Professors at Yıldız Technical University have developed an innovation that eliminates potential risks by using a smart syringe to inflate and deflate tissues during surgeries.

Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Yılmaz and Prof. Dr. Vasfi Emre Ömürlü, faculty members of the Mechatronics Engineering Department at Yıldız Technical University, have developed a “smart syringe” that eliminates risks during the process of inflating and deflating tissues in surgical procedures. The "smart syringe," which automates the process of manually inflating and deflating delicate tissues during surgeries, enables surgeons to intervene safely thanks to its pressure sensor and camera support.

The invention has been registered as a ‘utility model’ by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.

Developed by Yıldız Technical University academics Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Yılmaz and Prof. Dr. Vasfi Emre Ömürlü, the ‘smart syringe’ aims to contribute to more accurate, controlled, and safe intervention in tissues, particularly during delicate surgical procedures.

Smart solution instead of manual dexterity

In surgeries, the processes of inflating and deflating delicate tissues are largely performed manually, relying on the surgeon’s manual control. In the model developed by YTÜ academics, however, this process is supported by a pressure sensor and an imaging system, resulting in a more controlled structure. This allows the course of the intervention to be monitored in real-time on a screen, ensuring safer management of the process.

The developed system shifts a critical stage in surgical procedures from relying solely on manual dexterity to a structure supported by technical data. Especially in procedures involving delicate tissues, maintaining the correct pressure level and proceeding with visual guidance provides a significant advantage in reducing risks.

A risk-free solution for critical surgeries

The invention, bearing the signatures of Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Yılmaz and Prof. Dr. Vasfi Emre Ömürlü, has taken its place among locally developed solutions aimed at enabling safer and more controlled interventions in surgery.

Prof. Dr. Yılmaz stated that the process of inflating and deflating delicate tissue is currently performed manually using a simple syringe, and the success of the procedure depends on the operator’s manual adjustment. Yılmaz said, “The difference between our invention, the ‘pressure and image feedback syringe pump’ system, and manually operated devices is that it features a controller equipped with an endoscopic camera and pressure sensors. “This will enable tissue inflation and deflation procedures—such as those performed during vocal cord surgeries—to be carried out in the most appropriate and error-free manner prior to surgery,” he said.

Prof. Dr. Ömürlü, however, noted that there is still a long way to go in the medical sector and that there are human-caused problems that need to be overcome. Ömürlü said, “The field of health technologies should be supported through interdisciplinary projects and innovations. Developing both patient support systems and the daily equipment used by doctors, nurses, and all medical staff in a manner befitting the value of human life should be one of our primary objectives.”