Perceive3D (P3D) is an ICT driven company specialized in computer vision technology that creates advanced image software solutions for assisting and guiding the surgeon during minimally invasive procedures. In this project, P3D will specialize its state-of-the-art in.nav software technology for arthroscopic procedures of the knee and hip, providing the first effective solution for Computer-Assisted Orthopedic Surgery (CAOS) in arthroscopy. The outcomes of the project will be two software applications (nav4ACL and nav4FAI) that will provide real-time intra-operative measurements to aid the surgeons throughout the procedures by providing measurements of the joint structure. Guiding information is provided in accordance to the literature to support the surgeon’s decision, leading to a system that will improve clinical outcome for patients and reduce healthcare costs. As part of the Horizon 2020 SMEInst-01 phase I project, P3D performed a feasibility study for the development of in.nav navigation software for two arthroscopic procedures: the Antero Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction in knee arthroscopy, and the removal of Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) in hip arthroscopy. A pressing need for assistive systems has been reported for the procedures for these frequent pathologies. This phase II project will leverage these results and translate the in.nav prototype into two commercially viable software products for ACL and FAI procedures. P3D will demonstrate the use and advantages of the in.nav navigation software through tests in post-mortem subjects and will prepare the applications for integration into existing surgical workflows and market deployment. P3D has already approached Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) in the targeted procedures (Knee and Hip) to endorse the in.nav technology and P3D will extend its IP portfolio around this in.nav navigation technology.

Perceive3D (P3D) has developed a novel navigation system for arthroscopy that uses solely the endoscopic video to perform measurements inside the joints and provide the necessary guidance to the surgeon. Such system will be the first navigation solution that eliminates the need of external optical tracking of camera/tools, or the need of expensive capital equipment for imagiology in the operating room. The navigation is done using the video information only and, based on P3D’s proprietary camera calibration technology and advanced computer vision techniques, and the captured endoscopic image provides all the necessary geometric information. The increase in Minimally Invasive Surgery procedures and number of new surgeons adopting it, along with the associated added complexity in execution and learning curve, is driving the need for technologies to assist the surgeon during execution. This creates a growing need in this fast growing market for practical navigation solutions that reduce time of procedures and increase surgical outcome, with benefits for surgeons and patients. This navigation system will first target two specific procedures: the Antero Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction in knee arthrosocopy, and the removal of Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) in hip arthroscopy. These procedures have been identified as frequent pathologies where a pressing need for assistive systems has been reported. This feasibility study will lead to the elaboration of a business plan, validating the proposed business model (partnership for co-development with licensing) through close interactions with the market using P3D extensive network in the endoscopic medical device industry. During this time we will also approach and engage Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) in the targeted procedures (Knee and Hip) to endorse the technology and we will extend our IP portfolio around this navigation technology.

Manufacturers of automated systems and the manufacturers of the components used in these systems have been allocating an enormous amount of time and effort in the past years developing and conducting research on automated systems. The effort spent has resulted in the availability of prototypes demonstrating new capabilities as well as the introduction of such systems to the market within different domains. Manufacturers of these systems need to make sure that the systems function in the intended way and according to specifications which is not a trivial task as system complexity rises dramatically the more integrated and interconnected these systems become with the addition of automated functionality and features to them. With rising complexity, unknown emerging properties of the system may come to the surface making it necessary to conduct thorough verification and validation (V&V) of these systems. VALU3S aims to design, implement and evaluate state-of-the-art V&V methods and tools in order to reduce the time and cost needed to verify and validate automated systems with respect to safety, cybersecurity and privacy (SCP) requirements. This will ensure that European manufacturers of automated systems remain competitive and that they remain world leaders. To this end, a multi-domain framework is designed and evaluated with the aim to create a clear structure around the components and elements needed to conduct V&V process through identification and classification of evaluation methods, tools, environments and concepts that are needed to verify and validate automated systems with respect to SCP requirements. The implemented V&V methods as well as improved process workflows and tools will also be evaluated in the project using a comprehensive set of demonstrators built from 13 use cases with specific SCP requirements from 6 domains of automotive, industrial robotics, agriculture, Aerospace, railway and health.