Introduction to a New Tool for Organ Donation
On June 21, 2023, in Richmond, VA, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) announced the event of a brand new tool that might potentially increase organ utilization. This tool is an app that gives surgical teams with higher-quality images of donor organs, which could help determine if an organ is suitable for transplantation.
Addressing a Community Need
UNOS operates the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. Currently, organ photos should not consistent of their positioning, lighting, quality, or use of scale. These “procurement photos” are utilized by surgical teams to help in determining in the event that they should accept an organ on behalf of their patient. UNOS has heard from surgeons across the country that they need higher, more standardized photos, with the flexibility to measure specific portions of a photographed organ.
The Solution
Based on this feedback, UNOS staff began working on a contemporary solution to deal with this pressing community need. The plan employs computer vision technology, 3D modeling, and augmented reality to eventually introduce an easy, smartphone-based solution to a fancy, system-wide problem. “What we have present in our research is that a photograph of an organ is significant for determining clinical viability of the organ and its anatomy,” said Senior Data Scientist Morgan Stuart.
How it Works
The tool is currently within the proof-of-concept phase. If early tests prove effective, the long-term goal is to supply organ procurement organizations (OPOs) and surgical teams with a mobile app that may capture high-quality, standardized photos, discover organ type, collect anatomical data, calculate size, and annotate images. The tool would also include measurement capabilities, allowing surgeons to measure specific sections of the photographed organ.
Benefits and Potential Impact
Overall size and unique measures may also help determine if an organ is the very best fit for a given patient, making this tool a possible game-changer in how organ offers are accepted and potentially reducing the variety of organs recovered for transplant that should not ultimately used. Research has indicated that there’s a correlation between access to photographs and the acceptance of kidneys, which proceed to be essentially the most transplanted organ.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the event of this recent tool has the potential to extend organ utilization and improve the organ donation process. With the support of generous donors, UNOS Labs will proceed to work on this project, gathering community input and developing the mobile app. The ultimate goal is to make lifesaving transplants possible for patients in need, and this tool is a vital step in that direction. If you prefer to to support lifesaving efforts like these, please visit the UNOS give page or contact [email protected].
