Basic Concept
The efficiency, ease of navigation and surgical outcomes are the critical performance factors in a modern ophthalmic surgery. Visualization of the surgical area, ergonomics of the instrumentation employed have a large impact on surgical performance. The modern operating room is dominated by the presence of a large binocular microscope with several appendages that provides a magnified image of the surgical field. Surgeon is attached to the eye piece of the system for the duration of procedure. There are several inherent disadvantages of such a system.
- Ergonomics - Inflexibility in configuration.
- Fatigue - Viewing through eye pieces.
- Lack of Flexibility or Modularity
- Angle of View - Fixed, less than optimum view.
- Photo Toxicity - Assistant Scopes, video feeds increase light levels. 8X.
- Low Working Distance
- Fixed Coaxial Illumination and View.
- Requirement for Expensive Asst. Scopes
- Weight, Size and Cost.
Any system that will eliminates any or all of the above shortcoming in current state of the art in microsurgery will represent significant benefit in terms of cost, efficiency and outcomes.
Surgical Intelligence
Surgical intelligence is a collection of process information that might help the surgeon's task during the surgery. It may be called variously as "technique" or "expertise". Our concept of a surgical workstation goes significantly beyond image acquisition and display. With the introduction of image processing, storage and measurements the system can assume several assistant and training tasks. Such a system will have ability to capture in 3D the surgical technique of experts and have it available to every surgeon on routine basis during the surgery. The processing power can be applied to make "on the fly" the necessary critical measurements and display them on the screen. Such a feedback will of immense aid to surgeons. Ability to view multiple images at different magnifications and resolutions will add to the clarity and navigation during the surgery.
One can think of a large number of applications. Following is a partial list of such applications:
- Image Enhancement
- Measurements
- Training - Reference
- Surgical Navigation
- Procedure Specific Support
- Image Interpretation
New Medical Device Introduction
We have noticed a recent tendency where a large number of new medical devices did not succeed in general market after a series of very successful clinical trials and regulatory approvals. The reason might be that the transfer of surgical technique from the experts (during the clinical trial period) to every day busy surgeon is more complex and most companies do not have the tools to transfer the expertise. A series of wet labs and training videos may not be sufficient to transfer the skills. Most of such videos present a 2D view and not the actual enlarged 3D view.
3D Vision will work with these companies early on to create a methodology to capture and this procedure specific technique and measurements and incorporate them into a system that will enhance the efficiency and improve outcomes. We will be able promote through pre-programmed simulation, measurement and audio and visual feedback techniques surgical efficiency and consistency.
The essence of 3D Vision System concept is that there is a far greater opportunity in marketing the surgical expertise/ navigation than simple imaging. The surgical imaging will go through a change that is very parallel to that of digital photography for the past few years. 3D Vision is well positioned to define this trend.
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