Remote expertise through the power of merged reality

Access to this ground-breaking technology is included at no cost with your InterSurgeon clinician membership. Help Lightning allows experienced surgeons to guide and interactively assist others during operations in real-time, anywhere in the world.

Add Help Lightning to your account

What are the benefits of Help Lightning for surgeons?

In light of the pandemic, and for the foreseeable future, the conventional ways of establishing collaborative partnerships through physical visits are not going to be possible. However, because Help Lightning allows surgeons to collaborate remotely, partnerships can still develop – and more easily than ever before.

Help Lightning can be used as a tool for education, mentorship and instruction – as well as for intraoperative case management. It allows both surgical planning and real-time intraoperative advice.

How does it work?

Watch this video to learn how Help Lightning works. This shows use cases in other industries – it’s every bit as useful with surgical applications and can also be used hands-free. All you need to use Help Lightning is your smartphone and an internet connection, though it can also be used with tablets, desktop computers and smart surgical glasses.

Download a beginner's guide to Help Lightning here: Help Lightning Basic Training

Virtual help in real-time

Help Lightning uses Merged Reality to blend two real-time video streams – e.g. that of a remote surgical expert and another surgeon that needs help – into a collaborative environment. This Merged Reality allows the expert to virtually reach out and direct real surgical procedures or training.

Use your existing devices

Help Lightning runs on your existing mobile devices (iOS, Android) or a web-browser on laptop and desktop computers.

Surgeons can now provide remote assistance as though they’re working side-by-side. They can telestrate, freeze images, use hand gestures, and even add real objects into the merged reality environment.

Be there instantly

Help Lightning is easy, fast and intuitive.

Once you’re in a merged reality call with a colleague or customer, simply tap the mode to change how you interact. Choose whether you’re giving or receiving help, and start collaborating in seconds. Help Lightning’s unique Merged Reality can add missing visual cues, gestures, and non-verbal communication methods to any session.

Using Help Lightning with smart surgical glasses

Take Help Lightning to the next level by pairing it with smart glasses. This innovation allows the wearer to benefit from the assistance of AI or a third-party while performing surgery. When used in conjunction with Help Lightning, smart glasses mean that another surgeon can see exactly what you are seeing and what you’re doing – and also have their hands superimposed over your field of view.

There are a number of models available from different manufacturers including Vuzix, Zebra, and RealWear.

The Advantage of Remote Expertise

Studies show that adding gestures and nonverbal clues substantially improves the speed of understanding. Furthermore, nonverbal cues are 430% more effective than verbal cues and nonverbal cues make Help Lightning’s combination of verbal and nonverbal communication up to 10 times more effective.

Sources: Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, British Journal of Clinical Psychology

Kimiko Agari, MD DDS

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

LAC+USC Medical Center, Monterey Park, United States of America

Contact this member

Register or login

User

Location information

Hospital address

LAC+USC Medical Center Monterey Park CA 90033 United States of America

Hospital type

Public

Hospital description

First-Level Hospital

This is a teaching hospital

Member information

Name

Kimiko Agari

Member type

Individual independent practitioner

Specialty

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

Subspecialties

Cranio-Maxillofacial Trauma
Head and Neck Cancer (Resection & Local/Pedicled Reconstruction)
Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer
Facial Skin Cancer
Cleft Lip & Palate Surgery
Craniofacial Surgery
Dental Alveolar / Oral Surgery
Salivary Gland Surgery
Paediatric Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral Medicine
Orthognathic Surgery
Jaw Lesions & Cysts
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Surgery

Languages spoken

English

Professional affiliations / memberships

American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Conditions treated

Head & Neck Cancer
Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer
Cleft Lip & Cleft Palate
Craniosynostosis, Cranial Meningocele and Facial Cleft
Dental-Facial Deformity
Fractures of the Upper, Mid and Lower Face
Extraction of Teeth including Wisdom Teeth
Surgical Removal of Jaw Lesions, Cysts and Tumours
Surgical Excision of TMJ Ankylosis & Jaw Joint Replacement
Excision of BCC, SCC & Malignant Melanoma & Local Flap Reconstruction
Management of Oral Lichen Planus, Submucous Fibrosis and Dysplasia
Management of Conditions of the Mouth, Jaws, Face & Neck in Children including teeth

Equipment used

Surgical Instruments, Plating Kits & Dental Instruments
Diathermy / Bipolar / Monopolar
Operating Microscope or Loupes
Nerve Monitor or Nerve Stimulator
Dermatoscope
Electronic Access to 3D Printer (for reconstruction planning)
Access to Imaging
Dental Materials – Impressions, Obturators, Temporary Fillings
Doppler Probe

Contact this member

Register or login

Last updated:

Donate to InterSurgeon

If you represent a business, institution or other organisation – or wish to make a donation in excess of $1000 – please contact us so that we can provide you with details for a bank transfer.

Secure donations processed through Stripe

Donation

Donate to InterSurgeon.

If you represent a business, institution or other organisation – or wish to make a donation in excess of $1000 – please contact us so that we can provide you with details for a bank transfer.

Graham Watson

InterSurgeon's March 2021 Monthmaker

I believe we're at the threshold of a huge expansion in the efforts that the fortunate surgeons on this planet can make to assist those surgeons struggling to provide a service. My campaign in March 2021 is to raise funds for InterSurgeon by running 60km. I want as many members of InterSurgeon to join me as possible. Please visit my JustGiving page to sponsor or join in. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Running4Intersurgeon

Would you or your organisation like to be featured here?Sponsor InterSurgeon for a month. Get in touch