Park Royal Hospital Makes Big Step Forward in Use of AI
New system at St. Mark's is being employed in bowel surgery
Consultant colorectal surgeon Mr Kapil Sahnan says the tool is like having an extra arm
June 25, 2026
Surgeons at St Mark’s National Bowel Hospital in Park Royal have begun using a new artificial intelligence system that colour-codes internal anatomy during operations, offering what clinicians describe as a significant step forward in precision surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.
The technology, known as the Eureka system, analyses the surgical field in real time and overlays colours onto structures such as nerves, connective tissue and other critical features. The aim is to help surgeons distinguish subtle anatomical details that can be difficult to identify with the naked eye, particularly during minimally invasive or robotic procedures.
Consultant colorectal surgeon Mr Kapil Sahnan, who used the system during a bowel resection on a woman in her sixties, said the tool felt like having an extra arm in the operating theatre. The colour overlays can be kept constant or set to pulse depending on the stage of the procedure, with nerves appearing in green, connective tissue in turquoise and other structures in distinct hues. Surgeons can adjust the display to suit the complexity of the operation and the level of visual support required.
The Eureka system was developed by a team of Japanese surgeons and is designed to recognise fine structures that even experienced clinicians may find challenging to differentiate. By highlighting these features, the system aims to reduce the risk of accidental injury and support safer, more accurate dissection in areas where millimetres matter.
St Mark’s is one of the centres helping to evaluate the technology as part of ongoing trials. The hospital, internationally recognised for its expertise in bowel disease, is among the first in the UK to use the system in live surgery. Clinicians say the early experience is promising and could mark the beginning of a new era in AI-assisted surgical navigation.
Further evaluation will determine how widely the technology may be adopted, but early indications suggest that colour-coded anatomical guidance could become an important tool in complex colorectal procedures, offering surgeons an additional layer of confidence and patients the potential for safer outcomes.
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