Introducing RoSS, A “Flight Simulator” for Robotic Surgery

New Collaboration Between Roswell Park and UB Provides Unique and Effective Training Experience for Surgeons

BUFFALO, NY – A collaboration between the Center for Robotic Surgery at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University at Buffalo (UB)’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has produced one of the world’s first simulators that closely approximates the “touch and feel” of the da Vinci™ robotic surgical system.
 
The most widely used system of its kind in the world, the da Vinci™ robotic surgical system affords all the features that an experienced surgeon needs to ensure equivalent or superior outcomes to conventional surgery.

But such a surgical system,  like an aircraft, “is only as good as the pilot, and the current training required for proficiency in robot-assisted surgery is unfortunately less than ideal,” said Khurshid A. Guru, MD, Director of the Center for Robotic Surgery and Attending Surgeon in the Department of Urology, Roswell Park.  “While surgical practice does make perfect, we believe that through better training tools, the early learning curve of robot-assisted surgery can be shortened without jeopardizing the safety and welfare of patients.”
 
The Robotic Surgical Simulator, or RoSS, addresses the quickly growing need for a realistic training environment for robot-assisted surgery, a field that is rapidly expanding and which is expected to constitute a significant number of all surgeries within the next five to seven years. The RoSS will play a critical, educational role for Roswell Park, and other similar institutions involved in robot-assisted surgical systems. Creation of the RoSS is an example of how Roswell Park and UB research can be commercialized and brought to the marketplace to benefit society.
 
“Think of the RoSS as a flight simulator for surgeons,” explained Thenkurussi (“Kesh”) Kesavadas, PhD, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UB and Head of its Virtual Reality Lab, UB, who, with Dr. Guru, co-founded the Western New York-based spin-off company, Simulated Surgical Systems, LLC to commercialize the simulators.
 
“Until now, surgeons have not had sufficient opportunities outside of the operating room to gain extensive training in robotic techniques,” said Dr. Guru, whose own surgical expertise has made Roswell Park’s Robotics Program a Center of Excellence and a world leader in physician-training in robotics.  Instead, he explains, surgeons usually start by “shadowing” a colleague who is more experienced with robotics in the operating room; once they are seen as having developed some proficiency, they start doing robotic surgeries on their own patients.
 
Already, at least 70 percent of all prostate surgeries in the U.S. are performed using robotic surgical systems (at Roswell Park, that percentage is closer to 100% both in prostate and bladder surgeries), which are generally less invasive, cause less pain, require shorter hospital stay and allow faster recoveries than conventional surgery.  Robotic surgical systems are increasingly being used for gynecologic, gastrointestinal, cardiothoracic, pediatric and other urologic surgeries.
 
“The RoSS will have a major impact on improving surgical outcomes,” said Donald L. Trump, MD, President & CEO, Roswell Park. “The product’s relevance will grow in direct proportion to the acceptance and application of robot-assisted surgery as a best practice around the world. The training that RoSS provides will eventually translate into better quality of life for thousands of patients.”
 
For more than a decade, UB’s Virtual Reality Lab has been one of very few in the nation focused on developing haptic technologies – technologies that bring a sense of touch to virtual reality.  “Our experience using computers to transmit accurately the real-time feel and touch of surgery has enabled us to work with Roswell Park to create a training system that provides a highly realistic simulation of robotic surgery,” said Dr. Kesavadas.
 
“This is a true collaboration that started between two individuals with world-class skills in their respective areas,” said Robert J. Genco, Vice Provost and Director of UB’s Office of Science, Technology and Economic Outreach, which assists in the commercialization of technologies developed by UB researchers.
 
“Hospitals don’t invest in these multi-million-dollar robotic surgery systems so that people can train on them,” says John Burgess, Simulated Surgical Systems, LLC, chief executive officer. “Their most pressing need has been a good training environment for robotic surgery.”
 
The Research Foundation of the State University of New York and Health Research, Inc., the technology transfer arm of Roswell Park, jointly licensed the RoSS technology to Simulated Surgical Systems, LLC. The company, which employs several engineers who are highly skilled in developing virtual simulation software for surgical applications, plans to begin selling the RoSS by the end of 2010.
 
The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org  or call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.
 
The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.

Media Contact

Annie Deck-Miller, Senior Media Relations Manager
716-845-8593; annie.deck-miller@roswellpark.org