Written by Joe Stangarone
Often times in the treatment of cancer, surgical removal of a tumor is a necessary procedure. What a doctor wants to do in this situation is remove the tumor plus a small amount of healthy tissue that surrounds it. The latter is necessary so it is ensured that the whole tumor is removed. If even a small amount of the tumor is left behind, it can continue to grow and cause problems, and another surgery to remove what is left may be needed.
Tumor removal can be a very tricky procedure. Tumors are typically three-dimensional in form, irregularly shaped and may be in tough-to-reach places. All surgeons have to go on is what they can see and feel combined with what they can view on radiologic imagery.
With an augmented reality enabled image guidance system being developed by Doctor M. Catherine Lee, however, surgeons will have a new and powerful tool to help them with the process. Working with Doctor Yanhui Guo, Doctor Lee and her team designed a software algorithm that utilizes radiologic imagery such as ultrasounds and mammograms, converting the data into three-dimensional digital images and displaying them on a screen. Then, in a surgical simulation, the researchers piped these images into a set of augmented reality enabled glasses, which allowed the surgeon to view an extremely accurate 3D representation of the tumor directly overlaid on the tumor itself. This could even be viewed before any incisions were made, giving the surgeon what basically amounts to x-ray vision, enabling them to study the problem at length with no additional risk to the patient.
This system has demonstrated its ability to greatly increase the accuracy, efficiency and safety of such tumor-removal procedures. It can be hoped that with wide-spread adaptation, this new technology will minimize the need for additional surgeries, decreasing the cost, discomfort and stress for cancer patients everywhere.
Tumor removal can be a very tricky procedure. Tumors are typically three-dimensional in form, irregularly shaped and may be in tough-to-reach places. All surgeons have to go on is what they can see and feel combined with what they can view on radiologic imagery.
With an augmented reality enabled image guidance system being developed by Doctor M. Catherine Lee, however, surgeons will have a new and powerful tool to help them with the process. Working with Doctor Yanhui Guo, Doctor Lee and her team designed a software algorithm that utilizes radiologic imagery such as ultrasounds and mammograms, converting the data into three-dimensional digital images and displaying them on a screen. Then, in a surgical simulation, the researchers piped these images into a set of augmented reality enabled glasses, which allowed the surgeon to view an extremely accurate 3D representation of the tumor directly overlaid on the tumor itself. This could even be viewed before any incisions were made, giving the surgeon what basically amounts to x-ray vision, enabling them to study the problem at length with no additional risk to the patient.
This system has demonstrated its ability to greatly increase the accuracy, efficiency and safety of such tumor-removal procedures. It can be hoped that with wide-spread adaptation, this new technology will minimize the need for additional surgeries, decreasing the cost, discomfort and stress for cancer patients everywhere.
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