Digital twin guided minimally invasive, intelligent and intuitive surgery (MI-3 Surgery)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Biomedical Engineering
Abstract
Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) has altered operative medicine in the past decades in many ways, through reduction of surgical trauma, pain and complications, as compared to open surgery. However, factors such as the requirement for highly trained surgeons and assistants, high cost of devices, aged non-ergonomic instrumentation, lack of precision in 2D videos during laparoscopic operations, loss of three-dimensionality and haptic sense, instrument and operational limitations, and others4, have hindered the use of laparoscopic surgery in wider applications. Recent advances in technology and medicine have the capacity to radically change the future of surgery as we currently know it.
Our research vision is driven by the need to deliver ground-breaking healthcare technologies for safer, more intelligent and effective surgeries via the introduction and integration of next-generation innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, regenerative medicine, biofabrication, modelling, robot-assisted surgery, digital health, medical devices, and transplantation. The development of novel drug-loaded biomaterials and cell therapy procedures can further offer creative prophylactic approaches to surgery.
The ultimate overarching goal is to transform the use of surgery by 2050, from just treating to also preventing recurring diseases. Thus, our high risk/high gain ambition is to revolutionise surgery through the development of innovative healthcare technologies that improve patient care and extend the quality of life for an increasingly ageing population, focusing also on disease prevention. Disease prevention is meant here in the context of early intervention, prophylactic operation, and prevention of illness recurrence or effective management of chronic conditions.
Our research vision is driven by the need to deliver ground-breaking healthcare technologies for safer, more intelligent and effective surgeries via the introduction and integration of next-generation innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies, regenerative medicine, biofabrication, modelling, robot-assisted surgery, digital health, medical devices, and transplantation. The development of novel drug-loaded biomaterials and cell therapy procedures can further offer creative prophylactic approaches to surgery.
The ultimate overarching goal is to transform the use of surgery by 2050, from just treating to also preventing recurring diseases. Thus, our high risk/high gain ambition is to revolutionise surgery through the development of innovative healthcare technologies that improve patient care and extend the quality of life for an increasingly ageing population, focusing also on disease prevention. Disease prevention is meant here in the context of early intervention, prophylactic operation, and prevention of illness recurrence or effective management of chronic conditions.
Publications
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Black SM
(2023)
Calibration of patient-specific boundary conditions for coupled CFD models of the aorta derived from 4D Flow-MRI.
in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology
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Black SM
(2023)
Reconstruction and Validation of Arterial Geometries for Computational Fluid Dynamics Using Multiple Temporal Frames of 4D Flow-MRI Magnitude Images.
in Cardiovascular engineering and technology
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Cowley J
(2023)
A Mathematical Model of Blood Loss during Renal Resection
in Fluids
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Denton O
(2024)
Understanding the Role of Biofilms in Acute Recurrent Tonsillitis through 3D Bioprinting of a Novel Gelatin-PEGDA Hydrogel
in Bioengineering
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Falconer R
(2022)
Face and content validity of novel three-dimensional hydrogel models for vascular anastomosis simulation
in Journal of Surgical Simulation
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Hyde-Linaker G
(2022)
Patient-specific computational haemodynamics associated with the surgical creation of an arteriovenous fistula.
in Medical engineering & physics
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Kundu P
(2022)
A novel current sensor indicator enabled WAFTR model for tool wear prediction under variable operating conditions
in Journal of Manufacturing Processes
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Walker C
(2022)
Digital Twin Technology for CNC Machining: A Review
Description | The study demonstrated the feasibility of developing a digital twin model for guiding surgery, particularly in tumour surgery. |
Exploitation Route | The Phase I study has laid a strong foundation for the full proposal of the Transformative Healthcare Technologies Call, and it has recently received significant funding support of £4M from EPSRC for the Phase II study. (EP/X033686/1) |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
Description | We presented our work and findings of the digital twin research for the patient council members at Kidney Cancer UK. This received very positive feedback from the surviving kidney cancer patients. Based on the valuable feedback and comments from them, we improved and co-created our next stage of proposal, to further develop the technology relevant to patients' need. Through the discussions, it was also found that our technology may be used as a new tool for better patient communication at the surgical planning stage. The finding of this project has led to the funding as part of the phase 2 EPSRC's transformative healthcare technology programme, and a press release has been announced from UKRI: https://www.ukri.org/news/innovative-healthcare-tech-could-transform-medical-treatments/ Our partner from University of Cambridge also published a press release on this grant: "Cambridge partners with the University of Strathclyde to develop 'Digital twins' - exact computer models of patients - to enhance cancer patients' recovery times following surgery": https://crukcambridgecentre.org.uk/news/technology-improved-cancer-patient-outcomes NHS Golden Jubilee Hospital also mentioned this success in the partnership annual report with University of Strathclyde, because this finding may lead to Digital Transformation of Future Surgery. https://www.nhsgoldenjubilee.co.uk/application/files/2616/8000/1106/2023-03-9.6a_App_1_NHS_GJ_and_UoS_Annual_Progress_Report_Update.pdf |
First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Olympus Surgical Technologies Europe |
Organisation | Olympus |
Country | Global |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We introduce the digital twin expertise to the partner. |
Collaborator Contribution | Olympus provides strong industrial input for the feasibility study and in kind support for the next stage of funding. |
Impact | The collaboration has led to the next stage of funding from EPSRC with Olympus being a key industrial partner. |
Start Year | 2021 |