accurate, three-dimensional models of patients' anatomy, which can
be used to create customized implants for procedures like total joint
replacements. Surgeons are also using the technology to practice pro-
cedures on exact replicas of a patient's individual anatomy in order to
determine the best approach and the instruments needed to achieve
positive outcomes.
• Artificial intelligence. Thanks to devices such as the OR black
box — a shoebox-size device that captures video and audio record-
ings of everything that happens during surgery to identify near-misses,
understand surgical risks and mitigate them accordingly — we can
standardize safety and process confirmation through complex, reli-
able algorithms.
• Superior imaging. Laparoscopic surgery is optically driven. As a
result, the clarity of ultra-high definition monitors is stunning, offering
views four times the pixels of standard HD. That difference allows
surgeons to distinguish finer patterns and structures of tissue and crit-
ical anatomy. What's more, systems that route video and images to
large screens hung throughout the OR make it easy for staff to share
information in real time. Augmented reality — which incorporates a
variety of patient data such as MRIs and CT scans to create specific
anatomical features and overlays those features on the patient —
takes visualization to the next level, allowing surgeons wearing spe-
cially designed headsets to see under the surface of organs and direct-
ly into blood vessels and tumors. This 360-degree view bolsters preci-
sion, limits incisions and reduces the risk of complications.
Look to the future
When it comes to surgical technology, there's a cycle that plays out
time and again. Innovators develop the technology and early adopters
jump right into the fray, eagerly looking to test and validate the tools
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