Supporting doctors and patients with technology

Surgeries that require the removal of lesions, such as cancer surgery, place a big burden on both patients and doctors. However, incorporating updated image recognition technology^*1 makes it possible for doctors to identify areas of resection in less time and with high accuracy^*2. This helps ease the time burden on doctors in preoperative simulations. Furthermore, if doctors can minimize the extent of resection^*3, patients could also benefit because the after-effects of surgery will be reduced^*4.  

*1 The technology is cleared by the FDA. It is a supplement only and cannot make diagnoses or choose treatment on its own. Physicians are responsible for the use of this workstation and must confirm that organ regions are extracted correctly when using it for measurement. 

*2 Xue-Yin Shen, Hee-Jung Wang, Bong-Wan Kim, Sung-Yeon Hong, Mi-Na Kim, Xu-Guang Hu Can we delineate preoperatively the right and ventral margins of caudate lobe of the liver? Ann Surg Treat Res. 2019 Sep;97(3):124-129. doi: 10.4174/astr.2019.97.3.124. Epub 2019 Aug 29. PMID: 31508392 

*3 Shun-Ichi Ariizumi, Yutaka Takahashi, Yoshihito Kotera, Akiko Omori, Godai Yoneda, Han Mu, Satoshi Katagiri, Hiroto Egawa, Masakazu Yamamoto Novel virtual hepatectomy is useful for evaluation of the portal territory for anatomical sectionectomy, segmentectomy, and hemihepatectomy J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2013 Mar;20(3):396-402. doi: 10.1007/s00534-012-0573-z. PMID: 23179558 

*4 Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Norihiro Kokudo, Hiroshi Imamura, Yutaka Matsuyama, Taku Aoki, Masami Minagawa, Keiji Sano, Yasuhiko Sugawara, Tadatoshi Takayama, Masatoshi Makuuchi Prognostic impact of anatomic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma Ann Surg. 2005 Aug;242(2):252-9. doi: 10.1097/01.sla.0000171307.37401.db. PMID: 16041216 

The world is facing a chronic shortage of doctors. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), there is an estimated shortage of 6.4 million doctors, which is likely to increase the burden on medical care, including in the surgical field^*5. 

When resection is required due to a disease such as cancer, surgeons do preoperative planning to determine the appropriate surgical procedure for the situation, to identify the location of the nerves/vessels relative to the affected area, and more. In the past, surgeons would individually look through the hundreds of 2D tomographic images acquired by CT and MRI to imagine the location and form of the affected area and the positions of blood vessels. Essentially, they were spending many hours creating a 3D visual in their minds^*6. These tasks were tedious for surgeons. 

*5 Source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington School of Medicine  https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00532-3/fulltext 

(estimate based on number of physicians needed globally to meet the authors’ specified target of 80 out of 100 on the universal health coverage effective coverage index). 

*6 Yukio Oshiro, Nobuhiro Ohkohchi Three-Dimensional Liver Surgery Simulation: Computer-Assisted Surgical Planning with Three-Dimensional Simulation Software and Three-Dimensional Printing Tissue Eng Part A. 2017 Jun;23(11-12):474-480. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2016.0528. Epub 2017 Apr 25. PMID: 28343411

— Christophe 

Technology supports us in every aspect of society. It will play an increasingly important role in the field of medicine, in places where we do not usually see it. 

I am not a doctor, so I cannot help a patient in front of me like a surgeon. However, if we can improve the efficiency of surgeries and use of time of doctors with Fujifilm technology and products, I believe we can help to save the future of even more people. 

And even as of today, I can say I am working with surgeons on operations, albeit from a distance. 

Fujifilm began providing 3D image analysis systems in 2008. We support doctors and patients worldwide by applying to the medical field the image-processing technology that we have continued to pursue over the past 70 years. Automatic extraction from MRI data and enhanced vascular system extraction capabilities are all possible because of the data accumulated over time. We are also taking steps toward further enhancement of AI technology^*11 in 3D medical image analysis systems. 

*11 Software that uses AI technology, Deep Learning, in its design. 

The performance and accuracy of the system do not automatically change after it is put on the market. 

References for the video 

“More precise identification of the affected area”
Xue-Yin Shen, Hee-Jung Wang, Bong-Wan Kim, Sung-Yeon Hong, Mi-Na Kim, Xu-Guang Hu Can we delineate preoperatively the right and ventral margins of caudate lobe of the liver? Ann Surg Treat Res. 2019 Sep;97(3):124-129. doi: 10.4174/astr.2019.97.3.124. Epub 2019 Aug 29. PMID: 31508392 

“Minimization of resection volume” 
Shun-Ichi Ariizumi, Yutaka Takahashi, Yoshihito Kotera, Akiko Omori, Godai Yoneda, Han Mu, Satoshi Katagiri, Hiroto Egawa, Masakazu Yamamoto Novel virtual hepatectomy is useful for evaluation of the portal territory for anatomical sectionectomy, segmentectomy, and hemihepatectomy J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci. 2013 Mar;20(3):396-402. doi: 10.1007/s00534-012-0573-z. PMID: 23179558 

Hisashi Saji, Tatsuya Inoue, Yasufumi Kato, Yoshihisa Shimada, Masaru Hagiwara, Yujin Kudo, Soichi Akata, Norihiko Ikeda Virtual segmentectomy based on high-quality three-dimensional lung modelling from computed tomography images Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2013 Aug;17(2):227-32. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivt120. Epub 2013 Apr 26. PMID: 23624984 

Disclaimers 

Fujifilm’s image recognition technology is a supplement only and cannot make diagnoses or choose treatment on its own. Physicians are responsible for the use of this workstation and must confirm that organ regions are extracted correctly when using it for measurement. 

Synapse 3D is software for advanced processing and analysis of three-dimensional medical images that employs Artificial Intelligence/Deep Learning-enabled tools for Radiological and Cardiological Departments and Clinical and Surgical Departments.  Synapse 3D converts two-dimensional images from scanning equipment such as PET/CT and MRI. This equipment is not part of Synapse 3D. 

Synapse 3D is CE marked and is 510(k)-cleared by the U.S. FDA. 

The statements by the physician in the video are based on that physician’s own opinions and experiences and on results that were achieved in that physician’s unique setting. Since many variables characterize each patient, physician, and healthcare facility, the achievement of successful results using Synapse 3D for one or set of patients does not mean that the same results will be achieved for the next patient or set of patients. 

Warnings 

• Only use Synapse 3D in accordance with the instructions for its intended use, and do not use Synapse 3D for any purpose other than its intended use. 

• The 3D images reconstructed by Synapse 3D can inform a physician’s diagnosis of a patient or a surgeon’s proposed procedure, but cannot itself form any diagnosis, prognosis, or surgical plan, or perform any surgical procedure. 

• The sale, distribution, and use of Synapse 3D is subject in the U.S. to the general controls of the he Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (as amended), the Medical Device Amendments Act of 1976 (as amended), and the regulations promulgated thereunder. 

• Synapse 3D is not intended to be used as a stand-alone diagnostic or surgical device, and should only be used with imaging devices that are validated, maintained in accordance with their specifications, and operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for such use. In its capacity as the publisher of Synapse 3D, FUJIFILM makes no representations or warranties as to the validation, maintenance, or proper operation and use of any imaging devices the images from which are processed by Synapse 3D. 

• Synapse 3D is not intended to characterize lesions or pathologies in a manner that would replace biopsy sampling, endoscopic, colonoscopic, laparoscopic, or similar examination, or other procedures. 

• Synapse 3D is not intended to assist, but not replace, other procedures that comprise clinical decision-making. 

• Because Synapse 3D is intended to reconstruct three-dimensional patient images of significant value to radiologists, physicians, and surgeons, these medical professionals could place too much reliance on these three-dimensional images, without continuing to fully use generally accepted methods of diagnosis, prognosis, and surgery. 

• The results of using Synapse 3D for diagnosing, prognosing, and surgically treating patients with certain diseases and conditions, as reported in publicly available literature, cannot be extrapolated to patients with other diseases and conditions.