Balgrist University Hospital building simulation center

Balgrist University Hospital intends to establish an innovative surgical research and teaching center, as was reported in a press release. The project called OR-X will create an operating theatre in which aspiring surgeons will be able to simulate surgical procedures. The infrastructure is not just for practice. It will also enable new operating techniques to be developed in an environment that is as authentic as possible. The aim is to transfer the research results into everyday surgical practice.

According to Balgrist University Hospital, procedures will ever more strongly integrate technologies such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence and robots in future. The new research project is also cooperating with the SURGENT (Surgeon Enhancing Technologies) project, which is being run by University Medicine Zurich. This aims to use biomedical computer simulation and augmented reality to establish new standards for the patient-specific planning and execution of precision surgery in the area of orthopedics.

Balgrist University Hospital estimates that the investment cost for OR-X will amount to between 10 and 12 million Swiss francs. Construction is set to begin in 2022, with the center entering the test phase in the first quarter of 2023.

Why Greater Zurich

It is no coincidence that the Greater Zurich Area is home to so many world-class patents for medical technology as nowhere else in Europe. Technology leaders such as Roche Diagnostics, Zimmer Biomet, Stryker, Hamilton, Sonova, Cardinal Health and DePuy Synthes (Johnson&Johnson) operate headquarters or research and production facilities here. They value the large pool of international specialists, the R&D collaborations with leading universities and start-ups, the protection of intellectual property and the business-friendly environment. Would your medtech company also like to write a success story in Switzerland?

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