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.

Steering committee members of the "European Modular Field Hospital" (EU-MFH) project infront of the Villa Tillmanns in Leipzig.

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.

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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?

The LSS-group with their booth on Electrical Impedance Tomography at the Long Night of Sciences in the BBZ.

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

At this year’s Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery Congress (CARS), taking place from 20 to 23 June in Berlin, Prof. Thomas Neumuth will chair a special session dealing with the very topical issue “Technical Standardization in the Operating Room”. Benefits, potentials, use cases and the current standards will be discussed.

Furthermore, there will be ICCAS contributions on the topic “Intelligent Operating Room” at the 20th IFCARS / SPIE / ISCAS Joint Workshop. ICCAS’s topics are the design and validation of a context-aware surgical working environment and the demands on navigation intelligence in computer-assisted endoscopic ENT-surgery.

Prof. Andreas Melzer will strengthen the clinical input of the session “Clinical Decision Making”. ICCAS-lectures on the topics “A Knowledge-based data entry form for high quality clinical data collection” and “Information architecture for a patient-specific dashboard in head and neck tumor boards” will be held there.

Together with Prof. Heinz U. Lemke, Erik Schreiber will lead the IHE Session. There, he will present current work items for IHE integration profiles and Dr. Stefan Franke will talk about emerging standards for interoperability of medical systems.

Finally, Dr. Claire Chalopin will present posters on the topics “Image-based connector for automatic identification of ultrasound parameter values” and “Measurement of moisture at skin surface with Hyperspectral Imaging”.

program link

Last Thursday, ICCAS’s Open Day attracted around 100 visitors. The scientists had invited to demonstrate medical technologies in a close and simply way. The variety of exhibits covered all research areas of ICCAS. The SONO-RAY group provided insight into cancer cell research with focused ultrasound. The Life Support Systems group demonstrated a mobile measuring belt which monitores the lung function of accident victims. Many exciting questions were asked especially in ICCAS’s intelligent operating room and about the digital patient model in a simulated tumor board. Furthermore, a robotic application for the precise removal of tissue samples and an automated and networked 3D ultrasound for brain tumor resections were showed. The event was attended by guests from science, politics and industry, but also by many private persons who find the topic exciting and important. We thank all for their interest and are already looking forward to the ICCAS Open Day 2019!

Dr. Peter Salz explaines the principle of the Electrical Impedance Tomography.

Dr. Stefan Franke demonstrates the intelligence of the unique Demo OR.

Johann Berger showes an robtic application for biopsies.