IBM Watson partners with over 15 organizations in effort
to incorporate cloud technology and healthcare
Orange County, CA - July 8th 2016 - In early July, a hospital in the United Kingdom livestreamed a cancer removal surgery conducted with the Da Vinci robotic aid system. This act is just one of several surgeries that belong to an era of unrestricted surgical collaboration, in which specialists and medical professionals connect and educate one another on how to perform certain surgeries or make particular diagnoses.
To permit better teaching in real time, the live stream was conducted via point to point satellite instead of ISDN lines. However, relying on the internet for critical procedures can be problematic, as a spike in use can overwhelm the broadband and slow down processes necessary for generating optimal results.
Traditionally, laparoscopy consists of inserting an advanced camera called a laparoscope through a small incision to visualize abdominal organs or female pelvic organs. Initially, surgeons had to stand over a patient as they mediated between a display exhibiting images from the camera and the patient lying on the table before them.
However, technological advances in medicine have introduced 3D imaging to minimally invasive surgery, which has been proven as an effective means to facilitate laparoscopic procedures. This medical technology has been on the market for about decade, but has lately gained traction due to the alternative process becoming financially feasible.
In 2005, a group of researchers conducted a study to investigate the difference in conventional 2D procedures and 3D head-mounted visualization systems. After examining their subjects performing mundane tasks similar to laparoscopic procedures, the researchers found that a 3D head mount made the subjects work faster.
The popularity of this technology is growing due to 3D imaging’s ability to heighten performance in procedures by providing enhanced depth perception, aiding in accuracy. Additionally, 3D imaging modalities such as the Olympus 3D laparoscopy system and the da Vinci Surgical Suite are designed to improve surgeries by making the process less taxing on the physician.
A group of researchers conducted a cohort study in 2014 to comparing conventional 2D methods with 3D imaging. Over the course of two months, 53 patients were examined with 13 patients operated on with the 3D HD laparoscopy system and 40 via 2D methods.
The results show that while 3D laparoscopy provided superior image quality, depth perception, intra corporeal knotting, hand-eye coordination, and advantageous 30 degree scope, however, 2D laparoscopy was found to be better in preventing operative strain.
There are various benefits to adopting 3D imaging techniques for minimally invasive procedures, so much so that surgeons have opted for integration of 3D imaging to their daily lives with or without sufficient funds.
A community known as the Watch-Society, consistent of health care professionals adorned with Google Glass technology, have banned together with hopes to push forward virtual reality use in medical settings. When considering this, in tandem with the surgeons that live steam their procedure, the future for the medical industry seems to be shifting towards increased collaboration and integration of 3D technology.
