AI coaching to improve ureteroscopy for kidney stones
An Artificial Intelligence Coaching System to Improve Surgical Performance in Urologic Endoscopy
A new AI coaching tool aims to help surgeons perform ureteroscopy more safely and efficiently for adults treated for kidney stones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323595 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have kidney stones and may need ureteroscopy, researchers will use unobtrusive video and operating-room measurements to teach an AI how expert surgeons work. They will test the AI models in high-fidelity surgical simulations and build an explainable interface that gives personalized feedback to surgeons. Finally, the team will run a randomized trial to see whether using the AI Surgical Coach leads to better surgeon skills and improved patient outcomes during real ureteroscopy procedures.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who are undergoing ureteroscopy for kidney stones at participating centers would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who do not need ureteroscopy, are under 21, or are treated with non-endoscopic approaches likely would not benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could lower complication rates and improve recovery by helping surgeons perform ureteroscopy more skillfully.
How similar studies have performed: AI-based coaching has shown promise in other surgical specialties, but applying explainable AI specifically to ureteroscopy is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dias, Roger Daglius — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dias, Roger Daglius
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.