Augmented Reality (AR) is likely known for its popular presence in the entertainment and gaming industries. Augmented reality is a technology made up of complex hardware, software, algorithms, and design that multi-stimulates human senses with a mix of digital and real perceptions. Augmented reality should not be confused with “virtual reality” as virtual reality is a complete overtake of a real environment for a simulated one. Some common AR mediums that is being used as we speak are in Snapchat app, the Memoji on the iPhone X or later, Google Maps, and more! Interestingly, technology does not seem to be confined within a particular industry or usage. AR, for example is not only limited to the entertainment and gaming field but have been studied and adapted to make use in the education and medical sectors. While AR may not be the newest term in IT discussions, what is new is that the FDA recently approved doctors using AR Microsoft HoloLens headset for pre-surgery procedures.
The approved Augmented reality system will allow doctors to observe two dimensional to four dimensional digital images of a patient’s anatomy overlaying on the real patient, simultaneously. As said by Dr Wendell Gibby, Novarad CEO and co-creator of Opensight, “This is transformative technology that will unite preoperative imaging with augmented reality to improve the precision, speed and safety of medical procedures.” Cardiologists have positively expressed that AR may assist them in the planning and performing of complex procedures too. It has been said that by using these devices, the surgeons will be able to operate with more sterility by not having to touch screen monitors or the use of computer mouses. One of the big drawbacks in performing surgeries traditionally without AR reliance is that a surgeon can pinpoint where to place an instrument when studying the monitor screen but once the eyes shift focus to the actual subject, the surgeon would have to recalculate what was established from the monitor screen which place a bit of risk of on the level of precision and timing. With AR in use, the focus will still be there for the surgeon because the screen with the anatomical data is in the same field of vision of the actual patient being operated. By being more sterile and performing with more precision, AR would greatly improve patient care and treatment.
While AR still have much room for further development in surgical practices, there are a couple of AR applications that are already assisting medical students with studying. Have you ever had troubles visualizing concepts or materials from plain texts in textbooks? For medical students, augmented reality makes it possible for those medical students to perform cadaver dissections without being at the laboratories. For FDA to approve the use in medical practice, this transformative technology would only continue to enhance medical treatments of the future. Take a look at this YouTube clip below to see what the Microsoft HoloLens may look like in use:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181024112153.htm
https://spinalnewsinternational.com/wearable-augmented-reality/
https://pharmaphorum.com/news/augmented-reality-pre-surgery-tech-approved-by-us-regulator/
http://blog.leapmotion.com/welcome-cadavr-living-cadaver-laboratory-web/
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