Digital surgery represents a significant step into the 21st century for surgical practice by combining technological advances in smart instruments, computer vision, artificial intelligence and cloud computing together with surgical expertise to improve patient outcomes and deliver enhanced healthcare value and outcomes. Despite still being in its infancy, the integration of real time surgical data with new technologies is already beginning to deliver real impact in the way surgeries are performed to cure diseases and represents an area of enormous opportunity for all involved including manufacturing as well as research and development.
This in person national event builds on our previous online (due to pandemic restrictions) conference held in August 2021 which attracted over 100 delegates live with attendees including surgeons, researchers and patients as well as governmental, hospital, industry, regulatory and funding agency representatives. A further in-person conference regarding Digital Surgery focusing on patient and public participants held last year (April 2022 in Croke Park) in conjunction with the Irish Cancer Society hosted over 50 participants. This conference aims to add further momentum in this area for Ireland and to deliver on both Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy (“Impact 2030”) and Project Ireland 2040 as well as the HRB’s strategic objections 2021-2025. Specifically this conference will focus on closing the Knowledge Transfer Gap regarding now and near-future technology capabilities for better surgery for cancer and emergency care and include sharing of best practice with leading international experts as well as on-the-ground implementation including data management and safety priorities via exemplar use cases. The conference is timed to coincide with the conclusion of the work programs of the Royal College of Surgeon’s Committee on Future Technologies and will have its proceedings published as part of its report to be launched at the RCSI Charter Day Meeting in February 2024.