Precision OS: Using Virtual Reality for Surgeon Education, Pre-Operative Planning

artificial intelligence orthopedic technology

With the goal of creating an innovative and realistic surgery simulator experience, a group of orthopaedic surgeons and high-end game developers have formed Precision OS Technology. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the focus of Precision OS’ high-fidelity virtual reality (VR) software is to provide surgical metrics with haptic feedback to improve surgeon performance.

Additionally, Precision OS is developing pre-op planning software that will allow surgeons to input images of a specific patient’s anatomy before performing a simulated procedure.

To further development, Precision OS Technology recently secured US $2.3MM in Series A funding; the round was led by AO Invest with other undisclosed investors.

The company seeks to partner with educational organizations, residency programs, universities and industry, and is currently creating content for an orthopaedic device company.

In an effort to learn more about Precision OS, we posed several questions to Danny P. Goel, M.D., surgeon and CEO. Topics included patient outcomes, commercialization and preoperative planning.

What differentiates Precision OS from other simulation technologies on the market?

Dr. Goel: VR’s ability to offer a safe environment to make mistakes is highly valuable in providing surgeons with the building blocks on which to learn. Our technology goes beyond the technical steps of a procedure, through the enhancement of cognitive skills necessary to impact patient outcomes. This is carried out through permitting the freedom to err and performing critical steps, all while receiving immediate haptic feedback on intra-operative decisions.

You mentioned impaction on patient outcomes. How does Precision OS specifically respond to this industry-wide demand?

Dr. Goel: This is a major focus upon which Precision OS is based. Surgery is a dynamic interaction that can impact outcomes through sound decision making. Our modules encompass this philosophy through a patient-centered approach. This agenda correlates directly with that of the demands and motives of device companies, where widespread education through scalable means is possible. The greatest impact would be to provide an immersive and experiential medium of simulation in which the end result is improved patient outcomes.

What are your greatest challenges from a commercialization standpoint? What next steps are you focused on?

Dr. Goel: The greatest challenge has been the time commitment involved in the creation of high-quality content. We are working towards a hybrid approach to VR and investing time towards the user experience/virtual language in VR. Another major focus for our company is our preoperative planning tool.

Can you provide more details on this pre-op planning software?

Dr. Goel: We permit the upload of patient-specific imaging and allow the user to engage with and grasp a deeper understanding of the pathology. Depending on the level of experience, users may choose to do the procedure in depth or simply view the images. There are additional layers of complexity and relevance currently in development that we are implementing, which we hope will provide the user significant advantages over traditional methods of surgical planning.

JAV

Julie A. Vetalice is ORTHOWORLD's Editorial Assistant. She has covered the orthopedic industry for over 20 years, having joined the company in 1999.

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