Expanded Existence: Building the Surgical Metaverse, AI Enhanced Surgery- Jeff Larson, MD

Summary

The speaker discusses advancements in surgical procedures using augmented, virtual, and mixed reality technologies. They highlight how mixed reality enables the integration of digital tools in real-time surgery, improving efficiency and reducing errors. The speaker describes a case where digital checklists and AI streamline operations, tracking instrument usage and optimizing performance. The system enhances workflow, particularly in complex surgeries, by providing real-time guidance and feedback. The discussion also touches on AI's role in analyzing data to optimize procedures, reduce waste, and improve hospital outcomes, making surgery more efficient and cost-effective.

Takeaways

• 📱 Augmented reality overlays digital elements onto the real world, like Pokémon Go, while virtual reality immerses you fully in a digital environment.
• 🕶️ Mixed reality merges the real and digital worlds, allowing users to interact with both simultaneously.
• 🧑‍🔧 The system demonstrated allows surgical teams to use digital checklists in real-time during surgeries, enhancing procedural organization.
• 📉 Modern surgeries are increasingly complex, with more tools and higher staff turnover, making efficient organization critical.
• 🛠️ The technology helps streamline surgeries by creating a digital template or 'fingerprint' of each step, enhancing efficiency and reducing errors.
• 🧠 AI is integrated into the system, optimizing procedures by tracking instrument usage and providing data-driven insights to improve workflows.
• 🔄 The system enhances operating room flow by preemptively showing surgical tools and steps, saving time and minimizing disruptions.
• 📊 AI-generated reports track and analyze surgical performance, helping optimize procedure duration, efficiency, and equipment usage.
• ⚙️ The system allows real-time adjustments and flexibility during surgeries, making it easier for teams to react to unexpected situations, like complications.
• 💡 The technology can lead to significant cost savings by reducing unnecessary disposable items and equipment during surgeries.

Q & A

What is augmented reality (AR) as defined in the script?

Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital elements onto the real world. An example given in the script is Pokemon Go, where digital elements are superimposed on a real-world environment.

How is virtual reality (VR) different from augmented reality (AR)?

Virtual reality (VR) immerses the user entirely in a digital world, unlike AR, which combines digital elements with the physical world.

What is mixed reality (MR), and how does it differ from AR and VR?

Mixed reality (MR) merges the digital and real worlds, allowing users to interact with both. Unlike AR, which just overlays digital elements, MR enables interaction between the real and digital worlds.

How is mixed reality used in surgical care, according to the script?

In surgical care, mixed reality allows the surgeon to bring a digital checklist or procedure map into the operating room. It helps streamline the workflow by letting the surgical team interact with digital tools while performing real-world tasks.

What issue in surgical care does the speaker describe that mixed reality helps address?

The speaker mentions that surgeries are becoming increasingly complex, with more tools, varying case loads, and high staff turnover. Mixed reality helps organize surgical procedures, improve flow, and reduce disorganization.

How does the technology improve efficiency during surgeries?

The mixed reality technology creates a digital checklist for surgical procedures, allowing techs to check off steps and highlight instruments as needed, improving the surgeon's efficiency by reducing the time spent locating instruments or clarifying steps.

What role does artificial intelligence (AI) play in the surgical system discussed?

AI helps optimize procedures by tracking the tools and disposables used during surgery, reporting back on usage, and suggesting ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste.

How does the system contribute to reducing medical errors?

The system ensures better organization in the operating room by having pre-set checklists and procedural steps, minimizing errors related to incorrect instrument setups or miscommunication between staff members.

What example does the speaker give of AI assisting during a surgical procedure?

The speaker mentions a case where the techs noticed a dural tear and, without being prompted, immediately prepared the necessary tools for repair based on the pre-set AI-driven checklists.

How does the system help hospitals and surgery centers save costs?

The AI tracks which instruments and disposables are used, helping hospitals reduce unnecessary openings of tools and materials, thereby cutting down on waste and optimizing resource use.