Image overlay for robot assisted partial nephrectomy - a Pilot study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Image guidance with image overlay for robot assisted partial nephrectomy - A Pilot study
IRAS ID
225688
Contact name
Maxine Tran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
No Z6364106/2016/06/104 , Data protection number
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Robot assisted partial nephrectomy (removal of part of the kidney using key hole surgery with surgical instruments manipulated by a robot, which is controlled by the surgeon) is one of the treatment options for small kidney cancers. It provides equivalent cancer clearance as removal of the whole kidney, but has the advantage of retaining the normal functioning part of the kidney that is not affected by the cancer. However, a challenge during partial nephrectomy is ensuring that the entire cancer is removed. An additional challenge is avoiding blood vessels, as the kidney has a lot of bloody supply and damage to these blood vessels leads to massive bleeding. Frequently, tumours and major blood vessels lie beneath the surface of the kidney and cannot be seen on the video images. The surgeon has to rely on the pre-operative scans or intra-operative ultrasound to recognise the cancer and blood vessels but has to make a mental projection of these structures on the live video images to avoid cutting into these important structures.
We have created a computerised algorithm that allows us to overlay these structures onto the video images, thereby creating 'augmented reality' or 'X-ray vision' where the surgeon is able to see the structures that lie beneath the surface. The aim of this research is to investigate whether an integrated system, using tracking and image capturing devices and the computerised algorithm can facilitate the overlap of the images. All the components - apart from the algorithm, have been certified for medical use and will be used for their intended purposes.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NE/0182
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion