As announced in June 2010, the computational visualisation group at the Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg (OvGU) will develop an interactive Web 2.0 surgical system based on 3D-patient models for surgical education and training purposes.

The research project called the 'Surgery-Tube' - approved by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Das Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung - BMBF, in German) - will develop in the next three years a web portal, in which interactive 3D-patient models and surgical instruments will be used; surgical procedures will be learned and tested virtually. Thereby, focus is put on minimal intervention, using new tools and operation techniques.

The computer scientists of the OvGU, working under the guidance of Professor Bernhard Preim of the visualisation working group - part of a BMBF-funded research project - will develop the new Web 2.0 techniques for the surgical education and training. This group of computer scientists works with surgeons from the University of Lübeck under the guidance of the prominent liver surgeon, Professor Hans-Peter Bruch, with computer scientists from the RWTH Aachen University, under the auspices of the Web 2.0 specialist, Professor Wolfgang Prinz as well as with several companies.

The project is coordinated by Dr. Raimund Mildner in Lübeck, the local technological centre.

The platform will be supplemented by videos from both the pre-operative planning and intraoperative views. In addition to the technical solutions, organisational questions for the training of certified medical staff must be clarified. Furthermore, models for the long-term operation of the platform will be developed and tested by professional associations or the industry sector.

Further information:

• Original News Article - Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg (in German)
• Computational visualisation group - Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg