Jadong Kim
SOMETECH. Inc.
1. Objective of the technology or device
The concept of telerobotic surgery with the use of medical robotic system was born thanks to the United States Department of Defense’s desire to decreae war casualities. However, the cost of the currently available medical robotic system (i.e. the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System) is huge since the healthcare institutions need to pay for the initial cost of the equipment as well as the annual running costs. In addition, specialized training is required for the use of the robotic system.
The concept of 3D Vision System with the use of Collaborative Cloud ("3D VSCC") was developed with a mission of making the operative medicine simple and affordable to the greatest number of people in the world, especially to people in the developing countries by adding depth perception, simplifying training needs, and applying cloud computing technology for collaborative work.
2. Description of the technology and method of its use or application
3D VSCC is designed for use in all types of endoscopic and endoscopic assisted procedures. It is developed to improve the accuracy and efficacy of surgery through 3D imagery and collaborative work. The system will be consists of
(1) camera head;
(2) 3D endoscopes;
(3) a camera controller;
(4) light source;
(5) cloud computing based data center
While 3D Vision system (3D VS) creates 3D imagery and removes eye fatigue (a major drawback of 3D) by controlling excessive binocular disparities, the convergence control function of 3D VS allows physicians to have optimal control of the visual field without moving the endoscopic camera as it magnifies objects in the close distance as well as the ones far away in the distance. As a result, 3D VS enables surgeons to maneuver with better precision through the acquisition of imagery in 3D.
What is really unique is the cloud computing based data center. Cloud computing based data center offers solutions that enable the sharing of the information not only across departments within the same health institution, but also across the places or countries (especially to handle difficult situations that occur during complicated surgery). The sharing of these sill images or moving video with physicians having advanced surgery skills and knowledge will benefit trainee doctors in terms of surgical skill development and surgical procedures.
3. Preliminary results if available
As a reference example, Sometech’s 3D laparoscopy system will be presented together with survey results of the evaluation of the application of Collaborative Cloud to 3D visualization system (3D VSCC) concept .
4. Conclusions / future directions.
No one may doubt that 3D visualization system for minimally invasive suurgery (MIS) is more affordable than telerobotic surgery system. Furthermore, with the help of cloud computing technology, sharing captured 3D still images or moving video with a colleague or with doctors in remote places will be just one click away, and it will help physicians handle difficult situations (i.e. emergent situation, complicated surgery) in a stressful work situation and make decisions with limited information.
Session: Poster Presentation
Program Number: ETP036