Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU)

Guildford, UK

The Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU) is an internationally recognised centre of excellence in the teaching of innovative laparoscopic surgical techniques.

Created in 1995, the MATTU was one of three original centres in the UK to be awarded recognition and funding by the Government in conjunction with the Royal College of Surgeons and the Wolfson Foundation. The MATTU has grown to become the busiest and most successful laparoscopic training unit in the UK, with over 60 courses each year that cover the whole spectrum of minimal access surgery.

The MATTU is located adjacent to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, forming part of the Post Graduate Medical School at the University of Surrey and designated as a national training centre for laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

An internationally recognised centre with world class AV facilities

As part of a large-scale project, proAV has been tasked with the project to deliver the industry's most advanced audio visual and imaging technologies to the MATTU and the hospital to support the training and research facilities at the unit and create an internationally-recognised centre for minimally-invasive surgery.

The first stage of this project comprised extensive display, projection and conferencing equipment together with fibre optic cable connectivity between five operating theatres at the hospital and the MATTU facility. 

The entire 3D and HD upgrade project for the MATTU demanded a strategic programme of installation, which was designed and coordinated by proAV to deliver and commission all components out of hospital and working hours to eliminate disruption to operations and training modules. The upgrade project was completed and commissioned successfully over a period of just one week.Ashley Rudd, proAV

The fibre optic cable run over a 2.5km distance was an exceptional achievement. World class audio visual systems were installed throughout the post graduate lecture theatres, including a 100-seat theatre, hub facility, technician's control room and meeting room. Upgrades to projection, conferencing and display equipment have continued in line with the demand for high quality medical training and research facilities.

The MATTU audio visual project culminated in 2010 with an upgrade to 3D imaging systems, which incorporated the replacement of the majority of SD cameras in the hospital's operating theatres to HD camera unit, supported by new HD feeds over the existing fibre optic cabling and new widescreen touch controls.

The UK's first 3D laparoscopic surgery

In 2010, the first ever laparoscopic surgery to be conducted using three-dimensional imaging was carried out by Iain Jourdan, a surgeon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital. During the surgery, a camera sent two live video feeds taken from slightly different angles, as it surveyed the abdominal cavity from within, resulting in a more accurate cutting and stitching capability and changed the future of laparoscopic surgery.

The 3D image is created by signals, which are polarised in opposite directions, resulting in images displayed as alternating rows of pixels on a High Definition television screen. The polarising lenses of the glasses filter these images so each eye sees only one and the brain combines them to create the impression of depth, width and height. 

In addition to the above AV technologies, the Storz skill centre at the MATTU was equipped with a professional post-production editing suite where all signals and images can be edited, recorded onto DVD and distributed as training materials to support the many courses and programmes held at the MATTU each year. 

Today, delegates and researchers from all over the world now attend this international centre of excellence for telesurgery.

The entire 3D and HD upgrade project for the MATTU demanded a strategic programme of installation, which was designed and coordinated by proAV to deliver and commission all components out of hospital and working hours to eliminate disruption to operations and training modules. 

The upgrade project was completed and commissioned successfully over a period of just one week.

The industry"s most dynamic audio visual systems were incorporated into this large scale project, with facilities installed across training, research and operating areas, including:

Post Graduate Lecture Theatre, Hub Facility and Meeting Room

Lecture theatre

• 16:9 projector with picture-in-picture (PIP) and seamless switching, ceiling mounted
• 116" x 65", 16:9 motorised projection screen
• 2 x 40" LCD SXGA display screens, on tilting wall mounts with side mounted column speakers
• 4 x 19" LCD display panel, desk mounted
• Interactive writing table
• Video monitors, scan convertors and PIP processors
• AV source inputs including, network PC with lectern mounted interfacing, RF wireless keyboard and mouse, DVD/VHS VCR, video conferencing cameras, VGA-UXGA laptop connections
• Programme sound/voice reinforcement system including ceiling mounted boundary mic system for conferencing use, mixer, DSP and acoustic echo canceller, amplifiers, wall mounted column speakers, dual concentric ceiling mounted speakers and induction loop system
• Talk-back/intercom system including, 5 x 12" gooseneck mics for lectern, desk and technician, mixer, loudspeaker, amplifiers and in-ear monitors
• Video conferencing system including codec, cameras and multi-site and bandwidth packages 
• Switching and control equipment including 16-in/16-out RGBHV matrix switch, 24-in/24-out composite video with stereo audio matrix switch, VGA-UXGA and 1:3 composite video distribution amplifiers, control system processor, 15" touch panel with VGA and composite video display and touchpanel for technician"s room
• Fibre optic conversion equipment for two way video, 2 channel two way audio, MPD data Rx and MM