Jonathan Jesneck, Ph.D., M.S., Co-Founder, Firefly Lab07.19.22
Imagine a Venn diagram. The iconic two circles that meet in the middle are where surgeon training and medical device use connect. This circle holds immense collaboration potential for surgical learning platforms and manufacturers.
On the one hand, medical device manufacturers can help surgeons better understand and use their devices. On the other hand, surgeons can provide detailed feedback so products can be improved and individualized. Such synergy can lead to enhanced training and increased profit potential for both manufacturers and hospitals, and is especially important in the aftermath of the pandemic, which significantly impacted surgeons' education.1
A good example is image capture during laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery in minimally invasive operations. Equipped with the ability to record and apply artificial-intelligence-driven technologies, surgeons can later use the video footage to analyze each step during the procedure. In addition, machine learning technology can learn with the surgeon in question, alerting them to mistakes or providing alternative surgical recommendations for the future.
Following are more use cases where surgeons’ education and medical technology companies go hand in hand, offering unique collaboration opportunities.
Manufacturers often sell surgical equipment to hospitals, however, then make a relatively uncoordinated effort to obtain critical feedback from the surgeons who use the equipment. As a solution, they are left to seek out other staff in the OR, such as the nurses, to get feedback on the efficacy and ease-of-use of the device. Another frustration medical device reps have experienced recently, especially with the challenges brought up during the COVID-19 pandemic, is hospitals have become very careful about who enters the operating room.
How can this issue be resolved? The idea is to facilitate information sharing and identify both parties' shared interests.
First, in a data-protected manner, the surgeon's OR planning software or digital OR plan can help device manufacturers identify the cases in which their devices might be most useful. This also opens up the possibility of seeing the device in use and interacting with surgeons during and after the procedure. The user of the device can also help them get direct feedback on the use of the device during more complex surgeries.
How does this benefit the surgeon though? Suppose a medical device rep or device manufacturer is in the operating room during first-time uses or complicated procedures. In that case, by mutually agreeing to share this data, surgeons could become aware of which devices and applications they will use in upcoming operations in a well-matched way.
The more data that travels between medical device companies and individual surgeons, the more collaboration that can take place. A good example of a past collaborative development disrupting the whole medical industry is the electronic health record (EHR) framework. In 1992, the first EHR was used only for billing purposes.³ Today, it's an important—if not the most crucial—tool for hospitals to share data and improve patient care. Medical device manufacturers can recognize an opportunity, increase the number of surgeons using their devices, and expand market opportunities.
For all their enthusiasm, however, surgeons need to be trained in the use of robotics. Utilizing this technology is very different from open surgery in many ways, and it's much slower to get started. As surgeons need to learn several new skills first, and the hospital has to make a large capital investment, hospitals often shy away from investing in these devices until there is an assurance of benefit to the patients for which they care.
Medical device firms can help surgeons understand what part of their technique needs improvement. Typically, they match them with mentors and medical device reps who can teach them how to use a robotic system. When connected to a surgeon’s learning platform, they also could send the surgeon training videos and instructions to their personal profile. At best, after agreeing to the terms, this educational material is automatically sent to a surgeon in time for an upcoming surgery. The platform might further pass along direct contacts for questions to a device representative or instructor to each surgeon.
Second, surgical robots equipped with cameras and data analysis features can help surgeons decrease their learning curve when examining their actions post-surgery—and residents can use these records to educate themselves about their peers’ surgeries.⁴ The key here is giving access and visibility to individuals, peers, and experienced surgeons to see and measure residents’ efficiency in certain movements. These videos can also support performance evaluations by experienced surgeons, and create customized learning curves for each resident. All under the assumption that data is protected and no sensitive information is shared.
What can make that process easier? Collaboration. Device companies can contact doctors to find out what device changes or innovations would be necessary to improve their precision or patient care in the future. Many doctors are willing to share their knowledge for free and give feedback on existing devices to enhance their success rates. Furthermore, hospitals could reduce the risk of significant capital investment if their surgeons have deep knowledge about the device before purchase.
So, where does the key lie? Achieving mutual benefits. Collaboration strengthens the relationship between the device rep, the surgeon, and the hospital, and ultimately, helps the medical sector innovate faster.
References
Jonathan Jesneck is the co-founder and CTO of Firefly Lab, where he coordinates data security, machine learning, and the analytics of surgical and procedural training. As an enthusiastic technologist, he has been developing machine learning and data mining applications for complex systems for 20 years. He has founded and grown several technology companies focusing on large-scale analytics, machine learning, and medical data. At Duke University, he earned his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and M.S. degrees in statistics and computational biology and bioinformatics.
On the one hand, medical device manufacturers can help surgeons better understand and use their devices. On the other hand, surgeons can provide detailed feedback so products can be improved and individualized. Such synergy can lead to enhanced training and increased profit potential for both manufacturers and hospitals, and is especially important in the aftermath of the pandemic, which significantly impacted surgeons' education.1
A good example is image capture during laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery in minimally invasive operations. Equipped with the ability to record and apply artificial-intelligence-driven technologies, surgeons can later use the video footage to analyze each step during the procedure. In addition, machine learning technology can learn with the surgeon in question, alerting them to mistakes or providing alternative surgical recommendations for the future.
Following are more use cases where surgeons’ education and medical technology companies go hand in hand, offering unique collaboration opportunities.
Cooperation in the Operating Room
Medical device manufacturers are always interested in finding out how their devices support operations and how surgeons or assistants use the devices in the operating room (OR).² Leveraging this information enables manufacturers to remain innovative.Manufacturers often sell surgical equipment to hospitals, however, then make a relatively uncoordinated effort to obtain critical feedback from the surgeons who use the equipment. As a solution, they are left to seek out other staff in the OR, such as the nurses, to get feedback on the efficacy and ease-of-use of the device. Another frustration medical device reps have experienced recently, especially with the challenges brought up during the COVID-19 pandemic, is hospitals have become very careful about who enters the operating room.
How can this issue be resolved? The idea is to facilitate information sharing and identify both parties' shared interests.
First, in a data-protected manner, the surgeon's OR planning software or digital OR plan can help device manufacturers identify the cases in which their devices might be most useful. This also opens up the possibility of seeing the device in use and interacting with surgeons during and after the procedure. The user of the device can also help them get direct feedback on the use of the device during more complex surgeries.
How does this benefit the surgeon though? Suppose a medical device rep or device manufacturer is in the operating room during first-time uses or complicated procedures. In that case, by mutually agreeing to share this data, surgeons could become aware of which devices and applications they will use in upcoming operations in a well-matched way.
Data for Product Development
Of growing importance for medical product creation is the inclusion of the surgeon's learning curve. It helps designers decide where they need to evolve their devices and create new technologies, or where they may need to develop training materials on how to use their devices properly. Furthermore, identifying areas where a population of surgeons has a slow ascent in the learning curve could be a targeted area for device development by device companies.The more data that travels between medical device companies and individual surgeons, the more collaboration that can take place. A good example of a past collaborative development disrupting the whole medical industry is the electronic health record (EHR) framework. In 1992, the first EHR was used only for billing purposes.³ Today, it's an important—if not the most crucial—tool for hospitals to share data and improve patient care. Medical device manufacturers can recognize an opportunity, increase the number of surgeons using their devices, and expand market opportunities.
Robotics Requires Training Material
Robotics is already a crucial part of surgical training.4 By using computer and software technology to control and move surgical instruments through one or more tiny incisions in the patient's body (minimally invasive), surgeons can perform a variety of surgical procedures with higher success rates.For all their enthusiasm, however, surgeons need to be trained in the use of robotics. Utilizing this technology is very different from open surgery in many ways, and it's much slower to get started. As surgeons need to learn several new skills first, and the hospital has to make a large capital investment, hospitals often shy away from investing in these devices until there is an assurance of benefit to the patients for which they care.
Medical device firms can help surgeons understand what part of their technique needs improvement. Typically, they match them with mentors and medical device reps who can teach them how to use a robotic system. When connected to a surgeon’s learning platform, they also could send the surgeon training videos and instructions to their personal profile. At best, after agreeing to the terms, this educational material is automatically sent to a surgeon in time for an upcoming surgery. The platform might further pass along direct contacts for questions to a device representative or instructor to each surgeon.
Recordings to Reduce the Learning Curve
Medical device manufacturers can focus on video reporting and sharing those videos on display platforms in a data-protected manner. This can go in two directions. First, they can willingly share educational videos and material about their devices via a centralized learning platform. Let’s say you're a surgeon, and tomorrow, you have a new case—here's a video explaining the technique, and an academic paper describing how to minimize risks.Second, surgical robots equipped with cameras and data analysis features can help surgeons decrease their learning curve when examining their actions post-surgery—and residents can use these records to educate themselves about their peers’ surgeries.⁴ The key here is giving access and visibility to individuals, peers, and experienced surgeons to see and measure residents’ efficiency in certain movements. These videos can also support performance evaluations by experienced surgeons, and create customized learning curves for each resident. All under the assumption that data is protected and no sensitive information is shared.
Feedback on Devices
When manufacturers introduce medical devices, they must use the data collected on their previous medical devices, assess ergonomics, and include the surgeon’s learning curve to identify where there may be room for improvement.What can make that process easier? Collaboration. Device companies can contact doctors to find out what device changes or innovations would be necessary to improve their precision or patient care in the future. Many doctors are willing to share their knowledge for free and give feedback on existing devices to enhance their success rates. Furthermore, hospitals could reduce the risk of significant capital investment if their surgeons have deep knowledge about the device before purchase.
Collaboration Opportunities for the Medical Sector
Sometimes a medical innovation requires an expensive investment, and surgeons and doctors must first convince the hospital to make the consideration. That's where learning platforms can be of value. When manufacturers partner with companies that train surgeons, they should see faster results and be able to use the device sooner—increasing the bottom line for all parties.So, where does the key lie? Achieving mutual benefits. Collaboration strengthens the relationship between the device rep, the surgeon, and the hospital, and ultimately, helps the medical sector innovate faster.
References
Jonathan Jesneck is the co-founder and CTO of Firefly Lab, where he coordinates data security, machine learning, and the analytics of surgical and procedural training. As an enthusiastic technologist, he has been developing machine learning and data mining applications for complex systems for 20 years. He has founded and grown several technology companies focusing on large-scale analytics, machine learning, and medical data. At Duke University, he earned his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and M.S. degrees in statistics and computational biology and bioinformatics.
