A diagnostic device that detects eye movement, tele-rehabilitation software, a surgical video stream platform, and 3D / VR technology solutions were presented by expert researchers from the Széchenyi István University located at the Petz Aladár University Teaching Hospital in Győr-Moson-Sopron County. The scientific session “Digital solutions in healthcare” also focused on the use of augmented reality and artificial intelligence in medical technology.
Dr. Balázs Villányi, Medical Director of Petz Hospital and Head of the University’s Centre of Competence for Health Innovation, stated during the event “Digital Solutions in Healthcare,” that the two institutions are collaborating on several projects and have already achieved significant development breakthroughs. The aim is to contribute to the efficiency of medicine based on the industry’s specific needs and demands with the application of modern technologies.
To achieve this, the experts have successfully secured several funding sources for the implementation of their developmental projects. In addition to these funding sources, the Regional Excellence Programme (TKP-EGA-21) supported by the NRDIH Fund and the R&D funding of the university’s funding body together allowed for the successful outcome of these projects presented at the event possible.
(Photo: András Adorján)
During the programme, staff from the University’s Digital Development Centre and students working on the projects presented their various advancements. First, Zoltán Szlovák presented a tool that helps to detect abnormal eye movements, thus helping to distinguish between dangerous (stroke) and less dangerous (inner ear) forms of acute vertigo. The instrument, which provides total darkness, can use a camera to determine the centre of the pupil and continuously calculate its position, and eventually plot it on a graph.
Secondly, Dr József Tollár explained the features of his tele-rehabilitation software platform. The tool allows patients to perform the exercises necessary for their rehabilitation in front of a screen in their own home. The patient’s movements are monitored by a camera, and the doctor receives feedback on the quality of the patient’s performance. As for the technical details, Krisztián Kollár pointed out that the software is based on artificial intelligence, which includes pose detection and pose comparison.
(Photo: András Adorján)
Then the benefits of the surgical stream platform were presented by Tibor Daliás. As he said, the essence of MediStream is the ability to stream minimally invasive, endoscopic, laparoscopic surgeries in real time over the institution’s internal network, contributing to the knowledge enhancement of healthcare workers enrolled in the program. This allows the image of the endoscope and the activity of the surgeons performing the operation to be seen simultaneously, so that the experience of the operation can be shared with a wider range of healthcare professionals. The experts have already successfully streamed several events already using this technology. For example the Da Vinci surgical robot was launched in Győr and streamed from two operating theatres simultaneously using this newly developed system
This was followed up by Zoltán Kaszai who gave a presentation on “DICOM visualisation in the AR environment”. The expert presented the details of the development application that can display CT and MRI images using augmented reality (AR). He explained that the “ease of use” was an important aspect in the development of the application, as well as the need to provide as many useful imaging features as possible to help doctors in their diagnostic work.
(Photo: András Adorján)
Additional presentations were given under the title “Innovation in rehabilitation: technical solutions in Pető’s conductive development.” Here Dr Péter Prukner presented the technological developments that can support the effectiveness of the Pető method. One of the innovations, in collaboration with Semmelweis University, aims to put image recognition and sensor technology into service regarding various treatments such as gait analysis, currently based on medical observation, would be supported by a camera recording analysis system. Another major project is the development of a pressure-sensing floor, for which a prototype has already been built and testing is expected early next year. The technological support this floor will provide will assist in the combined assessment of fine motor rehabilitation in combination with eye-hand coordination. In a true team effort from the university’s various competence centres, the the institute’s Design Campus is also involved in the project by developing designs and making the devices more ergonomic.
(Photo: András Adorján)
During the conference, Dr. György Wersényi presented cost-effective, 3D technical solutions for external ear reconstruction. He stressed that the aim of the research was to bring together the currently available three-dimensional image processing technologies, including scanning, post-processing and 3D printing. In essence, working with handheld scanners to produce a three-dimensional point cloud, they can digitally create the missing part of the ear, which is eventually printed and made wearable for the patient.
In the second half of the conference, a round table discussion was held on the EU Interreg project VReduMED. Tamás Budai, head of technology at the University’s Digital Development Centre, explained that the project aims to improve cooperation between healthcare education and medical technology suppliers, especially SMEs and start-ups, using VR technology as a key tool to make nursing work more attractive and to ensure high quality nursing services in the future.
Closing the event, Dr Tibor Dőry, Director of the University’s Management Campus, pointed out that the “doctor-innovator” role in the innovation process is of paramount importance, even in the preparatory phase. He added that the technical innovations that are most readily accepted by health professionals are those that have been developed with the direct involvement of health professionals.