsibility log, Training and credentials of study personnel.
Device information: Ultravision and diathermy device inventory log including: date, quantity, lot numbers of all devices, identification of all persons the device was used on, and final disposition, Shipping documents.
Clinical study Plan/Protocol: Plan and all amendments. Institutional Review Boards Records: Institutional Review Board Membership List, Submission to Institutional Review Boards, Approval letters, Notification of unanticipated adverse device events, updates/reports, Any other communication.
Screening and enrollment form, Consent Form: Institutional Review Boards approved copy, Revised approved, consent forms.
Case Report Forms (CRFs): Annotated CRF and/or CRF instructions (if applicable), Blank CRFs and completion instructions (if applicable) Correspondence: All correspondence of material concern relating to the trial between the investigator and other parties (e.g. IRB).
The following records must be maintained for each subject enrolled in the trial:
Signed Consent Form, Completed CRFs, Protocol Deviation Forms, Complete medical records, including procedure reports, lab reports, professional notes, etc. for participating subjects. Records pertaining to subject death during the investigation (including death records, death certificate, and autopsy report, if performed).
Risk/Benefit Assessment: Medical treatment provided to the patient is within the standard of care for this type of procedure. Additional assessments for procedure data, end tidal CO2 measures, post procedure pain assessments, pain medication, cosmesis result, and adverse event information do not introduce new risks to the patient. If necessary, the investigator will increase the pressure required to achieve adequate visualization/working space.
As surgical accessory devices, the Ultravision does not administer any medical treatment. The risks associated with its use are consistent with other surgical accessories used in laparoscopic surgery. The Ultravision™ System is required to undergo testing for sterility, biocompatibility, and electrical safety in order to demonstrate that such risks have been mitigated to acceptable levels. The benefits that are being evaluated in this study are quality of visualization under low impact laparoscopic conditions with the anticipated improvement in patient outcomes in terms of cosmesis and postoperative pain.
Inclusion Criteria:
Subjects MUST meet all the following:
Is 18 years or older.
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects MUST not have any of the following: