3D patent technology enables actual closed state...Development of Lung Nodulation Position Visualization Thoracic Simulation

May 20, 2025

3D patent technology enables actual closed state...Development of Lung Nodulation Position Visualization Thoracic Simulation
Capture actual thoracoscopic images and simulation images showing the location of lung nodules



Professor Hwang Jin-wook's team at Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery at Korea University Ansan Hospital (Hwang In-tae, Professor Ha Sung-won of Medical Life Research Center at Korea University Ansan Hospital, and former Professor Kim Cho-hee of the Department of Radiology at Korea University Ansan Hospital) have developed a thoracoscopic surgical simulation device that implements a 3D model of weapon lung (air-depleted) close to the actual surgical environment and visualizes the location and resection range of lung nodules based on this. Using this technology is expected to significantly improve patient safety, such as predicting the exact location of lung nodules before surgery and establishing a precise resection plan.

Professor Hwang's team recently completed domestic patent registration by developing a thoracoscopic simulation device based on a three-dimensional inorganic lung model.

Chest CT is taken at the maximum level of inhalation, but actual surgery is performed in a lung-depleted state with no air. For this reason, it is difficult to find the exact location of the lung nodule during surgery because the CT image and the actual appearance of the lungs are different, so the location of the lung nodule is found through invasive procedures such as dyeing and radioactive material injection. Professor Hwang believed that these methods could pose additional risks to patients, such as continuous radiation exposure and incision of abnormal tissue, and developed the technology to improve stability and surgical accuracy.




This patent technology is a system that creates an inorganic lung 3D model similar to the actual surgical environment based on CT images of patients and visualizes the location and resection range of lung nodules and outputs them as images. It is a principle that mathematically simulates the intake 3D model obtained from CT images by reflecting gravity and posture changes, and analyzes the location of the ribs around it to accurately reproduce the lung shape during actual surgery. You can check the preoperative simulation image and compare it with the actual thoracoscopic image during surgery.

Professor Hwang explained "Using this technique, we can accurately predict the actual location and extent of resection of lung nodules in advance." In addition, "As the internal structure of the lungs can be checked in advance before surgery, it is possible to improve the safety and success rate of surgery with an accurate resection plan as well as shortening the operation time."

3D patent technology enables actual closed state...Development of Lung Nodulation Position Visualization Thoracic Simulation
From left, Professor Jinwook Hwang of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery, Professor In-tae Hwang and Seong-won Ham of the Medical Life Research Center, former Professor Kim Cho-hee of the Department of Radiology at Korea University Ansan Hospital





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.