Along with education and training, research is a fundamental part of MITIE^SM's commitment to excellence in medicine. Listed below are some of our current and recent research initiatives.

Current MITIE research projects:

1. Chopstick robotic surgery
   1. Video - demonstrates set-up of robot and utility of technique to perform single port cholecystectomy and nephrectomy
      i. Accepted for podium presentation at SAGES 2009
   2. Study - chopstick technique compared to standard laparoscopy in a single port set-up utilizing Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery drills as objective measure of utility
      i. Accepted for podium presentation at SAGES 2009
   1. Design and test validity of a set of inanimate drills to test robotic surgery skills
      i. Testing face and construct validity
      ii. IRB approved and study underway
FRS - Fundamentals of Robotic Surgery
2. GEARS - Global Evaluation and Assessment of Robotic surgery Skills
   1. Design and testing of a global assessment tool to measure the clinical performance of robotic surgery
   2. IRB approved study underway
3. GAGES - Global Assessment of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Skills
   1. Design and testing of a global assessment tool to measure the clinical performance of flexible endoscopy
   2. IRB approved study underway
   3. Part of a multi-institutional trial
   4. Accepted for podium presentation at SAGES 2009
4. Simulated operating room crisis during robotic surgery
   1. Design a surgical module to interface with the i-Stan simulator
   2. Simulate a hemorrhagic shock scenario during robotic surgery
   3. Test the performance of the OR team to manage the problem
   4. IRB approved study
   5. Design of module underway
5. TASSL flexible endoscopy training curriculum
   1. Texas Association of Surgical Skills Laboratories (TASSL)
6. DPS - Diaphragm Pacing System
   
   1. Multi-institutional study to test utility in tetraplegics
      1. IRB approved
      2. Study enrollment goal reached - study currently closed to enrollment
      3. IRB approval gained to use device on a compassionate use basis
   2. Multi-institutional study to test utility in ALS patients
      1. IRB approved
      2. Study enrollment goal reached - study currently closed to enrollment
7. ICU Cart
   1. Test the utility of a compact, portable flexible endoscopy cart to perform laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, and gastroscopy at the bedside in the ICU
   2. IRB approved study
   3. Funded by Karl Storz Endoscopy
   4. Preliminary results accepted for poster presentation SAGES 2009
8. NOTES toolbox
   1. Participated in design of flexible instruments used to conduct Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery procedures
   2. Tested select devices as part of a study
      1. Endoscopic scissors
      2. Endoscopic retrieval bag
      3. Bipolar vessel sealing device
   3. Funded by Ethicon Endosurgery
   4. Scissors and retrieval bag work accepted for poster presentation at SAGES 2009
9. Neoguide computer controlled flexible endoscope
   1. Participate in the design and development of a novel, computer controlled flexible endoscope for use in natural orifice surgery
   2. Funded by Neoguide
10. AV conference cart
    1. Design and develop a novel cart system to provide robust audio-visual conferencing between an operating room and conference room that have no built-in conferencing capability
    2. Cart successfully tested in teaching venue at Methodist
    3. Work funded by Image Stream Medical
    4. Cart will be manufactured for public sale
    5. Accepted for poster presentation at SAGES 2009
11. Thermal imaging to measure procedural competence
    1. Study uses thermal and visual imaging of the face to measure stress
    2. It is theorized that a quantified stress measurement could be used as a surrogate marker of procedural competence
    3. Study underway to test construct validity
    4. IRB approved study
    5. Work done in conjunction with the University of Houston computer science department
    6. Funded by the National Science Foundation
    7. Preliminary work presented in poster format at SAGES 2008
12. UT-Austin Biomedical Engineering project
    1. Collaborate with a group of engineering students to design a device to wash the laparoscope without removing it from the body
    2. Design work underway
13. Computer aided decision support
    1. Research program conducted by Acute Care Surgery
    2. Group is creating a mock ICU space in MITIE
    3. Plan
       1. Automate sepsis protocol onto a computer platform to be used at the patient bedside
       2. Test visual display of information at the bedside of a mock ICU set-up
14. MITIE Telementoring package
    1. Design and implement a portable and mobile telementoring system that can be used by physicians to provide procedural support over distance using a standard wide area network (WAN) connection
    2. Earmark funding from Department of Defense
    3. Pre-proposal submitted to DOD
    4. Anticipate funding by Summer 2009
    5. Project being developed in conjunction with Image Stream Medical
15. Robotic telementoring
    1. Testing a telementoring platform installed on the da Vinci robotic system in West Pavilion
    2. System used to mentor surgeons during robotic surgery over distance
    3. Work conducted in conjunction with Intuitive Surgical
16. FES - Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery
    1. This is a testing program to determine knowledge and skill in performing flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy
    2. The program is being developed by SAGES
    3. The hands-on skills testing platform is being developed in partnership with five universities in North America utilizing the Simbionix GI Mentor
    4. Project funded by SAGES and Simbionix
    5. Two of five modules developed and undergoing testing

Research - Collaborators

MITIE is developing key academic and industrial support to further its mission. Collaborative research and educational projects are underway with the following institutions:

• Computer Science Department at the University of Houston
• Bioengineering Department at the University of Strasbourg in France
• Bioengineering Department at Rice University
• University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas
• University of Texas Medical School in Houston

MITIE also has support from key industry leaders in the area of minimally invasive surgery, flexible endoscopy, robotics, image guidance, and audiovisual integration. Such collaboration enables MITIE to be equipped with the latest technology required to further its mission while fostering technological development and international collaboration. Read more about MITIE's industry partners.