A pioneering Artificial Intelligence tool that colour-codes body parts during live operations has been deployed by surgeons for the first time in the UK. Medics at St Mark’s, the National Bowel Hospital, used the system on Thursday during surgery on a patient in her 60s. The patient received a bowel resection at the hospital, which is part of London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.
The tool, known as Eureka, works alongside robotic or laparoscopic procedures, projecting real-time, colour-coded highlights onto a screen. The visual aid helps surgeons identify and protect or dissect specific tissues, with nerves appearing green and connective tissue shown in turquoise. Experts said the portable Artificial Intelligence unit can improve efficiency in the operating theatre while supporting greater precision and safety.
The operation on Thursday was the first time the technology has been used in the UK. It was also the first time that it has been used during surgery outside Japan. It was developed by Japanese surgeons who trained the Artificial Intelligence using thousands of surgical video recordings.
Consultant surgeon Mr Kapil Sahnan described the tool as an “extra helping arm” that can examine live surgery and highlight hidden structures that may not be visible to the surgeon. He said the aim is to make operations safer by using Artificial Intelligence alongside the surgeon, preventing errors and making procedures more secure.
Mr Sahnan compared the system to applying navigation technology to surgery, describing a shift from route-planning with an A to Z to using Google Maps and Waze. He said the key difference is the real-time aspect, allowing surgeons to see guidance while operating. Work is under way to establish how the tool can be proven advantageous and how it might be rolled out more widely, with the hope that access in the next couple of years could make surgery safer for more patients.
