Surgical Theater introduced its virtual reality visualization platform for neurosurgery at the NVIDIA GPU Technology Conference in Silicon Valley, Calif.
Here are six highlights:
1. The VR medical visualization platform assists neurosurgeons in planning, preparing and performing brain surgery.
2. Putting on the virtual reality headset, neurosurgeons are able to practice complex operations before heading into the OR.
3. Surgical Theater offers simulation technology equipped with a patient's anatomy scans so surgeons can view the real anatomy of the patient when planning surgery.
4. Patients also benefit from the technology. Donning the VR headset, they may view the planned surgical path with the surgeon to understand the safety and benefits of the surgery.
5. Neil Martin, MD, University of California, Los Angeles' neurosurgery department chair, uses the technology for brain surgery. He will demonstrate the technology at the conference.
6. UCLA, Stanford (Calif.) University, New York University, Cleveland-based University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and New York City-based Mount Sinai all use the software.
"Flying through the patient's brain and having the ability to circumnavigate the tumor to see how the surrounding tissue, arteries or the optic nerve could be connected is critical to planning the removal procedure," said Dr. Martin. "It stays with you. So the terrain of the patient's brain is familiar in surgery, which can enhance performance, reduce risk and improve the overall outcomes and timing of the surgery."