Orthopedics Collecting and Parsing Data in New Ways Via AI

Just over two years ago, we highlighted Proprio’s funding announcement of a $23 million Series A financing round. Based in Seattle, Washington, the medical technology company is developing what it calls a “new way of seeing” with its proprietary platform, a highly sophisticated surgical navigation system that combines artificial intelligence, computer vision, augmented reality, virtual reality and robotics. Neurosurgeon Samuel Browd, M.D., Ph.D., is the company’s co-founder and Chief Medical Officer.

We recently spoke with Dr. Browd about artificial intelligence in orthopedics. Specifically, we asked about the newfound importance of AI within the interoperative orthopedic space, how his company is leveraging the technology to create better outcomes for patients and improve the lives of surgeons, and what the future may hold for the orthopedic industry’s relationship with AI. Portions of the full Q&A are excerpted below.

Why is AI needed in the orthopedic O.R.?

Dr. Browd: The application of artificial intelligence in a clinical setting creates an increased capability to amalgamate highly complex, multidimensional variables, or understand sequences of events or patient characteristics.

Data is everywhere inside the operating room, but has been severely underutilized. We have a huge opportunity to capture it in an intentional way, segment it into strategically informed action and ultimately, improve patient outcomes through enhanced surgical insight, performance and feedback.

What are the primary ways you see AI being used in the O.R. of the future?

Dr. Browd: We’ve relied on other static modalities, including the MRI and CT scan, for decades, and while more recent technological developments have gotten us closer to imaging advancements, we still have quite a distance to go.

These modalities have served us well, but they don’t get us closer to collecting the high-quality varieties of data that we will need to apply to artificial intelligence for more sophisticated, real-time modalities.

We should be looking to develop intelligent, intuitive imaging technologies that collect clean, informative datasets that we can utilize to fuel truly effective AI. While much conversation has centered on AI within surgical robotics, the conversation needs to be steered toward data enabling human performance first.

Enabling AI through comprehensive data strategy creates increased opportunities for healthier data collection, processing and assessment, which in turn can provide surgeons with enhanced opportunities to learn from their procedures, share their insights with their peers (and the next generation), and provide opportunities for increased evaluation and optimization. If AI-enabled technologies allow us to see the surgical scene and collect information in new ways, we have an opportunity to perform — and learn — surgery like never before.

With the increasingly disparaging surgeon shortage (and the even more drastic shortage of specialty surgeons), being able to democratize our knowledge, develop timely insights and create pathways for increased learning and understanding is absolutely critical if we want to remain optimistic in delivering high-quality care for the next generation.

What are the top hurdles for AI adoption by industry, surgeons and hospitals?

Dr. Browd: In order for AI to be widely adopted by the healthcare industry as a whole, we must first focus on interoperability and data sharing. The healthcare industry has seen significant progress when it comes to information sharing with interoperability in mind, but there is still work to be done.

Rather than focusing on the exchange of information between healthcare providers, we must also pay attention to the ways in which the information is shared, such as data management and cleaning.

In my daily work as a surgeon, it has become apparent what medical providers need and want in their daily work. There is a pressing need for expanding and unifying the data collection process, and everyone — from surgeons to hospitals to payors to patients — could all benefit from a more streamlined, intuitive, strategic approach.

There are clear ways to account for patient privacy but bring to light meaningful and important data that can be used to drive our field forward, ensure the highest quality and significantly reduce costs.

To speak to your technology specifically, what challenges is Proprio seeking to solve?

Dr. Browd: Proprio’s goal is to dramatically improve clinical and economic outcomes by unlocking both the ability to capture advanced data and the potential of that data to inform more predictive and prescriptive intelligence in surgery. With our technology, surgeons will no longer need to rely on a mix of legacy tools, including microscopes, loupes, monitors and radiological imagery, that all pull attention away from the patient while reducing accuracy.