On September 13, 2018, ICCAS invites to the 17th Annual Conference of the Society for Computer and Robotic Assisted Surgery (CURAC 2018) at the Leipzig University Medical Campus. On three conference days, experts will discuss how computer- and robot-controlled technology can be used in operating rooms. The event is certified by the Saxon State Medical Association (SLÄK) with a total of 15 education points. ICCAS is looking forward to numerous participants and exciting contributions!

link to press release (German)

For the fifth time, the ICCAS hosted its Digital Operating Room Summer School (DORS). In theory and practice the 16 international participants worked on different topics related to computer assisted medicine. The particularly positive feedback from the guests was mainly due to the rich and varied program and to the intensive support provided by the entire ICCAS team. Between lectures, technical exercises and OR visits there was enough time for constructive exchange and stimulating discussions between the participants and the national and international tutors. The event, accredited with 35 European CME-Credits (EACCME®), offered an interdisciplinary approach to medical and technical aspects and is annually organized in close cooperation with physicians of the Leipzig University Hospital and the Heart Center Leipzig.

This year’s focus was on topics of latest computer-assisted applications in the medical fields of: Ear-Nose-Throat Surgery, Visceral and Heart Surgery, Urology and Radiology as well as on the Digital Patient Model, Medical Robotics and future-oriented technologies for the operating theatre of tomorrow. The combination of lectures, hands-on sessions, visits to operating rooms and discussions ensured an intensive and methodically wide-ranging insight into the content. Social events offered intensive communication, relaxation and exchange of experiences.

We are already looking forward to DORS 2019.

For the second time, ICCAS scientists visited the Joint Institution for Advanced Biomedical Sciences of Tokyo Women’s Medical University and Waseda University (TWIns) in Tokyo to discuss the topic “open networking of medical devices and IT systems in operating room and hospital”. Both institutes have been researching for years on a solution to this technological challenge, ICCAS in the OR.NET project until 2016 and today in cooperation with OR.Net e.V. and TWIns in the SCOT project. At the meeting, ideas for a technical integration of both approaches were gathered. Johann Berger worked with the Japanese colleagues on the implementation of a first software solution. During his four-week stay, he succeeded to establish a prototype connection between the two systems. This enables the communication of medical devices in Tokyo and Leipzig and serves at the basis for further research work of both teams. One highlight of the stay was the visit of the recently opened SCOT-OR at Shinshu University Hospital.

On 10 and 11 July 2018, the international steering committee members of the EU-project “European Modular Field Hospital” (EU-MFH) met in Leipzig to promote the conception of a mobile hospital for emergency operations on behalf of the EU-commission for humanitarian aid and civil protection. The aim is to improve the medical care within the scope of emergency measures of the European civil protection. Prof. Thomas Neumuth chaired the meeting, in which representatives of the humanitarian aid and civil protection of the interior ministries of nine European countries met in Leipzig. ICCAS’s project task is to control the networking of the information technology and to set the electronic patient documentation. This is intended to ensure making the work of the medical staff in the newly designed modular emergency hospital considerably easier, from diagnosis to therapy and documentation.

On June 28, 2018, ICCAS hosted the 3rd ProSafeMed network meeting. In the international ZIM cooperation network, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and coordinated by the AGIL GmbH Leipzig, next to ICCAS 22 German and Polish companies and research institutions joined forces to develop new medical devices and procedures for the European medical device market.

Contact

We cordially invite all interested parties to be our guest at this year’s 17th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Computer- and Robot-Assisted Surgery. It takes place at the University Medical Campus in Leipzig from September 13 – 15, 2018. Please register on the new website of CURAC e.V! (early bird until 16.08.2018)

As keynote speakers we will welcome Prof. Guang-Zhong Yang, director and co-founder of the Hamlyn Center for Robotic Surgery and Prof. Jens J. Rassweiler, founding member of the Section of Uro-Technology (ESUT) of the European Association of Urology (EAU).

The motto of this year’s event which is hosted by ICCAS is “Connected into the Future”. On the first evening, ICCAS invites to a Get-Together and presents its research world.

In the scope of this year’s Hamlyn Symposium on Medcal Robotics on June 27, Prof. Andreas Melzer will pass on his knowledge on “Ultrasound and MR guided Focused Ultrasound Therapy (SONO-RAY)” in the workshop “Image Guided Therapy”. Here, researchers from the fields of simulation and modelling, imaging and sensing, computing, robotics as well as visualisation meet to improve the localisation and targeting of pathological tissue with surgical instruments and focused energy delivery.

Even before the official opening of the Long Night of Sciences in the Biocity Leipzig until after midnight, the information booth of the Life Support Systems-group of ICCAS was an attraction for visitors. The scientists experimentally explained the function of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), a gentle imaging method based on measurements of electrical conductivities in the human body. Many guests came especially to fasten the measuring belt and to watch their own lung function in the live image of the EIT measuring device. The children’s rallye attrackted the youngest and their parents to the booth. They had to answer the question: How does soemthing look like in the “electrical” image?

On June 24, scientists from the SONO-RAY-group will present how robot systems can support the ultrasound-guided removal of tissue samples in the final of the Surgical Robot Challenge in London. Here, the world’s leading research groups compete in the field of robot applications for surgery.
The competition will be held as part of the renowned international Hamlyn Symposium with the support of KUKA AG.

The exhibit at LBR iiwa 7 has already been successfully validated together with radiologists from Leipzig University Hospital. The funds for the robotic arms were provided by the Saxon State Ministry of Science and the Arts (SMWK). The winner will be announced at the International Robotics Showcase, the closing ceremony of the UK Robotics Week. The prize money amounts to 10,000 GBP.

At the Leipzig Long Night of Sciences ICCAS will make it possible to show live images of the lung. The booth is located in the foyer of the Biotechnological-Biomedical Centre (BBZ) at Deutscher Platz 5. Researchers from the Life Support Systems-group will explain how the lung function can be monitored in an emergency by using Electrical Impedance Tomography – who likes on the own body. A special measuring device including a newly developed measuring belt is used. In addition, the scientists will experimentally explain how this gentle imaging method works. It is based on measurements of electrical conductivities in the human body.

During an intersting lecture, Dr. Peter Salz will explain what is necessary to make latest research results suitable for the clinical use in cooperation with the medical technology industry. The lecture takes place in the BBZ-conference room from 8:00 to 8.30 p.m. Using the example of the new lung imaging for emergency use Dr. Salz reports on the work at the interface between research and industry and on the special challenges of medical technology development.

Live-Pictures from the Lung Using Electrical Impedance Tomography
Hands on action, station of children-rallye
Time: 06:00 – 11:45 pm
Venue: Foyer of BIO CITY LEIPZIG, Biotechnologisch-Biomedizinisches Zentrum, Deutscher Platz 5

From Idea to Device – Today’s Medical Technology Production
Lecture and Discussion
Time: 08:00 – 08:30 pm
Venue: Conference Room at Biotechnologisch-Biomedizinisches Zentrum, Deutscher Platz 5

Programm der Universitätsmedizin