Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is the first hospital in the Southeast and just the second in the world to own a device that allows operating room (OR) staff and medical students to see in 4K (ultra-high-definition) 3-D.
The technology, known as ORBEYE, is a video microscope that magnifies images up to 26 times onto two 55-inch monitors in real-time in the OR.
The precise 3-D digital images from the ORBEYE microscope can provide more accurate surgery by providing large, clear views of tissue, nerves, blood vessels, and the surgeon’s instrument movements.
“By displaying the surgical field on these 4K monitors, the progress of surgical procedures and the training value is enhanced,” said Charles Branch, M.D., chair of neurosurgery at Wake Forest Baptist, who has performed more than 40 surgeries with the device. “It’s quite incredible to have visuals like this in real-time. Better visibility for surgeons and the entire team can mean even better outcomes for patients.”
ORBEYE enables the entire OR staff to view the surgery on the monitors and lets surgeons stand upright and use 3-D glasses instead of microscope eyepieces called loupes. Surgeons have historically used loupes, which allow only the surgeon to view the surgical field and can contribute to fatigue in surgeons, since they often have to bend over for long periods of time during operations.
“With this new technology the entire surgical team is able to view what’s presently happening, which means they’re able to better anticipate what will happen next,” said Branch.
This new technology also improves medical education and training at Wake Forest Baptist.
“Those who are training to become a surgeon are able to visualize and gain a different perspective with this innovative imagery,” said Branch. “With the added magnification and large screens, the attending surgeon is better able to illustrate their process while teaching and is better able to monitor the movements of the training surgeon.”
ORBEYE is also being used by other specialists at Wake Forest Baptist. Ryan Terlecki, M.D., associate professor of urology, was the first in the world to use this technology for vasectomy reversal, testicular sperm extraction, oral graft harvest for urethral reconstruction and testicular denervation. Thomas Pranikoff, M.D., professor of surgical sciences-pediatrics, was the first in the world to use it for a pediatric lung resection. Otolaryngologists at Wake Forest Baptist also have utilized ORBEYE.
ORBEYE was developed by Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc (SOMED), a joint venture between Olympus Corporation and Sony Imaging Products & Solutions Inc.
Media Relations
Eryn Johnson: eryjohns@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-8228
Joe McCloskey: jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1273