AI-Powered Endoscopic Surgical Support System 'EIRL Surgery LC' Receives Regulatory Approval

Oita University and Fukuoka Institute of Technology announced that the endoscopic surgical information support system 'EIRL Surgery LC,' developed based on their joint research, has received manufacturing and marketing approval under the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. The approval number is 30800BZX00052000. This technology was developed with support from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), in collaboration with Professor Masafumi Inomata of Oita University, Professor Tatsushi Tokuyasu of Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Olympus Corporation, and LPixel Inc. The system analyzes endoscopic images in real-time during surgery to identify critical anatomical structures around the gallbladder, aiming to prevent serious complications such as bile duct injury. In Japan, approximately 120,000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies are performed annually, and bile duct injury remains a significant risk. This research utilizes deep learning to recognize anatomical landmarks with high precision. Moving forward, the team plans to evaluate the system in domestic medical institutions and expand its application to other surgical fields.