minimally invasive

or minimal invasive

adjective

1. (of medical treatments or procedures) requiring only a small incision or the insertion of an instrument into a body cavity; involving minimal damage of body tissue:

   minimally invasive endoscopy.

minimally invasive

adjective

1. (of surgery) involving as little incision into the body as possible, through the use of techniques such as keyhole surgery and laser treatment

Word History and Origins

Origin of minimally invasive¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

In commercial service, these helicopters found a life hauling logs, in an approach to forestry billed as minimally invasive logging.

From Popular-Science

Though some RAS can be used for traditional open surgeries, it is generally associated with minimally invasive procedures.

From MIT Technology Review

This week, I tried a new, minimally invasive procedure called Evolastin.

From The Daily Beast