THROUGH AUGMENTED REALITY: A SURGEON’S NAVIGATION Enhanced Visualization System

Story by Elisabeth Slay Archived photo

Through the eyes of the Surgical Enhanced Visualization System (SEViS) surgeons access CT Scan imaging directly overlaid on a patient’s body, making it easier to prepare for difficult operations.

According to Pediatric Plastic Surgeon and co-creator of SEViS, Dr. Christian El Amm, the SEViS system is housed in a pair of goggles that allow surgeons to see detailed images of any part of a patient’s body, including the bones, muscles, organs, and blood vessels

“The device is part of what’s being called augmented reality in surgery or extended reality and what we have done is turned it into a navigation software to assist surgeons with their surgeries and procedures,” Dr. El Amm said.

Dr El Amm explained this technology helps providers better perform their surgical tasks as they have quicker access to medical data

“Instead of pausing surgery and turning to the computer monitor and training to pull up what they need the surgeons have what they need right there in front of them using just a voice command,” Dr El Amm said.

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The device is operated through voice command technology, similar to Siri, and rather than needing a controller, the operator of the device simply uses hand motions

“The surgeons wear the headset during surgery and the headset can be flipped up or down when needed It does not obstruct your view like the traditional Virtual Reality goggles,” he said.

Inspired by the original basic mapping technique surgeons use when determining where to make incisions, SEViS provides opportunities for precision, accuracy, and safety

“So far in cranial facial surgery we’ve found it to decrease the injury to major blood vessels in the brain and it may decrease the amount of blood loss in surgery,” he said. “That’s what we’re studying.”

In the last year, Dr El Amm explained the use of SEViS expanded to other specialties including Trauma and Critical Care and more

“It may help trauma surgeons find and fix rib fractures using smaller incisions. For General Surgery the goggles may help with liver procedures. For Urology, they may help with tumor procedures and tumor resections. For Anastasia, they may help with the performance of nerve blocks," He stated

Additionally, the medical professional explained SEViS can be utilized in Neurosurgery with challenging tumors and Orthopedic Surgery with hip reconstructive surgery

SEViS originally began as a research project in 2018 and the concept was further developed in 2019.

“We had a working prototype in 2020-2021. In 2022 we started expanding its use in other specialties,” Dr. El Amm said.

Dr. El Amm and others in the Craniofacial Imaging Lab have been researching and developing new imaging tools since 2006

“We did three-dimensional modeling, threedimensional simulations, and studies on 3D scans,” Dr El Amm said “Then it expanded to 3D printing and virtual reality models ”

In 2016, when augmented reality technology was more accessible Dr El Amm and his team discussed developing a virtual surgical planning system.

“In 2018, with the help of Dr James Tomasek, who supported us with a grant for a collaborative study with Baker Hughes, an initial prototype was created Then we spent another year and a half in the lab developing it,” Dr El Amm stated

Xironetic, a company started by Dr. El Amm and others, is licensing the patented technology, and the Imaging Lab is always updating and advancing the SEViS.

“We’re always developing ideas but the main ideas come from the surgeons who tell us how to use it,” he said. “The surgeons ask the questions and then the technology finds the answers.”

Since the expansion, Dr El Amm explained SEViS has been used in 100 different operations

As the department continues to gather data and a better understanding of the device, Dr El Amm and his team feel optimistic the technology will become more of a helpful tool for other specialties

“The SEViS goggles are helping make surgery faster, safer, and better for patients,” Dr. El Amm said.