VirtaMed News

PDD and SPECTRA A/B, developed by KARL STORZ for the IMAGE1 S camera platform, are two different imaging technologies with the same goal: to help surgeons recognize different tissues during operation. Physicians can now experience the benefits of both technologies in virtual reality by using the VirtaMed-powered endoscopic UroTrainer simulator.

"Diagnosing and treating bladder cancer is challenging, because small tumors and minor degenerative changes are difficult if not impossible to discover under regular white light. The photodynamic diagnostics (PDD) and the more recent IMAGE1 S with visualization modes such as SPECTRA A/B have been developed to improve endoscopic imaging and support these diagnoses", explains Gabriele Punner, Director VR Simulation at KARL STORZ GmbH.

By using the blue light together with an imaging drug, physicians will be able to distinguish tumor tissue from healthy tissue. As common a tool as PDD is, it still takes some technical skills to master. Due to the special demands of the fluorescent light, the scope needs to be handled in a slightly different manner than under white light. Furthermore, before urologists can even begin their diagnosis, they need to make sure the drug is properly instilled.

The UroTrainer simulator uses original tools by KARL STORZ, teaching trainees the right technical skills from the start; the realistic virtual reality view gives urologists the opportunity to learn how the bladder looks like when the drug has been applied correctly. As the PDD technology only works with living tissue, a haptic virtual reality simulator is the only available comprehensive training method that doesn’t involve live patients.

The KARL STORZ IMAGE1 S camera platform provides different visualization modes that deliver homogeneous illumination (CLARA), enhanced contrast (CHROMA) and emphasized visualization by using a spectral color shift (SPECTRA A/B). These so called S-Technologies help the physician make out just the right details in the case at hand. As the enhancement tools are integrated in the camera platform, physicians will be able to switch between different tools without effort. All S-Technologies can be used with the KARL STORZ endoscopes.

Both imaging technologies are integrated to all Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURB) patient cases in the VirtaMed-powered UroTrainer simulator. KARL STORZ will introduce the upgraded UroTrainer simulator with both PDD and S-Technologies at the Annual Congress of the German Society for Urology (DGU) in Leipzig, Germany, from September 28th to October 1st, 2016. Please visit KARL STORZ at the exhibition hall, section B.33, to learn more about these technologies.