IIT Kharagpur Partners Intuitive on AI Surgery

• IIT Kharagpur collaborates with Intuitive Foundation on AI-driven surgical research.
• Research uses da Vinci Research Kit in controlled labs, without human surgeries.
• Digital surgical records aim to improve safety, consistency, and outcomes.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has unveiled a new research initiative in collaboration with Intuitive Foundation, a non-profit organization financially supported by Intuitive Surgical, a worldwide technology leader in minimally invasive treatment and the trailblazer in robotic-assisted surgery.

The program seeks to create thorough digital representations of surgical care that can support more trustworthy safety recommendations, AI-driven decision assistance, and accountable early automation in upcoming robotic-assisted surgeries. Ultimately, these developments are anticipated to assist surgeons in operating with enhanced confidence and consistency, leading to improved patient results via more standardized and reliable surgical procedures.

IIT Kharagpur will utilize the da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK), a non-clinical research platform created from decommissioned da Vinci systems, to evaluate these models. The dVRK connects digital models with real robotic actions, facilitating the creation and evaluation of initial automation components through phantoms, synthetic tissues, and anatomical models. All assessments will occur in regulated lab environments and will not include surgical procedures on humans.

The project is directed by a multidisciplinary research team and backed by IIT Kharagpur’s enduring partnership with Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Through detailed documentation of cholecystectomy procedures (surgical removal of the gallbladder) in actual clinical environments, the researchers will acquire hands-on knowledge regarding the progression of surgeries, aiding them in improving the digital models and pinpointing where assistance tools may be most beneficial.

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The program aims to achieve two key results. The initial element is a comprehensive digital record of the surgical journey, allowing AI-powered systems to integrate diagnostic information, anticipated scenarios, intra-operative conditions, and recovery information to emphasize safer methods, identify deviations, and track the origins of complications.

The second involves the careful implementation of selective automation. After the outlined workflows pinpoint steps that are easier, safer and more consistent, specific automation tools can assist surgeons with regular tasks and enable them to concentrate on advanced decision-making.