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Force Bipolar Forceps (da Vinci)

8 mm EndoWrist articulating bipolar forceps with strong broad jaws — the grip-strength specialist of the da Vinci bipolar family. Used primarily for firm tissue grasping, sustained countertraction, and bipolar coagulation rather than the fine dissection of the Maryland bipolar or the retraction-plus-diffuse-bleeding-control role of the fenestrated bipolar. Available on da Vinci Si and Xi.[1][2]

Design​

  • 8 mm shaft (Si / Xi) — larger profile than the 5 mm Maryland (Si) or 6 mm SP instruments; provides the highest grip force of the da Vinci bipolar trio.[1]
  • Strong, broad jaws for secure tissue grasp and countertraction.
  • Bipolar energy between the jaws — current flow limited to the jaw tips with minimal lateral thermal spread.[2]
  • Full EndoWrist articulation (7 DoF).[3]

The da Vinci Bipolar Trio​

FeatureMarylandFenestratedForce Bipolar
Diameter5 mm Si / 6 mm SP5–8 mm Xi / 6 mm SP8 mm Si / Xi
Jaw profileFine curved Maryland tipBroad flat fenestratedStrong broad
Primary roleFine dissection + discrete-vessel coagRetraction + diffuse surface-bleed controlCountertraction + firm grasp + coag
Grip strengthModerateModerate–highHighest
Dissection precisionHighestModerateLower

Reconstructive-Urology and Urogyn Uses​

The Force Bipolar is the countertraction instrument in the urogyn / RU robotic toolkit — used when secure sustained grip matters more than precision tip work:

  • Robotic sacrocolpopexy — broad sigmoid / sigmoid-mesentery retraction; pulling the vaginal vault into the working field while the Maryland develops the paravaginal tunnel.
  • Robotic ureteral reimplant / Boari flap / psoas hitch — bladder dome and detrusor flap traction during anastomotic suturing.
  • Robotic transvaginal-mesh excision — broad mesh traction during plane development.
  • Robotic radical nephroureterectomy on Xi (Argun 2016 description) — used alongside monopolar curved scissors and the fenestrated bipolar across multiple robotic arms for tissue manipulation through both nephrectomy and distal-ureterectomy phases.[4]
  • Robotic radical prostatectomy reconstructive components — bladder-neck and prostatic-fossa retraction during posterior reconstruction and VUA.
  • Robotic complex pelvic dissection / RPLND / oncologic clearance with reconstructive endpoints — heavy retraction of pedicles and packets where grip slippage with smaller instruments would cost time.

When to Choose Force Bipolar vs Fenestrated vs Maryland​

NeedChoose
Fine plane dissection, pass-around vessel, NVB sparingMaryland
Diffuse surface oozing, broad atraumatic retractionFenestrated
Sustained countertraction, strong grip on a pedicle or thick meshForce Bipolar
Tight working space (transoral, deep pelvis)Maryland or fenestrated (8 mm Force Bipolar may crowd)

Cross-Specialty Use Patterns​

  • Robotic transoral thyroidectomy on Xi (Kim 2019) — Force Bipolar (sometimes referenced as "Prograsp bipolar" in the literature) deployed at the axillary port for countertraction while Maryland + harmonic dissect through the primary ports.[5]
  • Robotic radical nephroureterectomy (Xi, Argun 2016) — multi-arm setup combining Force Bipolar with monopolar scissors and fenestrated bipolar.[4]
  • General surgical oncology on Xi — 8 mm is the standard working diameter; Force Bipolar is an everyday participant.[6][7]

Practical Considerations​

  • 8 mm footprint — superior grip force at the cost of port-size and working-space considerations; 5 mm / 6 mm Maryland / fenestrated preferred in tight corridors (transoral, deep narrow pelvis).[2]
  • Ballouhey 2018 preclinical comparison — 8 mm da Vinci instruments outperformed 5 mm in small-cavity OSATS scores (20.5 vs 18.4, p < 0.05) — the size–strength trade-off is not always in the small-instrument's favor even in smaller spaces.[8]
  • Literature note — the published evidence base specifically naming the Force Bipolar product is thinner than for Maryland / fenestrated; much of the operative-use description appears under the broader "bipolar grasping forceps" umbrella or alongside ProGrasp in setup descriptions.

Limitations​

  • Less precise than Maryland for fine dissection.
  • Larger 8 mm port requirement vs 5–6 mm bipolar alternatives.
  • Vessel-size ceiling — same as other bipolar instruments; clip larger pedicles.
  • Thermal spread — bipolar pattern similar to Maryland; respect 2–3 mm working margin from nerves.

See also: Maryland Bipolar Forceps, Fenestrated Bipolar Forceps, Gerald Bipolar Forceps.

References​

1. Van Abel KM, Yin LX, Price DL, et al. "One-year outcomes for da Vinci single port robot for transoral robotic surgery." Head Neck. 2020;42(8):2077–87. doi:10.1002/hed.26143

2. Oberhelman N, Bruening J, Jackson RS, et al. "Comparison of da Vinci Single Port vs Si systems for transoral robotic-assisted surgery: a review with technical insights." JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024;150(2):165–71. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2023.3994

3. Stafford AT, Walsh RM. "Robotic surgery of the pancreas: the current state of the art." J Surg Oncol. 2015;112(3):289–94. doi:10.1002/jso.23952

4. Argun OB, Mourmouris P, Tufek I, et al. "Radical nephroureterectomy without patient or port repositioning using the da Vinci Xi robotic system: initial experience." Urology. 2016;92:136–9. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2016.02.047

5. Kim HK, Park D, Kim HY. "Robotic transoral thyroidectomy: total thyroidectomy and ipsilateral central neck dissection with da Vinci Xi Surgical System." Head Neck. 2019;41(5):1536–40. doi:10.1002/hed.25661

6. Yuh B, Yu X, Raytis J, et al. "Use of a mobile tower-based robot — the initial Xi robot experience in surgical oncology." J Surg Oncol. 2016;113(1):5–7. doi:10.1002/jso.24094

7. Ochi Y, Andou M, Taniguchi R, et al. "Robot-assisted hysterectomy using the double-bipolar method." J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2024;31(8):640. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2024.03.013

8. Ballouhey Q, Clermidi P, Cros J, et al. "Comparison of 8 and 5 mm robotic instruments in small cavities: 5 or 8 mm robotic instruments for small cavities?" Surg Endosc. 2018;32(2):1027–34. doi:10.1007/s00464-017-5781-9