Thousands of patients have benefitted from newly-available, minimally-invasive surgical approaches made possible by advanced computer technology. In spine surgery and other fields, such procedures allow for enhanced precision and visualization by the surgeon and improve upon safety, lower blood loss as well as time in the operating room, enabling faster healing for the patient.
Innovating for Success
As a nationally-recognized authority on minimally-invasive surgical techniques, AdventHealth spine surgeon Dr. Chetan K. Patel is constantly on the lookout for ways to improve the current technology for the benefit of his patients. Realizing that “one of the greatest challenges of computer-assisted surgery is the need for surgeons to look away from the patient during a procedure to access information on a screen” – a situation he calls an “attention shift” – Dr. Patel set about addressing this challenge in his own operating room. And he’s doing it with augmented reality (AR).
“AR could provide a solution that will improve both surgical efficiency and patient outcomes by superimposing contextually-relevant patient information in the surgeon’s visual field so that it is readily available without ever looking away from the patient to a screen,” said Dr. Patel.
The Invention of iSight™
Dr. Patel’s extensive research into current AR systems and their capabilities led him to take a new approach that is specifically attuned to the complexities of spine surgery. He is the inventor of a new, cost-efficient AR system called iSightTM that he has been using for select procedures since May.
“From the spine surgeon’s perspective, this system surpasses other AR technologies due to its ease of use, including excellent ergonomics, exceptional responsiveness, and ability to be implemented with existing imaging, navigation, and robotics systems,” said Dr. Patel. And by mitigating the challenge of an “attention shift” during surgery, he believes he has found a way to improve both safety and efficiency in the operating room.
So far, this technology has shown some encouraging findings. “For our team to date, the system has resulted in a 25-55% improvement in the time required to place pedicle screws,” the surgeon noted. “This equates to less time the patient must spend in the operating room and, potentially, less blood loss and improved patient outcomes.”
Future Possibilities
In time, Dr. Patel hopes to be able to offer this new technology to other surgeons across the country. For now, he is happy to be able to bring it to his own patients as he gathers even more evidence of its efficacy, adaptability, and benefits.
“My goal for incorporating AR into spine surgery is to enhance the accuracy, safety, and efficiency that ultimately culminate in improved patient outcomes,” explained Dr. Patel. “At AdventHealth, we believe that it is our obligation not just to deliver the best possible care today but to create innovative solutions that elevate tomorrow’s standard of care. If we can envision a better future, it is our responsibility to help create it.”
About Dr. Chetan K. Patel
Chetan K. Patel, M.D., is an appointed industry leader with a philosophy of patient care that emphasizes minimally-invasive, evidence-based approaches for obtaining effective, long-term relief of back and neck pain. As executive medical director for spine at the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute and section chair of robotics & navigation for the North American Spine Society, he helps pave the way for the most promising new technologies in spine surgery.
For more information or to request an appointment, call (407) 303-5452 or visit AHMGSpineHealth.com.
