“Advanced surgical imaging”

Minimally invasive surgical procedures using laparoscopes have certain benefits in that the surgical incisions are smaller and therefore heal quicker with less post-operative pain. The disadvantages of laparoscopic procedures are technical in nature; there is a loss of tactile feedback and loss of three-dimensional assessment. We have examined both visible and infrared imaging technology to enhance the assessment of anatomic structures as well as tissue oxygenation and viability. The visible light project focuses on enhancement of the standard 3 CCD camera using software algorithms to visualize the viability of various tissues by exploiting the inherent color differences between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. The infra-red project focuses on the use of temperature differentials to visualize anatomic structures such as the common bile duct in the liver. Common bile duct injury is the most significant complications from laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of gall stones) which is the most common minimally invasive surgery performed in the US. Indeed it was recently reported that on average every American will undergo 6 operations over their lifetime and 1 out of the 6 will be a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The capability to distinguish the structures and vessels in real-time coupled with the ability to evaluate the status of a given tissue or organ will greatly impact the field of surgery and increase the quality of life for the patient.