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Implementing Robotic Surgery Training Simulator for Enhanced Surgical Proficiency
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation
- Analytics & Modeling - Virtual & Augmented Reality Software
Applicable Industries
- Education
- Healthcare & Hospitals
Applicable Functions
- Procurement
Use Cases
- Virtual Reality
- Virtual Training
Services
- System Integration
- Training
The Challenge
Fundacio Puigvert, a leading European medical center specializing in Urology, Nephrology, and Andrology, faced a significant challenge in training its surgical residents. The institution recognized the need for a more standardized and comprehensive training curriculum, particularly in the area of robotic surgery. The challenge was underscored by two independent studies showing that less than 5% of residents in Italian and German residency programs could perform major or complex procedures by the end of their residency. The institution sought to establish a virtual reality simulation lab that would include endourological, laparoscopic, and robotic platforms. However, they needed a simulator that could replicate both the hardware and software of the robotic Da Vinci console used in the operating room, without being connected to the actual physical console. They also required a system that could provide both basic and advanced simulation training, and a metrics system to assess the proficiency of the trainees before they performed surgical procedures in the operating theater.
The Customer
Fundacio Puigvert (Puigvert Foundation)
About The Customer
Fundacio Puigvert is a prestigious medical institution based in Barcelona, Spain. It is one of Europe’s leading centers for specialized medical care in Urology, Nephrology, and Andrology. The institution is associated with the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and offers three different training programs: university programs (undergraduate), specialization programs (postgraduate and residency training), and specialized training courses for physicians. The institution is known for its highly trained and prestigious medical staff who work in comprehensive, multi-disciplinary teams. Fundacio Puigvert is committed to providing personalized care and is focused on a deep knowledge in the medical sciences relating to the study and treatment of pathologies and functional disorders of the urinary tract and male genital system.
The Solution
Fundacio Puigvert decided to purchase 3D Systems’ Simbionix URO Mentor, LAP Mentor, and RobotiX Mentor simulators for hands-on practice of basic skills and advanced procedures. The RobotiX Mentor became an integral part of their undergraduate and residency programs to master robotic surgical technique. The RobotiX Mentor offered a realistic console, 3D visualization, and free-moving joysticks that replicated the Da Vinci console used in the operating room. It also allowed trainees to practice skills and procedures without having to schedule an operating room or have attendings be present. The RobotiX Mentor provided a wide variety of modules, tasks, and cases for both basic and advanced training. The simulation itself was very realistic, with the anatomy and tissues behaving like in real-life when dissected, manipulated, and sutured. The procedures were divided into step-by-step tasks which helped the trainees remember the whole surgical procedure. The 3D Systems’ performance reports allowed the institution to set proficiency levels for those metrics they felt were important for their Urology Residency curriculum.
Operational Impact
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