Publications and Case Reports

Renal Cryoablation Preparation Using Virtual Reality

The study aimed to develop an effective method using AVATAR MEDICAL to plan and perform virtual cryoablation procedures for treating Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) tumors with minimal damage to nearby organs. The software converted CT scan data into real-time 3D and VR reconstructions, enabling precise probe placement in the patient’s anatomy. By comparing different probe placement approaches, the study found that VR planning allowed for creative and precise strategies. Overall, the research emphasizes the potential of VR technology to enhance minimally invasive procedures for treating renal tumors, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing risks.

Fast-track Virtual Reality Software to Facilitate 3-Dimensional Reconstruction in Congenital Heart Disease

The study aimed to simplify the clinical use of 3D reconstruction and VR systems by validating the DIVA software. Five inexperienced users were instructed to create 3D models of patients’ hearts with right partial anomalous pulmonary venous return using the software. Their results were compared with a benchmark reconstruction by an experienced user. The participants successfully recreated 3D models in a relatively short time, maintaining good overall quality. As they gained experience, there was a statistical improvement in the quality and time taken to create the models. The DIVA software proved to be a simple and effective tool for accurate 3D reconstruction, even for inexperienced users.

Three-dimensional virtual reality in surgical planning for breast cancer with reconstruction

Breast surgery is performed to achieve local control in patients with breast cancer. Visualization of the anatomy with a virtual reality software platform reconstructed from magnetic resonance imaging data improves surgical planning with regards to volume and localization of the tumor, lymph nodes, blood vessels, and surrounding tissue to perform oncoplastic tissue rearrangement. We report the use and advantages of virtual reality added to the magnetic resonance imaging assessment in a 36-year-old woman with breast cancer who underwent nipple sparing mastectomy with tissue expander reconstruction.

Breast MRI Analysis for Surgeons Using Virtual Reality: Real-life Applications, Clinical Case Reports

The three cases are real-life examples of using the VR-AVATAR medical device for breast cancer surgery treatment: evaluation of the tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, decision for breast conservative or radical treatment, decision for loco-regional treatment in metastatic setting. Through these three real-life cases, we describe the potential impact of VR-AVATAR medical device use in clinical daily practice in breast cancer surgery. It seems like a useful tool, easy to use, providing high-quality images, helping with surgery planning and decisions.

Breast Magnetic Resonance Image Analysis for Surgeons Using Virtual Reality: A Comparative Study

The treatment of breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer and cancer mortality among women worldwide, is mainly on the basis of surgery. In this study, we describe the use of a medical image visualization tool on the basis of virtual reality (VR), entitled DIVA, in the context of breast cancer tumor localization among surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the speed and accuracy of surgeons using DIVA for medical image analysis of breast magnetic resonance image (MRI) scans relative to standard image slice-based visualization tools.

Partial breast resection for multifocal lower quadrant breast tumour using virtual reality

Oncoplastic surgery allows an increase in the number of indications for conservative breast cancer treatments. However, uncertainty as to whether it can be performed still exists in certain situations such as with multicentric or multifocal lesions, even when the breast volume can accommodate it. With the aid of a virtual reality software, DIVA, allowing the precise visualisation of tumours and breast volumes based entirely on the patient’s MRI, we report the ability to rapidly confirm and secure an indication for partial surgery of multiple lesions in a 31-year-old patient. With the described approach, the patient did not have to suffer significant disfigurement from cancerous breast surgery without compromising safety.

Fast-track VR for Cardiac Imaging in Congenital Heart Disease

We sought to evaluate the appropriateness of cardiac anatomy renderings by a new virtual reality (VR) technology, entitled DIVA, directly applicable to raw MRI imaging data without intermediate segmentation steps in comparison to standard 3D rendering techniques (3D PDF and 3D printing). Differences in post processing times were also evaluated.

DIVA, a 3D virtual reality platform, improves undergraduate craniofacial trauma education

Craniofacial fracture management is challenging to teach due to the complex anatomy of the skull, even when using three-dimensional (3D) CT-scan images. DIVA is a software allowing the straightforward visualization of CT-scans in a user-friendly 3D virtual reality (VR) environment. Here, we assess DIVA as an educational tool for craniofacial trauma for undergraduate medical students.

Video Credit: AP-HP, Descartes University.

Management of ischiopagus twin separation with a focus on W–S incision design

Ischiopagus twins share parts of the spine, central nervous system, gastrointestinal and genitou-rinary tracts with various degrees of severity. Their separation is a surgical challenge. From the perspective of the plastic surgeon, one of the straightforward technical problems of conjoined twin separation is the coverage of the large residual parietal defects determined by the initial skin incisions.

This report provides a description of relevant incision design strategies for ischiopagus separation in order to minimize morbidity related to coverage issues, especially in the abdominal and perineal regions.

Technology Publications

DIVA: natural navigation inside 3D images using virtual reality

Journal of Molecular Biology
July 24, 2020
El Beheiry et al.

Virtual reality: beyond visualization

Journal of Molecular Biology
March 29, 2019
El Beheiry et al.

ViSP: representing single-particle localizations in three dimensions

Nature Methods
July 30, 2013
El Beheiry and Dahan

Genuage: visualizing and analyzing multidimensional point cloud data in virtual reality

Journal of Stomatology,
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
June 17, 2020
Blanc et al.

InferenceMAP: mapping of single- molecule dynamics with Bayesian inference

Nature Methods
June 30, 2015
El Beheiry, Dahan and Masson