Health UK (Commonwealth Union) – Trainee surgeons who are in the process of mastering laparoscopic (or keyhole) surgery will soon have the opportunity to expedite their training, thanks to an innovative AI-enhanced system currently under development by researchers at the National Robotarium of Heriot-Watt University, in partnership with the Dundee Institute for Healthcare Simulation at the University of Dundee.
This pioneering system, known as AILap, leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to actively monitor human movements in real-time. AILap combines the capabilities of machine learning and machine vision technologies with cost-effective physical box trainers. These trainers serve as surgical simulators designed to provide users with instantaneous feedback, thereby enhancing their proficiency in keyhole surgery techniques and skills.
Over the course of the last three decades, keyhole or laparoscopic surgery has become a widely adopted approach for various medical procedures, particularly those involving the gastrointestinal tract where precise suturing is essential. However, existing methods for assessing and training these critical skills are often characterized by their time-consuming nature, labor-intensive requirements, limited accessibility, and high costs.
A recent survey conducted by the Fellowship Council, a body focused on surgical training, revealed a concerning statistic: up to 56% of fellows who had completed their training were unable to proficiently execute laparoscopic suturing. Laparoscopic suturing is not only identified as a deficiency but is also recognized as the most crucial skill in the surgical trainees’ skill set upon completion of their training.
AILap aims to offer vital support to surgical trainees by expanding their access to self-directed exercises and delivering immediate AI-powered feedback. This project will also enable clinical academics responsible for surgeon training programs to reconfigure their curriculum to accommodate more trainees with the assistance of AI.
The project is a collaborative effort between researchers from the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University and academic experts from the University of Dundee. It has received £600,000 in funding from the UK Government, courtesy of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which is part of UK Research and Innovation.
As the National Robotarium marks its one-year anniversary since its opening in September 2022, AILap stands as the latest addition to a series of groundbreaking projects associated with this cutting-edge facility. The National Robotarium is an integral part of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative and is financially supported by £21 million from the UK Government and an additional £1.4 million from the Scottish Government as part of the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.
Dr. Mustafa Suphi Erden, the project lead of AILap and an academic at the National Robotarium, indicated that laparoscopy training is currently a time-intensive process, requiring access to specialized training platforms and the guidance of expert surgeons, who often have limited availability. This is why AILap technology has the potential to play a crucial role in supporting professional training within our public services and healthcare systems.
He further elaborated that they anticipate that AILap will make it possible to train a larger number of surgeons without the requirement for constant expert supervision. Furthermore, the technology is designed to work with readily available components, making it both cost-effective and accessible for healthcare systems worldwide.
Stewart Miller, Chief Executive of the National Robotarium, says “We launched the National Robotarium a year ago with the mandate to develop AI and Robotics solutions that will help people live safer, healthier, and more productive lives. Technologies like this have enormous potential to address key challenges we face as a society, such as the significant time and resources it takes to equip prospective surgeons with the knowledge, practice, and experience of laparoscopic procedures. “The UK Government is supporting the National Robotarium with £21 million investment helping to foster this world-leading research as well as delivering high-quality jobs and bringing sustainable economic growth to the region as part of our £300 million investment in South East Scotland,” added the UK Government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord.
