This paper presents the results of an investigation of the force required to insert a laparoscopic trocar into the abdominal cavity. Both disposable and reusable laparoscopic trocar systems were studied. Study subjects were 20 consecutive women who were scheduled to undergo routine diagnostic and laparoscopic surgery and were randomly selected for either the disposable trocar device (11-mm Ethicon Endopath Tristar II Pyramidal Tipped; Ethicon Endo-Surgery, a Johnson and Johnson Company, Cincinnati, OH) or reusable trocar device (11-mm stainless steel Karl Storz Pyramidal Trocar; Karl Storz Endoscopy, Culver City, CA). A model 13/2442-07 25-lb compression load cell (Sensotec, Columbus, OH) was used to measure the force of the trocar penetration. A linear variable displacement transducer (LDVT) was used to detect displacement. These instruments were attached to the trocar device with an Ultem handle that encapsulated the trocar and enabled measurement without interfering with penetration or coming into contact with the patient. As the trocar was placed into the abdominal wall, the load cell contracted and measured the force required for entry. There were no significant differences in the clinical or demographic characteristics between the women in the disposable or reusable group. A data recording failure rendered one subject in the reusable group who was unavailable for analysis. The mean force required for abdominal penetration in the reusable trocar group was 10.20 pounds. The maximum force used in this group was 16.40 and the minimum was 5.30 pounds. In the disposable trocar group, the mean required force was 17.53 pounds with a maximum and minimum of 23.9 and 5.00 pounds, respectively (difference significant for both pooled and separate t tests; P = .0005 and P = .0008, respectively). In the disposable trocar group, the mean time to penetration into the abdominal cavity was 3.54 seconds compared with a mean of 11.64 seconds in the reusable trocar group (P = .0002). The maximum and minimum times required in each group were 5.92 and 1.70 seconds, respectively, in the disposable group and 20.00 and 5.60 seconds in the reusable group, respectively.