3D surgery success in Manchester Royal Infirmary’s

It seems that the 3D format has opened new paths in the sphere of medicine as Manchester Royal Infirmary’s doctors have revealed that they made use of a tridimensional projector while performing a surgery. Very successfully too.

While in theatre, the team wore special glasses to view the process in crystal clear 3D.

According to the medical experts, new technologies combined with the 3D format will allow doctors more flexibility while operating and will lessen the risks of some advanced operations (breaking muscle tissue, nerve damage).

During this particular surgery, a robotic arm with a built-in 3D camera gave doctors the possibility to see every tridimensional detail of how the technology assisted in carrying out the operation.

It seems that using 3D in instances such as this can display the strengths of robotic technologies as well as pinpoint areas where it is lacking.

A spokesperson for the hospital said that using 3D and robotic arms could potentially allow surgeons to perform “more operations with even better outcomes.”

One of the surgeons, Dan Burke, also added that he hoped that the technology will be made available for other patients as it made the process much faster and accurate as the technology is more flexible than a human wrist.

3D Stereoscopic Endoscopy for heart Surgery

WAUWATOSA, Wis., Feb. 21, 2012 - 3D Surgical Solutions, LLC and Wheaton Franciscan-The Wisconsin Heart Hospital Campus announced that the first case ever using the Leonardo 3D Vision™ System was successfully conducted in a surgical robotic procedure. This revolutionary system provides stereoscopic 3D visualization to personnel at the bedside -- as well as the entire surgical robotic team -- during the surgery. The Leonardo 3D Vision™ System was used in conjunction with the daVinci® Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical®).

"Today's case demonstrates a culmination of years of research and development that bring a new level of 3D visualization to the operating room," said Dr. Husam Balkhy, Chairman, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Director, Center for Robotic and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery at The Wisconsin Heart Hospital.

Dr. Balkhy and his medical team utilized the Leonardo 3D Vision™ System while performing a beating heart Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB). This event marks a major milestone in the expansion of stereoscopic 3D visualization within the robotic and video-assisted surgical fields and is a breakthrough in the availability of high-quality surgical imaging. This technology can be used with other cases using the daVinci® Surgical System, including urology and gynecology procedures.

"For me, having such wonderfully crisp 3D images to work with is exciting and extremely helpful," added Dorothy Krienbring, Dr. Balkhy's first assistant. "It allows me to introduce instruments and supplies into the chest with safety and with much more accuracy. Using this system allows all of us to see the anatomy in spectacular detail. The Leonardo system is a major step forward in the field of endoscopic surgery."
In addition, the Atlanticus 3D Recorder™ (a component of the Leonardo 3D Vision™ System) was used during the case to digitally record stereoscopic 3D-HD video for presentation at symposia, other clinically-oriented events, and teaching purposes.

"The versatility of this system is impressive, and the opportunity for optimized teaching that it represents is sure to provide enhanced safety as well as substantial cost and time savings to the operative and surgical training arena," Balkhy said.

About 3D Surgical Solutions
3D Surgical Solutions, LLC, based in metro Atlanta, GA, is dedicated to providing stereoscopic 3D solutions to the surgical and medical community. The company develops and markets advanced stereoscopic 3D systems providing superior imaging, versatility, and a cost-effective transition from 2D to stereoscopic 3D video environments. Currently, the firm is engaged in a private equity offering to provide funding for expansion and growth.

About Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in Wisconsin
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare (WFH) is a Catholic, not-for-profit organization with more than 100 health and shelter organizations in Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, and Illinois.  Started by the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters more than 130 years ago and formally incorporated in 1983, WFH has corporate services offices in Wheaton, Illinois and Glendale, Wisconsin.

World's First 3D Surface Anatomy Guide

Thursday, 8th December 2011 The world’s first 3D surface anatomy guide for medical and physiotherapy students, surgical trainees and artists has been developed in Ireland through a unique collaboration between anatomists, artists and engineers. Launched today in the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Dublin, the two year project, funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), has resulted in an on-line 3D guide which shows the motions of muscles and the sites of structures from the surface inwards.  It shows how, by using movement, colour, illustration and 3D technology, anatomists, engineers and artists can collaborate to teach the body from the outside in.

The project combined artistic representation, engineering expertise and anatomical accuracy into a four hour teaching programme and will shortly be part of the curriculum/training for medical students in Dublin, Bahrain and Kuala Lumpur.  Computer aided learning is an elegant and cost-effective solution for medical students as it gives them  access to a 3D representation of the human body and helps mitigate the traditional constraints of medical education such as a lack of willing live models.


Stereo-3D or stereoscopic photography was used to create the footage for the project but the technology has been around for a long time.  Stereoscopic pictures of Dublin can be found in the National Library dating from 1865. The technology has been through several reincarnations in the past but it is only in the last five years that the technology has caught up with the idea as everyone knows from the explosion of 3D content on the big screen.

“What is less known is that it is still hard to shoot things in stereo-3D. The crew needs to work with two cameras mechanically and electronically coupled to each other. Quite aside from the physical problems of manipulating the camera rig, it turns out that the camera sensors can never be the same. This is bad for stereo-3D viewing and tends to make people feel ill. The engineering challenges centre on fixing the pictures in post-production using signal processing algorithms designed by the Sigmedia group at Trinity,” said Anil Kokaram, associate professor at the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at Trinity College.

Full article here

Titan Medical Inc. Completes Amadeus Composer(TM) Pre-Production Console and Video Tower

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 1, 2011) - Titan Medical Inc. ("the Company") (TSX VENTURE:TMD) announced that it has completed prototypes of the pre-production Surgeon Console and Video Tower, and Beta Patient Cart of its Amadeus Composer™ platform. The pre-production versions of the Surgeon Console and Video 3D Tower are in the final phases of development and Titan plans to move forward to final design for manufacture and testing.

Craig Leon, Chief Executive Officer of Titan Medical Inc., commented, "I am extremely pleased with the efforts and dedication of our engineering team and development partners in completing the Console and Video Tower of Amadeus Composer™ on schedule. This marks a significant advancement in Titan Medical's development cycle. We are now committed to proceeding to our next major milestone of tissue and animal feasibility studies by the middle of 2012."

Amadeus Composer™ is a next generation surgical system that has a uniquely designed external robot and flexible instruments which allow surgeons to overcome constraints of surgical procedures in small to medium spaces. Amadeus Composer™ is designed for use in robotic surgery procedures such as thoracic (lung), ENT (ear, nose and throat), general surgical procedures as well as other surgical cases that are performed in very small and tight spaces. Other elements that make up the Amadeus™ Robotic Surgical System include communications, simulation systems and haptics.

About Titan Medical Inc.

Titan Medical Inc. is a Canadian public company (TSX VENTURE:TMD) focused on the development and commercialization of robotic surgical technologies. The Company is currently developing Amadeus Composer™, a surgical system that has a uniquely designed external robot and flexible instruments, and allows surgeons to overcome constraints of surgical procedures in small to medium spaces. Amadeus Maestro™, the Company's next generation 4-armed robotic surgical system with advanced communication and training, utilizes the Titan True Touch Technology™ and is targeted to surgical procedures in large spaces. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.titanmedicalinc.com.

Robotic Surgery Training at World Laparoscopy Hospital

 World Laparoscopy Hospital offers tremendous educational value. The forecast for robotic surgery is continued significant growth as it becomes the gold standard in many advanced surgical procedures. The future of laparoscopic surgery is now found in 3D through the eyes of a robot. It is the mission of the World Laparoscopy Hospital is to teach robotic techniques in multiple sub-specialties to other teams in a highly efficient and cost effective way.

Robotic surgery education program is designed to teach robotic techniques to other teams in a highly efficient and cost-effective way. World Laparoscopy Hospital can facilitate benefits for new and existing robotic programs in a variety of ways:

1. Advance the growth and application of robotic surgery via the utilization of the most current technological advancements through expertly led robotic surgery education programs.
2. Provide efficient spatiotemporal teaching methods in conjunction with state-of-the-art training modules.
3. Provide facilities with the recognition of being true patient advocates by making available minimally invasive procedures to both patients and surgeon.

The choice for da Vinci Surgery is validated by numerous clinical publications, hundreds of surgeons and thousands of patients from around the world. Read more of the evidence-based science behind da Vinci Surgery.

Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci® Surgical System combines superior 3D high definition vision with our patented EndoWrist® Instruments allowing for enhanced dexterity, precision and control. The end result: a breakthrough in surgical capabilities.

A number of procedures that could not be performed using traditional minimally invasive technologies can now be performed using the da Vinci Surgical System. The advanced features and extensive EndoWrist® instrumentation of the da Vinci System allow surgeons to perform more procedures through small, 1-2 cm incisions.

TrueVision Announces 3D HD Visualization, Recording and Editing System for Surgical Education

 TrueVision Announces 3D HD Visualization, Recording and Editing System for Surgical Education


TrueVision® packages its patented, award winning technology at comparable 2D HD video system pricing; offers upgrade path to its computer based surgical guidance platform

TrueVision® 3D Surgical, the leader in 3D visualization and computer-based guidance for microsurgery, announced its new product for recording, editing and presenting 3D surgical video. The product targets surgical education in neurosurgery, ophthalmology, spine, orthopedic, ENT and any other discipline which uses a surgical microscope.

The TrueVision® 3D High Definition Visualization, Recording, and Editing System is a real-time, computer-based, stereoscopic, 3D high-definition system that attaches to microscopes for display of the surgical field on 3D flat panel displays in the operating room.

The advanced technology is also used to record, edit and playback 3D surgical video and to stream live stereoscopic video of the surgical field, making it an unparalleled teaching tool. It plays back stereoscopic surgical video to 3D-equipped conference rooms and theaters for any size audience.

“The benefits of 3D over 2D visualization are well understood within surgical education.” says Forrest Fleming CEO of TrueVision 3D Surgical. “This is another step towards TrueVision’s goal of supplanting 2D video with 3D HD video that is cost-effective and easy to use.”

The company is offering an aggressive pricing strategy to market the system as competitive with the current 2D HD offerings available today. The system can be easily upgraded to the TrueVision® 3D Visualization and Guidance System to run “smart” applications as they come available. TrueVision® was awarded “The Best of 2010” and a “Top Products of 2010” by Cataract and Refractive Cataract Surgery Today. TrueVision® Visualization, Recording and Editing system is listed with the FDA as a class 1 medical device. The TrueVision® 3D Visualization and Guidance System is listed with the FDA as a class 2 medical device.

Features:

* Retrofits to most surgical microscopes
* Primary or secondary visualization in the operating room
* Easy to use, plug and play with “one-touch” recording and playback
* Over 4 hours of 3D HD recording
* TrueEdit® click and drag editor, outputs 2D or 3D HD
* Upgrade path to “smart” surgical applications
* It is the leading 3D system for microsurgery and the standard for 3D surgical education all over the world
* Open architecture for future computer based applications

The System Includes:

TrueZoom® 3D surgical camera

* Resolution up to 1920 x 1080 pixels for each eye (progressive scan)
* Aspect Ratio 16:9 or 4:3
* Instant 2X zoom with panning, no loss in resolution
* Image has up to twice the depth of field compared to oculars
* Wide dynamic range and high color accuracy
* No alignment, focus, or synchronization necessary

The World's First 3D LASIK AND Tennessee's First 3D Cataract Surgery Performed

The new 3D image-guided, microsurgical technology improves the quality of LASIK and cataract surgeries

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Ming Wang of Wang Vision Cataract & LASIK Center, Nashville, TN, became the first surgeon in the world to perform a 3D LASIK procedure, and the first in Tennessee to perform a 3D cataract surgery. The first such ground-breaking surgeries took place at Wang Vision Cataract & LASIK Center on May 27, 2011 and June 2, 2011, respectively. Both procedures utilized off-label uses of the TrueVision® 3D high-definition, real-time, stereoscopic microsurgical technology.

The world's first 3D LASIK patient was Mr. Farah Jai-Aden, a 28-year-old truck and taxi driver from Atlanta, GA. At his first post-operative visit, he could already see better than he ever had before, even with glasses or contact lenses! The state's first 3D cataract surgery patient was Mr. David Mehosky. Both Mr. Jai-Aden and Mr. Mehosky are very pleased with their new 3D vision!

"We are very excited to be the first in the world to perform the 3D LASIK procedure, and the first in Tennessee to perform a 3D cataract surgery," said Dr. Wang, who is a clinical associate professor of ophthalmology for the University of Tennessee and the director of Wang Vision Cataract & LASIK Center, Nashville, TN.


About Ming Wang, MD, PhD:

Dr. Ming Wang, a graduate of Harvard & MIT (MD, magna cum laude), is one of the few cataract and LASIK surgeons who holds a doctorate degree in laser physics.  He has introduced many new eye surgeries to Tennessee, including bladeless all-laser LASIK, wavefront technology, new Intacs to treat keratoconus, and a new generation premium lens for cataract surgery.

Wang Vision Cataract & LASIK Center
1801 West End Ave. Suite 1150. Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 321-8881, Fax: (615) 321-8874

Full article here