Introducing New Project INAK at ERCD: AI System Reduces Drilling Noise to Enhance Surgical Safety

In bone surgery of the head, the use of machining procedures is required for treatment. During the process, body sound and heat are generated, which partially transfer to the tissue near the surgical site and, primarily through body sound, to the auditory organ. Preliminary studies have shown that this noise is potentially harmful to the patient's hearing and can irreparably damage the surrounding tissue. The procedures are manually guided and influenced by the surgeon's experience and perception. 

In the project, a self-learning AI-based assistance system for ear surgery is being developed. This system supports surgeons in performing milling operations on the skull bone in a way that protects patients from damage caused by noise, heat, or injury to nerves and vessels. To achieve this, the system uses modern sensor technology to capture various process values and AI methods to predict when the situation threatens to become dangerous for the patient by combining these values with individual patient data. The results of the AI algorithms are communicated to the surgeons so that they can better understand the current situation and are supported in their decision-making process. 

INAK stands for Interaktives Nutzerzentriertes Assistenzsystem für die Knochenchirurgie im Kopfbereich (Interactive User-Centered Assistance System for Bone Surgery in the Head Area).

This project is funded by the European Union over a period of 3 years.