sponsored by HEALTH SECTOR NEWS
Imperial neurosurgeons using ‘mixed reality’ technology
The neurosurgery team at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is introducing ‘cutting-edge’ mixed reality technology into parts of its day-to-day work to improve training and patient care. It allows clinicians and patients to view and interact with high-resolution 3D ‘hologram-like’ images of patient scans, alongside traditional imaging techniques, and is being used to support patient consultations, assist preparations for operations, and provide immersive clinical training. The Trust says ‘mixed reality, which blends 3D digital content with the real world’, enables users to interact with digital content – such as 3D renderings of patient scans – while remaining fully aware of their real- world surroundings. The neurosurgery team is using XARlabs’ simXAR mixed reality tool, developed independently by a registrar when he was part of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, prior to joining the Trust. The simXAR technology was
Cundall
welcomes new science and technology lead
Cundall, an international multidisciplinary
initially planned to support training with funding from NHS England, but neurosurgeons recognised the broader patient care benefits, and introduced it in some consultations to better explain proposed treatments to patients as part of the consent process, also using it to enhance team preparedness. The team uses the technology to
convert CT and MRI patient scans into 3D augmented reality models. During training and certain patient consultations, both surgeon and
trainee, or surgeon and patient, wear Trust-owned Magic Leap 2 headsets. Patients provide consent for both the generation of their models, and for wearing the headsets. The surgeon can interact with the 3D model by zooming in, rotating it, or even ‘walking’ inside to visualise the patient’s anatomy ‘in an immersive and easily understandable way’. This marks a significant shift from the traditional method of viewing scans one series at a time on 2D computer screens.
Inventory control and efficiency enhanced at ambulance stations
Seeking to improve inventory control so that its ambulances are always well stocked with medical equipment and consumables, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation (SWASFT) approached Medstor. Having won the bid to provide materials management solutions for SWASFT via the Atamis portal, Medstor first presented trial proposals and quotations for a small number of ambulance
stations, which could then be rolled out across the Trust’s 29 sites. Having reviewed the Trust’s needs – to replace the shelving and boxes currently being used for storage and generally improve organisation – Medstor developed a solution built around its modular HTM 71 cabinets. The storage specialist produced
a range of full-height cabinets, with modular cabinets selected for each station, each built around its ‘unique’ tray-and-liner system, which allows
a large number of consumables to be stored safely and accessed easily. With the ambulance stations running as normal throughout the upgrade, Medstor’s Installations team took a systematic approach to the upgrade and refit of the storage areas at each site. While the cabinets were being
fitted, station staff emptied stock from the existing boxes and shelving directly into the Medstor trays, which could then put straight into the Medstor cabinets – a process repeated across the stations as the new materials management solution was rolled out. In all Medstor provided 239 mobile and fixed cabinets fitted with 2,435 trays and liners, all designed and manufactured at its UK headquarters. SWASFT now has more
streamlined, cost-effective storage procedures in 29 of its sites. Stock levels and use-by dates can be monitored more easily, and ambulances refilled and ready faster.
20 Health Estate Journal November 2024
engineering consultancy with over 1,000 staff in 27 locations worldwide, has appointed Andrew Somerville as Partner to head the practice’s ‘rapidly growing’ science and technology sector. With nearly three decades’ experience in advanced engineering design, he has contributed his expertise to science and technology projects
worldwide, working with clients from leading institutions including the Technology Facilities Council, Francis Crick Institute, Cancer Research UK, and the Medical Research Council. Set to focus on developing Cundall’s existing team of science and technology specialists through knowledge-sharing and development opportunities, he said: “Designing science and technology buildings is what I am deeply passionate about, and leading the sector within Cundall will be rewarding. The great thing about science and technology projects is that they tend to be exciting and interesting to work on, while helping people and wider society – projects we can be proud to get involved with. “I am looking forward to working at Cundall for so many reasons, but primarily because it is leading the industry with a great portfolio of projects, working with amazing clients. The business’s multidisciplinary approach ensures that our science and technology clients have a holistic service offering as well.” Andrew Somerville joins Cundall after seven years at Hoare Lea as the Director responsible for science and research buildings, having previously spent several years with Arup.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
