Research and Educational Partnership to Improve Surgical Training

Image Credits: Springer

Announcement

Fujifilm Healthcare Europe, the imaging specialist, and the research and training institute IRCAD France have entered a partnership to concentrate on research programs and surgical education. The collaboration will include the company enabling 3D surgical planning tools and ultrasound technology, consisting of Synapse 3D software, to contribute to IRCAD’s educational efforts. The partnership focuses on advancing the use of image-guided solutions in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The collaboration will organize educational programs for image-guided surgical techniques and intraoperative ultrasound techniques, aiming at surgeons across Europe and globally. These programs will be reached via online and in-person formats.

Educational Initiatives Benefit

The educational initiatives will help surgeons with access to advanced ultrasound technology, 3D planning software, and improved anatomical visualization to contribute to the skill development and knowledge of new surgical techniques. Fujifilm introduces imaging technology experience adopted for 90 years of this partnership, alongside IRCAD supports its expertise and skill in robotic surgery research, training, and minimally invasive procedures. IRCAD was founded in 1994 within the University of Strasbourg, and is in operation internationally, leading research and educational programs. The alliance will provide surgeon feedback to address future development of Fujifilm’s ultrasound products, including the motive to introduce the clinicians' informed technology solutions.

Views and Statements from the Company Leaders

Founding president of IRCAD, Professor Jacques Marescaux, said, “The partnership with Fujifilm is a crucial step towards interventional radiologists and training of surgeons, along with the development of the dedicated joint research and innovations projects. We will together discover new paths to improve clinical practice and surgical education via state-of-the-art tools and platforms like 3D planning software systems, which will provide thousands of surgeons trained at IRCAD to practice procedures on a digital twin of the organ before implementing on real patients.”

Managing director of Fujifilm Healthcare Europe, Takemasa Kojima, said, “We are excited to partner with the prestigious IRCAD team in Europe. At Fujifilm, education and research have been a magnetic pull towards the advancement of our discovery. We take the proud moment to start with this important collaboration with IRCAD, unlocking an opportunity to establish our solutions with a known institute for surgical organization and innovation, where research and knowledge are prioritized in the developmental process. Being an affiliate of a crucial manufacturer of medical technologies, it seems worthwhile to partner with experts in the area who are using medical technologies in their daily operations.”