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"What our
software is doing is taking advantage of that data and
presenting it in a format where they can actually see the body
parts from that data and interact with them in a three
dimensional space," said Sergio Aguirre of California startup
Echopixel adding that doctor's can peel away virtual layers and
examine tissue and organs deep within the body.
In clinical trials using the technology, surgeons were able to
more effectively correct congenital heart defects in newborns
while dramatically decreasing the amount of time it took to
prepare for the procedures.
Using a specialized monitor and glasses developed by Silicon
Valley startup ZSpace to run the software, the virtual 3D image
allowed surgeons to visualize tiny blood vessels and practice
their surgery before ever stepping foot in an operating room.
"These vessels are sub-millimeter and the newborn patient is the
size of your hand. So they basically get imaged and we use our
software to help the doctor to understand the curvature of the
vessels, to follow the vessels all the way through the lungs and
determine which vessels need to be surgically repaired," said
Aguirre.
Dr. Louis Wexler of Stanford University has been at the
forefront of medical imaging for more than half a century. He
says this technology's ability to transform hundreds of 2
dimensional images into an interactive 3D model is a game
changer.
"It is going to be a tremendously useful tool for the surgeon.
Some surgeons are very good at looking at X-RAY images, CT
images, MR and imagining what that looks like in the body. This
shows them exactly what it looks like in the body," said Wexler.
The technology will save time and improve accuracy of medical
procedures, according to Wexler, which will ultimately translate
into saving patients money and giving them access to better
medical care.
"To see an object inside the body, identify it and lift it out
of the body was pretty exciting. But that isn't enough. One has
to begin to think about how is that going to help in your
clinical evaluation of something."
To that end, Echopixel is aggressively pursuing more trials. The
company was given FDA clearance to provide the system as a
diagnostic and surgical planning tool earlier this year.
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