Visualization of the new surgical research and teaching center OR-X. Rendering by Metron AG.
The direct integration into a hospital and the connection with the existing research infrastructure will make the OR-X worldwide unique. The core facilities include:
- A 1:1 copy of a real operating theatre (OR lights, walls, table, etc.) to conduct entire ex-vivo interventions with state-of-the-art surgical instruments, intraoperative imaging, arthroscopy, navigation systems, surgical robots.
- A surgical wet lab with 5 workstations dedicated to larger research experiments and training sessions with a larger group of participants.
- Surgeon enhancing technologies such as intraoperative artificial intelligence, robotic surgery, and augmented reality (AR) and an intraoperative imaging core consisting of cutting-edge biomedical imaging, robotic imaging, sensor-based imaging, and AI-driven intelligent imaging.
- A surgical data center connected to both facilities for real-time data acquisition and processing, eventually enabling research on surgical data science, machine learning, AI, computer-aided surgery, surgical robotics, surgical training, skill analysis, as well as the design, development, and evaluation of medical products.
The OR-X will be physically located at Balgrist University Hospital and will span XX square meters over two floors.
Welcome area
The welcome area features a reception desk and a sponsor acknowledgement wall.
Waiting area
A comfortable lobby is offered to the participants who can relax and discuss between sessions while watching surgeries through the huge touch display.
Dressing room
In the dressing rooms, donning of surgical cloting can be performed before, and showers can be taken after experiments.
Surgical wet lab
The surgical wet lab with 5 surgical workstations is dedicated to larger research experiments and training sessions with a larger group of participants. It allows performance of open and arthroscopic surgeries in a conventional, computer- or robot-assisted fashion. Intraoperative imaging equipment such as cone-beam CT is available as well as cutting edge optical system for data acquisition and real-time machine learning.
Operating room
The OR-X operating theatre is a 1:1 copy of a real Balgrist operating theatre including OR walls, OR lighting, OR table and state-of-the-art digital OR control. It allows performance of open and arthroscopic surgeries in a conventional, computer- or robot-assisted fashion. Intraoperative imaging equipment such as cone-beam CT is available as well as cutting edge optical system for data acquisition and real-time machine learning. The wall to the adjacent wet lab can be opened to allow simultaneous use of both rooms and foster interactions.
Control room
All data, images and signals are aggregated in the control room, which can then be either distributed to the monitors in the operating room, the surgical wet lab, the lobby, the Balgrist Congress Center or streamed via internet.
Thiel cadaver room
Up to twelve Thiel-fixated cadavers can be stored in this room and used for student courses and surgical training.
Fresh frozen cadaver room
A large -20 degree freezing room permits storage of fresh-frozen cadavers.
Corridor
Storage
The OR-X maintains a stock of standard surgical equipment.
Equipment storage
Disposal
Office spaces
State-of-the-art research workstations allow to observe activities in the operating theaters and analyze acquired data in real time.