NYU Langone Medical Center is using a novel technology that serves as a flight simulator for neurosurgeons allowing them to rehearse complicated brain surgeries before making an actual incision on a patient.
The new simulator, called the “Surgical Rehearsal Platform” (SRP) developed by Surgical Theater of Cleveland Ohio, creates an individualized walkthrough for neurosurgeons based on 3D imaging taken from the patient’s CT and MRI scans.
Surgeons are able to plan and rehearse the surgeries using the unique software that combines life-like tissue reaction with accurate modeling of surgical tools and clamps. This enables neurosurgeons to navigate multiple-angled models of a patient’s brain.
This augmented reality technology may help to improve safety and efficiency during surgeries for conditions including pituitary tumors, skull base tumors, intrinsic brain tumors, aneurysms, and Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM). This technology could potentially enable surgeons around the world to simultaneously collaborate on a patient’s case in real-time.
The SRP was cleared by FDA in February 2013 as a pre-operative software for simulating and evaluating surgical treatment options. In addition, a newer generation of this technology called the “Surgical Navigation Advance Platform” (SNAP has an application pending with FDA to allow the tool to be taken into the operating room, so that surgeons are able to see behind arteries and other critical structures in real-time.
For more information, go to www.surgicaltheater.net.