About the project Surgical AI Hub Germany
The Surgical AI Hub Germany project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), addresses the challenge of measurably and scalably improving surgical quality by developing an AI-based platform for objective analysis of surgical videos. While surgeon experience has been shown to reduce the risk of postoperative mortality, systematic evaluation of surgical interventions has been limited.
The project partners are collaborating to develop, validate, and implement methods for annotating and analyzing surgical data using deep learning by establishing a data-based value chain in surgery. Additionally, an international network of leading university hospitals will be established, integrating high-quality surgical care with research in the field of AI-based quality measurement.
The outcome of the project will be a platform-based solution that enables surgeons worldwide to objectively assess the quality of their procedures. The methods developed can also be transferred to other surgical techniques and medical applications, thus contributing to the optimization of healthcare in the long term. By being part of the DigiLeistDAT (Development of new digital services for data-oriented value creation), the project taps into a vibrant network of data-driven initiatives and helps bring innovative ideas into real-world use.
The project runs from 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2026.
Funding code: 02K23A110
Our part: Provision of annotation tools for the preparation of surgical data and training of robust AI models
As a specialist in AI-based medical image processing, Chimaera GmbH is making a significant contribution to the technological development within the project. Our focus is on:
- Develop advanced surgical video annotation and processing technologies
- Enhance semi-supervised pixel annotation for efficient and accurate AI training data generation
- Deliver innovative software solutions for AI-assisted surgical analysis
- Develop a web application for surgical video annotation and interface design
Chimaera also actively participates in interdisciplinary workshops and hackathons to test, refine, and implement the technologies developed.
The project consortium
The Surgical AI Hub Germany brings together leading research institutions, companies and clinics to create a powerful AI-based system for surgical quality assurance. Partners include:
- TU Dresden University of Technology, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery (consortium leader)
- Study Center of the German Surgical Society (DGCH), University of Heidelberg
- German Cancer Research Center DKFZ, Department of Intelligent Medical Systems (Heidelberg) and Department of Translational Surgical Oncology (NCT Dresden)
- Chimaera GmbH, Erlangen
- Mbits Imaging GmbH, Heidelberg
- Formigas GmbH, Constance
- KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG, Tuttlingen
Future outlook
The development of this innovative AI platform will create a new standard for surgical quality assurance. The insights and technologies generated will enable the objective analysis of surgical procedures and contribute to the improvement of training, documentation and patient care worldwide.
More information
Dieter
Dr.-Ing. Dieter Hahn
Am Weichselgarten 7
91058 Erlangen
Germany
+49 (0)9131 - 691 385
+49 (0)9131 - 691 386
hahn(at)chimaera.de