XARLabs relying on MR to reinvent surgery at LIHE
According to Ali Rezaei Haddad, CEO of XARLabs, the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) is becoming a popular spot for MedTech firms and maybe the greatest venue for creative businesses to flourish. A trailblazing business, XARLabs is creating cutting-edge technologies to improve 3D surgical experiences.
XARLabs has set up shop in LIHE, a MedTech Hub run by King’s College London’s School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences. The path to this relationship started at a convention when Ali met LIHE’s Director of Commercial Operations and Partnerships, Nicolas Huber. The work of XARLabs, which at that point was Ali’s only venture and operated out of his garage, captivated Huber. After they spoke, Huber asked him to come see LIHE and think about moving his business there.
The goal of XARLabs is to revolutionise the surgical lifespan. Conventional 2D CT and MRI scan data may be transformed into dynamic 3D models using their flagship innovation, simXAR. An ‘x-ray vision’ tool for surgeons, these models may then be placed on patients. This creative technique promises a significant increase in surgical accuracy and planning by enabling surgeons to use human models as live visual guides during procedures or as practice aids prior to surgery.
Ali immediately saw the advantages of relocating to LIHE after seeing the campus and taking in London’s downtown location and thriving startup co-housing culture. Ali recounted that when Nicolas Huber asked him how LIHE could help, he said that he wanted to grow his team.
Ali got to know Takrim Titas, another recent graduate of the MSc degree in Healthcare Engineering, thanks to this partnership. King’s Business School and the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences collaborate to provide this curriculum.
For XARLabs, the partnership with King’s College London has been very beneficial, especially when it comes to gaining access to gifted people like Takrim. Ali emphasised the benefits of employing young pupils, especially the chance to guide them and provide them with skills specific to the requirements of the business.
Takrim, now a biomedical engineer at XARLabs, expressed gratitude for being connected with the company so early in his career. He highlighted the unique learning experience of working at a startup, where he can contribute to various aspects of the business, including app development and 3D segmentations. According to Takrim, this broad exposure offers invaluable experience compared to joining an established organisation, where the scope of responsibilities might be narrower and come with limited training.
One of the most significant achievements of the simXAR platform so far has been its role in the successful separation of conjoined twins. This groundbreaking surgery marked the first use of simXAR in such a complex medical procedure, showcasing its immense potential in surgical planning and simulation.
Ultimately, Ali affirmed that the core mission of XARLabs is to revolutionise the surgical lifecycle while significantly reducing costs. The collaboration with LIHE and the innovative development of simXAR underline XARLabs’ commitment to achieving this ambitious goal.