Advances of magnetic surgery in the field of urology, obstetrics, and gynecology

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Currently, magnetic devices have been widely used in the fields of production and daily living, including surgical practice. By generating attractive or repulsive force without direct contact, magnetic materials have shown high superiority in simplifying the process of diagnosis and treatment, developing novel medical instruments, reducing postoperative complications, and overcoming drawbacks of traditional operations. Especially in the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary surgery, the clinical application of magnetic surgery has developed rapidly and is becoming increasingly mature. With the wide use of magnets in clinical practice, the discipline of magnetic surgery has been developed in recent years. After further innovation and continuous development, a magnetic system for clinical application is produced and contains five parts: Magnetic compression technique, magnetic anchor technique, magnetic navigation technique, magnetic levitation technique, and magnetic tracer technique. In the field of urology, obstetrics, and gynecology, researchers have constantly absorbed and integrated the advantages of magnetic compression technique, magnetic anchor technique, and magnetic navigation technique to explore more minimally invasive, more accurate, simpler, and safer operations. Magnetic devices have been used in clinical practice effectively to develop new diagnosis and treatment methods. However, the application range of magnetic technology in urology, obstetrics, and gynecology is limited; fundamental and clinical research is scattered; and the development process is slow. There is still no breakthrough in magnetic levitation and magnetic tracer technique. Therefore, combined with the current content of magnetic surgery, this article briefly describes the development status of magnetic surgery technology and summarizes fundamental research or clinical examples of magnetic technique application in urology, obstetrics, and gynecology. It consists of three parts: Introduction of the content of magnetic surgery system, demonstration of application in urology, obstetrics, and gynecology, and discussion on future prospects. In general, the use of magnetic technology in the field of urology starts relatively early, but the development is slow; the interaction between magnetic technology and obstetrics and gynecology starts late, but the depth and breadth are rapidly expanding. Magnetic technology makes diagnosis and treatment more minimally invasive, more efficient, and safer. Although magnetic levitation and magnetic tracer techniques are rarely used in the field of urology, obstetrics, and gynecology, it is believed that with the advancement of biomaterial science combined with modern surgery, especially the combination of medicine and engineering, magnetic surgery will have a broader effect. Rapid development of magnetic surgery will be achieved, and its richer application will be beneficial to human health. This paper is aimed at introducing advances of magnetic surgery in the field of urology, obstetrics, and gynecology in recent years, providing references and directions for clinical innovation in future research. At the same time, summarizing the current research advances of the discipline is beneficial for further interdisciplinary integration and the mutual promotion between the magnetic surgery system and the field of urology, obstetrics, and gynecology.