Surgassists®

Surgassists® is the first and only virtual reality software designed to simplify complex medical terminology and anatomical structures for enhanced patient consent. Patients engage in a virtual clinic lasting three to four minutes, during which they are guided through the procedural steps along with the associated risks and complications. This new and science backed approach has been shown to significantly improve patient comprehension, making intricate medical information more accessible and easier to understand. Surgassists was prototyped and is now available for medical specialists to use during consultations for Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), a non-invasive procedure designed to fragment kidney stones, allowing them to pass through the urinary tract. In March 2025, Surgassists® will also be available for use in flexible cystoscopy, ureteric stent insertion and removal, and Hysteroscopy. Leveraging AI, each procedure is tested by native-speaking urological experts and translated into the languages of non-English speakers, effectively breaking down language barriers. The software is currently available in seven languages, including Spanish, Italian, Polish, Punjabi, English, Romanian, and Arabic. Research at Southampton University Hospital has shown that patients experience an improved understanding of ESWL after using Surgassists® VR and they feel significantly more confident in their knowledge of the procedure following the use of Surgassists® VR. As Surgassists® has integrated auditory and visual elements alongside 3D models the patient is able to construct a clear understanding of procedures within the kidney related to SWL. This integrated format gives VR an advantage over other multimedia tools and accommodates diverse learning styles, as evidenced by our positive results.