Augmented Reality in Healthcare & Medical Industry

Surgery Virtualization

There is no room for a mistake during surgery. Roughly speaking, a patient's life is in the surgeon’s hands. However, augmented reality in healthcare enables surgeons to visualize and strategize every cut and stitch they are planning to make by navigating the patient’s anatomy in real time.

Xvision spine system developed by Augmedics has aided in the treatment of over 4,500 patients and the implantation of over 25,000 pedicle screws spanning across 21 states in the US.

The system integrates AR glasses with surgical navigation software to provide surgeons with real-time 3D navigation during spine surgery. Navigation information is projected onto the surgeon's retina as they focus on the patient, removing the need to check secondary screens constantly.

Another revolutionary use case of augmented reality in healthcare is the ability to collaborate and get guidance from other specialists in real-time. 

By using Proximie surgeons can connect remotely with specialists or colleagues who provide guidance, support, or expertise during a surgical procedure. The platform uses AR technology to overlay digital annotations or virtual hands onto the surgeon's field of view, providing real-time guidance and assistance during the operation.

For example, a surgeon performing a complex procedure may use Proximie to connect with a specialist who can provide step-by-step instructions, highlight anatomical structures, or offer advice on surgical techniques. The specialist can view the surgical field from the surgeon's perspective and provide guidance directly within their augmented reality view.

Medical Training

Hours of studying are now supplemented with the use of augmented reality in healthcare which gives more practical value to the training process.

AR in healthcare allows physicians to create accurate illustrations of human anatomy, and the impacts of different diseases on the human body as they progress, and virtually show how various kinds of drugs and therapies can affect them.

Similarly, medical students can leverage AR in healthcare to have a better understanding of surgical procedures and practice a range of techniques in a controlled environment.

A study published in the Journal of Surgical Education reported that surgical residents who received training with AR-based simulation tools demonstrated improved surgical skills and performance compared to those trained using traditional methods.

Accurate Symptom Detection

Sometimes patients find it difficult to describe their symptoms which often results in delayed treatment and even misdiagnosis. Augmented reality for healthcare solves this problem.

AR enables patients to use gestures or voice commands to indicate areas of discomfort or demonstrate specific symptoms. Using AR glasses, they can visualize various skin conditions or eye conditions, which can greatly aid in describing their concerns to doctors. 

AR can also be used to objectively measure and quantify certain symptoms or physical signs, such as range of motion, muscle strength, or joint swelling. By overlaying virtual markers or sensors onto the patient's body, healthcare professionals can accurately assess and track changes in symptoms over time, aiding in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Patient Education

Different medical procedures, especially surgeries can be very stressful for patients. One of the benefits of augmented reality in healthcare is its ability to increase patient engagement in their health and well-being.

With AR apps patients can explore their bodies in detail. They can manipulate 3D models of anatomical structures zoom in on specific organs or systems, and learn about their function and significance. This hands-on approach to anatomy helps patients better understand their condition and treatment options.

Various medical procedures such as surgeries, injections, or physical therapy exercises can be simulated in the virtual environment. Patients can experience these procedures in a safe and controlled setting, gaining insight into what to expect before undergoing treatment. This can help alleviate anxiety and improve patient compliance and satisfaction.

Complete Anatomy app by 3D4Medical allows users to view and interact with detailed 3D models of organs, muscles, bones, and other anatomical structures. They can rotate, zoom in, and dissect virtual models to gain a better understanding of human anatomy.

The app includes educational content on various medical conditions and diseases, explaining their causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Users can explore virtual representations of medical conditions and learn about their impact on the body.

It also offers simulations of surgical procedures, allowing users to visualize and understand how surgeries are performed.

Challenges of AR in Healthcare

Despite a lot of opportunities AR gives to the healthcare industry, there are still a lot of challenges associated with implementing the technology.

Data Security Concerns

Similar to any software that gathers and transmits big amounts of sensitive data, AR for healthcare poses a risk of data breaches. However, complying with data protection regulations and ensuring security measures such as data wiping, two-factor authentication, regular backups, and storage encryption can minimize the risk of data loss or leakage.

User Training

Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and medical technicians, need to develop technical proficiency in using AR devices and applications. Training should cover not only basic operations of AR hardware, navigation of AR interfaces, and interaction with virtual content but also emphasize safety protocols and best practices for using AR technology in clinical settings.

Cost of Implementation

Augmented reality in the medical field is quite pricey to implement. First of all, hardware devices such as AR headsets or smart glasses may have a significant upfront cost like HoloLens by Microsoft. 

Secondly, developing custom AR applications or integrating existing software solutions with AR capabilities can incur costs related to software development, licensing fees, and ongoing maintenance. The complexity of the software and the level of customization required will impact the overall cost of implementation.

Healthcare practitioners and staff may also require training to use AR technology effectively. Training programs and ongoing technical support services may incur additional costs, especially during the initial implementation phase.

Standardization Challenges

The lack of standardized hardware and software platforms for AR devices can create compatibility issues. Healthcare organizations may struggle to integrate AR solutions with existing systems, leading to interoperability challenges and inefficiencies in data exchange.

Future of Augmented Reality in Healthcare

Integration with AI-Powered Smart Assistants

AR-enabled smart AI assistants could provide healthcare professionals with real-time access to clinical guidelines, medical databases, and recommendations during patient consultations or medical procedures. By overlaying relevant information onto the clinician's field of view, AI assistants could help with diagnosis, treatment planning, and decision-making.

Pain Management

Currently, augmented reality is being explored for pain management through distraction techniques and immersive experiences.

SnowWorld, a VR/AR application developed by the University of Washington Harborview Burn Center transports burn patients into a snowy, immersive world where they can engage in interactive activities like throwing snowballs at penguins and snowmen. This distraction helps alleviate pain during wound care procedures and physical therapy sessions.

While SnowWorld primarily utilizes virtual reality, AR application in healthcare with similar immersive experiences could also be developed to provide pain relief in various healthcare settings.

Pharmaceutical Research and Development

The way clinical trials are conducted will be revolutionized by creating virtual environments for testing new drugs, medical devices, or treatment protocols. Virtual clinical trials conducted using AR could allow researchers to collect real-time data on patient responses and treatment outcomes in a controlled and immersive setting, potentially accelerating the development and approval of new medical therapies.

Holographic Telepresence

Telemedicine will be enhanced with holographic telepresence, allowing healthcare providers to project lifelike, 3D holograms of themselves into remote locations for patient consultations or surgical assistance. Such a form of telemedicine could enhance communication and collaboration between healthcare teams across different locations.

Digital Twins for More Personalized Medicine

Digital twins or virtual replicas of individual patients can incorporate data from genomics, medical imaging, and wearable sensors. They can be visualized with AR so that healthcare providers can simulate disease progression, test different treatment scenarios, and personalize interventions based on the patient's unique characteristics and responses.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy

One of the ways, AR could be used for mental health is exposure therapy. By integrating with virtual reality, it could create immersive environments for exposure therapy, a proven treatment for anxiety disorders such as phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. Patients could use AR headsets to gradually expose themselves to anxiety-provoking situations in a controlled and safe virtual environment, helping them overcome their fears and manage symptoms.

Personalized Treatment Planning

AR could be used to create personalized treatment plans for patients by integrating patient-specific data, such as genetic information, medical imaging, and treatment history, into augmented reality visualizations. By considering these factors, healthcare providers can design treatment plans that are more likely to achieve successful outcomes while minimizing risks and complications.

This would also allow healthcare providers to tailor treatment plans to each patient's unique needs and characteristics, leading to more effective and targeted interventions.

Summing Up

The potential of augmented reality in healthcare is immense. With the power of new software and collaboration tools, it can significantly improve various aspects of healthcare such as diagnostics, pain management, doctors and patient education, drug discovery, and many more.