SYNAPSE 3D – FUJIFILM HK Medical

Pre-operative virtual simulation for better planning and safety improvement

SYNAPSE 3D is an image-assisted simulation software program that is useful for thoracic surgeons. Image-assisted simulation software is likely to be regarded as follows: "I have to ask a radiology technologist how to use the software," or "I am not familiar with the usage of this kind of computer system." However, we regard SYNAPSE 3D as a very user-friendly device that can be easily used by surgeons. Anyone can operate the device within 10 mins because the actual use of the device is performed along the flow of the device's operating system. The device is equipped with various options. Surgeons are likely to enjoy learning to use the device by themselves.

Using simulation with the preoperative MRCP fusion images for gallbladder cancer, we could accurately understand the relationship among tumor, the bile ducts, the portal veins, and the hepatic arteries. We can conclude that 3D image-guided surgical simulation superimposed CT and MRCP is useful.

The Synapse 3D provides a very rapid (minutes) reconstruction based on the CT-scan and one can learn quickly to apply the tools within the software to use the reconstruction. The 3D reconstruction based on CT-scan provides a platform for a surgeon to go through the patient’s anatomy layer by layer before any intervention is done.

The 3D feature overcomes the limitations of two-dimensional radiology, that is, the projection of images of any organ, which is three-dimensional, in two dimensions, removing totally the depth and actual three-dimensional reconstruction of the organ. By overcoming this limitation, it enables, for example, a mass of tissue, stenosis or any formation or neoformation to be assessed in its real dimensions and positions in space, thus allowing, in the cardiological sector, the reconstruction of an aorta, which we had imagined for years to be cylindrical while, in reality, it has a particular ellipsoidal shape, and consequently the optimum construction of a TAVI prosthesis.

Having Synapse 3D in our toolbox helps us meet the challenge of answering clinical questions for all those super-specialized pediatric clinicians treating our patients.

Pisa University Hospital uses Synapse 3D to improve patient management during the COVID19 pandemic. The radiologist processes the images using Synapse 3D and, on the basis of the ranges assigned, produces output for assessing the density of the lung, and therefore the degree of the patient’s pulmonary involvement.

Prior to COVID-19, most of the team were based onsite at one of our three acute hospitals. We needed to change this and introduce home working for the majority. To enable this, we would need to utilise Fujifilm’s home reporting solution, available to only a small number of the team prior to the pandemic. Since the workstations have been deployed, most radiologists within our health board are now set up to work from home, meaning we can support our clinical colleagues by delivering a hot reporting chest x-ray service 7 days a week.