Onkos, Insight Medical to work on using augmented reality in surgery

Two companies are pledging to work together to see if they can bring augmented reality to cancer procedures to help surgeons better prepare for musculoskeletal cancer operations.

Insight Medical Systems and Onkos Surgical on Monday announced a pilot project to assess the use of augmented reality technology for use in tumor surgery.

Onkos Surgical is a surgical oncology company that is incorporating various cutting-edge technologies into comprehensive solutions that enable oncologists to improve performance in the surgical suite.

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Insight Medical seeks to apply its Augmented Reality Visualization and Information System (ARVIS) technology to the initiative. Currently under development, ARVIS has tracking and visualization capabilities that would enable surgeons to make precise and efficient execution of surgical plans. It uses a headset with the ability to project virtual models of the patient’s anatomy into the surgeon’s field of view during the procedure, thus showing anatomical structures that otherwise are obstructed.

In addition, ARVIS would enable virtual models of the implants or instruments to be projected so that the surgeon can see their relationship to the hidden anatomical structures.

The initiative with Onkos offers an opportunity for Insight Medical to expand beyond its core competency as a medical device company that focuses on orthopedic surgical procedures, including spinal fusion, joint replacement and ACL reconstruction.



Bringing three-dimensional imaging, modeling and printing technology, in addition to advanced simulation technology, can help oncologists improve their performance during highly important surgical procedures, says Shevin Oskouei, MD, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the Emery University School of Medicine, Atlanta.

“Oncology surgeons are working on complex pathologies that require precise surgical intervention,” Oskouei says. “Augmented reality may present an interesting approach to navigating these complex reconstructions.”

“Onkos Surgical is investing heavily in capabilities and technology to bring innovation to musculoskeletal oncology surgeons,” says Patrick Treacy, CEO and co-founder of Onkos. “Augmented reality technology has the potential of simplifying the complex and providing surgeons with input and feedback that may improve the precision of surgical planning and interoperative workflow.”