System for real-virtual synchronisation in laparoscopic surgery

The RAILS project was created with the ambitious goal of transforming operating theatre assistance by integrating the physical world with digital planning. The main purpose is to update the position of the laparoscopic camera and surgical instruments in real time in order to integrate them into a virtual planner and assistant. This achieves precise synchronisation between the real view of the surgery and the virtual view of the preoperative model, facilitating decision-making during the procedure.
This initiative is the result of a strategic collaboration between the Murcia-based SME CELLA Medical Solutions and Vicomtech, who have joined forces to combine their technological specialities. While Vicomtech contributes its extensive experience in instrument tracking and localisation technologies, CELLA contributes its advanced patient-specific planning and modelling technology. This synergy means that the information is not generic, but rather enables the development of fully personalised interventions adapted to the unique anatomy of each case.

From a technical standpoint, the solution developed encompasses different types of identification and tracking. The system uses optical markers—which can be based on both known visual patterns and infrared marker technology—to triangulate the exact position of elements in the surgical space.
Thanks to this technological deployment, RAILS manages to merge both realities: the image that the surgeon sees through the laparoscope and the guidance provided by the 3D planner.