Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and

Technology Engineering Research Center

The Johns Hopkins University (lead institution)

Developing novel computing methods, interfacial technologies, and

computer-integrated surgical systems to revolutionize surgical
procedures in the 21st century
The impact of Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems The ERC’s research activities are organized into three
and Technology (CISST) on medical care procedures thrusts:
within the next 20 years will be as significant as the
impact of Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Thrust 1: Modeling and Analysis — The goal of this
Systems and Technology has been on manufacturing thrust is to study fundamental advances in algorithms
over the past 20 years. A novel partnership between and methods for modeling patient and surgical
human surgeons and machines, made possible by procedures, using such models in the planning and
advances in computing and engineering technology, will execution of surgical procedures, and realizing these
A National overcome many of the limitations of traditional surgery. advances in robust, supported software libraries
Science Foundation By extending human surgeons’ ability to plan and carry suitable for research and application prototyping.
Engineering out surgical interventions more accurately and less
Research Center invasively, Computer Integrated Surgery (CIS) systems Thrust 2: Interfacial Technologies — The goal of this
since 1998 will address a vital national need to greatly reduce thrust is development of novel sensing, robotics, and
costs, improve clinical outcomes, and improve the human-machine interface subsystems transcending
efficiency of health care delivery. Further, the combina- human sensing and manipulation limitations in
tion of consistent execution, patient and task models, performing surgical tasks.
and logging of intraoperative and outcome data made
possible by CIS systems will produce the same sort of Thrust 3: Systems — The goal of this thrust is integration
process learning advantages for surgery that have been of subsystems into an evolving family of surgical systems
realized in semiconductor CIM systems. and testbeds addressing realistic and important surgical
needs. It involves three closely interrelated activities: 1)
Research integration of core research into modular subsystems
Partner Institutions: The research approach of the CISST Engineering and libraries; 2) integration of these subsystems into
Research Center (CISST ERC) will speed CISST testbeds; and 3) pre-clinical and clinical validation of
• The Brigham and research and eventual deployment by reducing the very these testbeds in specific surgical applications.
Women’s Hospital substantial implementation barriers required to
Education
• Carnegie Mellon assemble the critical mass of support infrastructure
University needed for experimental work in this field. Further, by The goal of our Education and Outreach Program is to
• Johns Hopkins promoting interoperability of components between create new, interdisciplinary undergraduate and
Medical Institutions testbeds, it will promote more rapid dissemination of graduate engineering programs that foster teamwork
results between clinical areas. and focus on realistic challenges in computer-integrated
• The Johns
Hopkins University
• Massachusetts CIS Systems: Coupling Information to Action
Institute of
Technology
• Shadyside
Hospital
surgical systems and technology. We are of robotic technologies; Dr. Kanade is co- thrust areas have leaders representing at least
developing new courses for both engineering director of the MRCAS. Dr. DiGioia is an two of the three collaborative institutions, and
and medical students, as well as for orthopaedic surgeon and serves as the director each has major clinician involvement in
practitioners in industry and surgeons; and of Shadyside Hospital’s Center for Orthopaedic research program development.
we are establishing effective links among the Research (COR). There are 1,200 sq. ft. of
ERC’s partner institutions to support MRCAS lab and 1,300 sq. ft. of Computer Dr. Taylor is Director of the ERC and is primarily
collaborative education and research Vision lab space available for ERC research. responsible for the scientific conduct of the
programs through the creation of the “CIS research program and the overall operation of
Channel.” We are developing new programs The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s the ERC. He chairs the leadership committee
of outreach to K-16 institutions, creating an Artificial Intelligence Laboratory conducts and co-chairs the Strategy Board. He is
internship/mentoring program with industrial research that is two-fold. Researchers there responsible for setting the ERC directions and
sponsors of the ERC, and developing an work to understand human intelligence at all allocates resources with input from the
assessment and tracking process for the levels—including reasoning, perception, Leadership Committee, Strategy Board, and
education program. language, development, learning, and social Industrial Advisory Policy Committee.
levels—and to build useful artifacts based on
Industrial Collaboration and intelligence. A new 1,500 sq. ft. area is Dr. Anderson is the ERC’s Deputy Director
Technology Transfer dedicated for work on medical image analysis; and acts as the ERC focal point for Medical
The CISST ERC’s strategic plan calls for it includes dedicated workstations, tracking School Programs. He assists Dr. Taylor in
collaboration with industry to “create an equipment, and other devices for use in the overall direction and management of the
developing segmentation, registration, and ERC. He has primary responsibility for
infrastructure of systems and devices that
will permit rapid prototyping and validation of tracking algorithms. The Surgical Planning Lab executive oversight of the Outreach, Medical
application concepts.” To accomplish this at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital is a Affairs, and Diversity programs.
multidisciplinary, high-tech research institution
goal the ERC has gained the participation of
large and small companies in a collaboration combining the fields of Computer Science and Mr. Peter Bouxsein, Director of Outreach
that provides opportunities in the areas of MRI Radiology towards a goal of real-time 3D Programs, has primary responsibility for the
imaging of patients during surgery. Industrial Affiliates program.
research (discovery), product development,
education, and commercialization. The
industry sectors and companies that are The Johns Hopkins Microsurgery Advanced Mr. Jeffrey Jarosz is Director of the Education
Design Laboratory (MADLAB) is dedicated to Program. He is responsible for the imple-
potential collaborators are varied and
diversified and include technical areas such the design and development of innovative mentation and coordination of educational
as medical imaging, robotics, medical microsurgical tools and techniques. The initiatives and develops mentoring and
MADLAB is located within the Wilmer Eye educational outreach programs.
simulation, surgical instrumentation,
computing, telecommunications, instrumen- Institute on the East Baltimore medical
tation, interventional guidance and innova- campus under the direction of Dr. de Juan. A The ERC is managed by an Executive
staff of five engineers, scientists, and artists Director, Dr. Leigh Abts, who has overall
tive therapies, human machine interaction,
and ergonomics. We recognize that the work closely with clinical personnel to identify administrative and financial responsibility for
industrial sectors include large, medium, and potential areas of innovation, generate the function of the center. He reports directly
unique solutions to clinical obstacles, and to the Center Director and is supported by an
small companies that have different needs,
resources, marketing strategies, and rapidly develop ideas into near-market-ready Administrative Assistant.
strategic goals of their own. Therefore, the products. MADLAB resources include a full
machine shop, engineering/CAD worksta-
collaboration and outreach strategy is to
provide for various levels of membership, tions, video editing/animation equipment, a
maximum flexibility, and continuous review surgical wet lab, and animal OR facilities.
and refinement as the Center grows. Center Organization and Leadership
Facilities The ERC has been established as a special
The CISST ERC is situated on the program within the Whiting School of Center Headquarters
Engineering and is administered in a manner
Homewood Campus of the Johns Hopkins
University in Baltimore, MD. The administra- similar to that of a separate department. As
tive offices of the ERC house the Center the ERC Director, Dr. Russell Taylor reports Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and
directly to the Dean of the School of Technology ERC
Director and Administrative staff. There is
4,450 sq. ft. of ERC laboratory space in the Engineering on all matters related to ERC The Johns Hopkins University
New Engineering Building Basement research and administration. 3400 N. Charles Street
New Engineering Building
assigned to the ERC’s Director, Dr. Taylor,
that houses 3 robotics laboratories as well as The Center’s organizational structure has been Baltimore, MD 21218-2681
space for 25 students, engineers, ERC specifically designed to have advisory input Tel (410) 516-3837 • Fax (410) 516-5553
from both industry (through the Industrial Policy Homepage: [Link]
faculty, and visiting engineers and students
from our industrial exchange programs. Our Advisory Committee) and the ERC Strategy
collaboration with the School of Medicine Board comprised of physicians, scientists, and Center Director: Dr. Russell H. Taylor, Ph.D.
engineers from all three of the ERC collabora- Tel (410) 516-6299 • Fax (410) 516-5553
provides 1,275 sq. ft. of lab and office space
under the direction of the ERC’s Deputy tive institutions as well as from outside rht@[Link]
Director, Dr. Anderson. institutions. Dr. Taylor’s primary faculty
appointment in the School of Engineering and Deputy Director: Dr. James H. Anderson, Ph.D.
Other CISST ERC faculty bring additional Deputy Director Dr. James Anderson’s in the Tel (410) 955-3536 • Fax (410) 955-2988
important facility resources. The Center for School of Medicine provide additional jander@[Link]
assurance of multidisciplinary involvement in
Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted
Surgery (MRCAS) at Carnegie Mellon decisions regarding ERC administrative and Executive Director: Dr. Leigh Abts, Ph.D.
University was formed to foster the application research activities. All three main research Tel (410) 516-0701 • Fax (410) 516-5553
labts@[Link]

NSF 00-137d