On Monday, Johnson & Johnson, alongside NVIDIA, revealed their collaboration to create and expand artificial intelligence (AI) applications for surgical procedures. Kimberly Powell, NVIDIA’s Vice President of Health Care, mentioned that their initiative aims to incorporate AI throughout the surgical process, from preparation to recovery, ensuring surgeons have comprehensive information. The partnership focuses on utilizing AI for analyzing surgical videos and streamlining the extensive documentation process post-surgery.
“There’s an ability to use all the sources of data inside an operating room, whether it’s your voice, or whether it’s the video coming from a camera inside the body, or elsewhere, to take advantage of the generative AI moment that we’re in,” Powell told CNBC in an interview.
Meanwhile, Shan Jegatheeswaran, J&J MedTech’s Vice President and Global Head of Digital, highlighted the significance of computational power for managing surgical videos, equating one minute of footage to around 25 CT scans, in an interview with CNBC. He emphasized the potential of these videos, once annotated and shared, to revolutionize surgical practices. Initially, anonymizing and enhancing these videos would serve as valuable tools for educating and training surgeons. Over time, applying analytics could offer real-time decision-making support, making surgical videos more accessible and reducing reliance on experienced physicians’ insights. Jegatheeswaran compared this to athletes improving by reviewing game tapes, suggesting that similar methods could significantly benefit surgical training and expertise in the near term.
Powell also mentioned that the partnership is still in its initial stages, with many applications requiring time for careful adjustment and safe implementation. However, she pointed out that non-diagnostic applications, like automating paperwork, are expected to immediately save surgeons time and make a significant impact from the start.
“I think all of us as patients should get really excited about the fact that this kind of technology is going to be able to enter in and be within reach of all the clinicians and all the hardworking nurses and all the health-care staff,” said Powell. “They’re going to have the very best tools and information at their disposal.”
