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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
The
modern operating room requires an increasing
number of new surgical instruments, monitoring and imaging devices,
information systems, and communication networks. While these
individual technologies are improving, attention must also be
paid to integrating all of these resources so as to improve
the quality and efficiency of surgical procedures. The OR2020
Workshop was organized by the ISIS Center at Georgetown University
to identify the clinical and technical requirements for integrating
advanced computer-assisted and robotic technologies into the
next generation operating rooms and interventional suites. The
Workshop built on previous symposia, including the Operating
Room of the Future (ORF) workshop sponsored by TATRC in 2002.
Approximately
100 participants, including physicians, engineers, and scientists,
met for two days in March 2004. The Workshop consisted of plenary
sessions, a keynote speaker, and two breakout sessions which
were divided by Working Groups. The six Working Groups represented
key areas of research and development:
- Operational
Efficiency and Workflow
- Systems
Integration and Technical Standards
- Telecollaboration
- Surgical
Robotics
- Intraoperative
Diagnosis and Imaging
- Surgical
Informatics
From
the Working Groups, five broad areas of technology requirements
were identified:
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Standards
for devices and their use in the operating room (OR) are sorely
needed. Every aspect of OR activity today is affected by their
absence. This was a concern repeated often throughout the
workshop. The OR team of the future must also be interdisciplinary,
a theme noted by other related initiatives, including the
NIH Roadmap and its Research Teams of the Future theme.
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Interoperability
of devices is essential for improved care and throughput.
Currently, most devices and computer systems function as stand-alone
islands of information. A “plug and play” medical
network is needed.
-
Surgical
robotics continues to develop and will play a role
in the Operating Room of the Future. Improvements in surgical
robotics that build on their unique capabilities are needed.
-
Surgery-specific
image acquisition, processing, and display are needed.
The two-dimensional (2D) static images typically used today
are not sufficient. Image processing and visualization tools
must be made available to the operating room.
-
Communications
issues must be addressed and aim toward attaining
a common language, training requirements, and protocols. This
goal also depends upon development of network standards to
enable telecollaboration.
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