On June 8, 2023, AVATAR MEDICAL, a spin-off of the Institut Pasteur and Institut Curie, both granted with the Carnot Label, received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its virtual reality surgical planning solution. AVATAR MEDICAL instantly converts CT scans and MRI images into patient avatars, detailed 3D and virtual reality (VR) representations of the patient's medical images. FDA clearance is a major milestone for this innovative spin-off, which can now market its solution in the United States. CEO Xavier Wartelle expects European certification for 2024.
Four years of research in human-data interaction and machine learning conducted at the Institut Pasteur and Institut Curie, have resulted in the technology at the heart of AVATAR MEDICAL. It instantly generates a virtual reality representation of the patients based on CT scan or MRI images. These patient avatars can serve for pre-operative planning, or to secure the execution of certain surgical procedures.
Over 100 surgeons from 20 hospitals and universities in France and the USA have already benefited from this solution. To date, the technology has been used for case studies, student education and patient engagement, leading to six medical publications. Now, surgeons will be able to use it for surgical planning and for display during procedures.
“AVATAR Medical has the potential to revolutionize medical education but also to impact actual patient care. With real time image rendering and lossless representations we can now see pathology and anatomy in a way that has never been realized. This will greatly impact how we as surgeons prepare for our procedures.” says Elliott Goodman, MD, Director of Surgical Education, City University of New York School of Medicine
