Investigation of adhesion forces at the peritoneal surface

There have recently been great advances in technology for minimally invasive (‘keyhole’) abdominal surgery. The latest developments in this area are aimed at the miniaturisation of devices, with the ultimate goal of complete internalization within the abdominal cavity. In this respect, a method of reliable and safe adhesion to the peritoneum – the tissue which lines the abdominal wall and the abdominal organs – would be advantageous. This paper investigates the possibility of adhesion by capillary forces by opposing the wet peritoneal surface with a range of simple surfaces.