[LUM#4] Virtual Virtuosity
A new horizon is opening up for training the surgeons of tomorrow. This very tangible revolution is called virtual reality.
The movements are precise, the organization is meticulous, and the timing is down to the second. Beneath their masks, the participants in this meticulously orchestrated routine move to the rhythm set by the man in white holding the scalpel. It’s a choreography that brooks no imprecision. Welcome—you’re in the operating room.
Every year, thousands of patients are treated by expert surgeons. Some of them come from far away. “French surgeons are recognized worldwide; in fact, many leading foreign specialists come to France for training,” explains Maxime Ros. “This unique expertise must be effectively passed on to ensure the next generation of surgeons and to continuously improve doctors’ skills ,” emphasizes the Montpellier-based neurosurgeon.
In the Surgeon's Shoes
To master the learning and practice of this precision-oriented profession, it is essential to observe numerous procedures. Standing beside the surgeon in action, students and colleagues closely examine the surgeon’s every move. This is a necessary part of training, but it has its limitations. One such limitation is the observer’s position: they often see the movements only from the side or from a distance so as not to get in the way of the surgeon.“Ideally, we’d be right in the thick of the operation and able to observe everything,”explains Maxime Ros. The ideal solution? Seeing through the surgeon’s eyes. A dream come true… in virtual reality.
Maxime Ros’s idea is as simple as it is revolutionary. Two cameras are mounted directly on the surgeon’s head during the operation. Using the footage captured this way, a 3D video is created that can then be viewed on a smartphone paired with a virtual reality headset. Open your eyes and immerse yourself in the experience. Those hands holding the scalpel—it’s as if they were your own. That team bustling around the patient—it’s as if you were the one leading them. Need information about the patient lying on the operating table? The headset provides that, too. Turn your head and access all the information you need to successfully complete the operation: CT scans, MRIs, and patient data.
An extraordinary educational experience made possible by the Surgevry app, co-developed by Maxime Ros and his partners.“It’s an ideal tool for improving the transfer of skills that involve highly technical movements, because even if you aren’t actually performing the movement, your brain registers the process ,” explains Maxime Ros.
3D Technology in Education
To develop this tool, Maxime Ros and his business partner, Jean-Vincent Trivès, founded Revinax, which won the award for best startup at the 2016 Laval Virtual trade show, a leading event in the field.“A wonderful recognition from industry experts,”says Christophe Bonnel. The emergency physician joined the Revinax venture after meeting Maxime Ros during a medical education training course. This dual expertise gives these highly enterprising doctors a dual legitimacy. “We understand the challenges of this profession and the importance of training, ”explains Maxime Ros.“To be a good surgeon, you have to train continuously and observe as many surgeries as possible performed by different professionals, since each one has specific expertise,” adds Christophe Bonnel.
Just as journeymen travel around France to complete their apprenticeships with the best craftsmen, Surgevry allows everyone to train with the best surgeons. Thanks to immersive 3D technology, future surgeons can take their “tour of France”—and even the world—of operating rooms, without leaving their classroom… or their hospital.“Medical students aren’t the only ones who can benefit from this, ”explains Maxime Ros. “Surgeons working in remote areas, for example, will also be able to continue their training without leaving their patients.” And the idea goes even further…“UNESCO has expressed interest in this technology for training doctors in developing countries,” says Maxime Ros.“Everyone has a smartphone; it’s easier to equip doctors with 3D headsets than to travel to another city or country for training,” adds Christophe Bonnel.
Improving the Quality of Care
The project’s next goal: to produce as many videos as possible and create a “surgical YouTube”—a 3D video library that will allow everyone, from students to practitioners, to view a wide range of surgical procedures.“These videos could also be adapted for all the staff working in the operating room, such as nurses, who also have very specific expertise,” says Maxime Ros.
Better-trained healthcare providers mean better patient care.“A lack of experience is the cause of some medical errors. To date, these errors are the third leading cause of death in France,” explains Maxime Ros.“Training is a key factor in improving the quality of care, and we are relying on it to reduce this risk,”emphasizes Christophe Bonnel.
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