Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen revolutionised medical diagnostics with the discovery of X-rays in 1895. Despite the quickly recognised problem of radiation exposure, intraoperative imaging is now used in more and more procedures as it can be performed in a minimally invasive manner. The current standard in device navigation is still the X-ray image, which provides a 2D greyscale projection of what is happening in the patient’s body. The Philips LumiGuide was developed as an innovative solution for device guidance in minimally invasive surgery: The platform enables full 3D device visualisation of wires and catheters in real time, at any angle and in different colours, without the need for X-rays. This solution is based on the manufacturer’s Fiber Optic RealShape (FORS) technology and uses light pulses to visualise the surgical instruments in the body. All elements of the system – the “engine”, the table-side connection module, the visualisation app, the packaging and, most importantly, the FORS-enabled guidewires with embedded fibre optic sensors – work together to ensure continuous 3D device guidance and easy set-up with minimal deviation from existing workflows. The jury was fascinated: “This innovation not only revolutionises instrument guidance in minimally invasive surgery, but also protects patients and medical staff. The Philips LumiGuide offers real-time 3D visualisation of instruments in the vascular system without X-rays, with the aim of significantly improving the safety and precision of the procedure. The platform can also be seamlessly integrated into existing workflows.” In terms of design, the aim of the project was to lower the barriers to the introduction of this new technology. The focus was therefore on making the system easy to learn, set up and use to encourage faster adoption. LumiGuide exclusively integrates with the Philips Azurion platform and into the operating theatre as a whole. The appearance of the hardware is characterised by simple shapes and materials and neutral colours. The graphical user interface promotes concentration on the FORS visualisation through the dark mode.
