robot's 3D-HD images
over 2D-4K ones.
"Would you rather
have one eye seeing
clearly, or have the abili-
ty to see with two
eyes?" he says. "I would
always choose two
eyes. If I had to go back
to operating with one
eye, it would be a huge
step backward in technology and ability."
It's not just 4K and 3D
While 4K and 3D are the big players in surgical video, some manufactur-
ers are turning to image enhancement technologies to offer docs better
views. These systems use advanced algorithms to cut through obstacles
like smoke, debris and fog to get a clearer image. Other systems let sur-
geons tune the color scheme to help them identify specific anatomic
structures, depending on the specialty, as well as light up dark back-
grounds that otherwise are hard to see, no matter how high the image's
resolution.
One technology picking up steam is near-infrared fluorescence
(NIRF) imaging, in which the surgical team injects indocyanine green
(ICG) solution into the patient. These enhanced camera systems are
built into some of the newer surgical robots, or they can be purchased
as stand-alone systems. After injecting ICG, the surgeon can switch
the camera view from standard white light to fluorescence imaging,
which will then light up sensitive structures such as bile ducts and
blood vessels as bright green on the screen, increasing a surgeon's
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 1 9
• 3D ROBOTS Daniel D. Eun, MD, chief of robotic surgical services at Lewis Katz
School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., is looking forward to
using 3D-4K surgical robots.
Joseph
V.
Labolito,
Temple
University
