This is a tech-driven world and AR in healthcare has become a reality instead of a futuristic concept. Today it has become a reality in various segments and especially in surgical practice. Use of augmented reality has turned up as a powerful tool and it is revolutionizing the way surgeries are performed, taught as well as understood.
AR in healthcare is making a real difference in enhancing visualization during operations and making better surgical training methods. However, it is not free from challenges of its own kind like technical, ethical and infrastructural. Let us have a brief look at the way surgeons are making use of AR in healthcare to change the future of medicine.
Operating Room
One big advantage of AR in healthcare is the way it enhances surgical precision. Surgeons can now overlay critical digital data such as CT scans or MRI scans directly onto the body of patient in real time. This supports accurate targeting during surgery and simultaneously reduces the chances of complications.
HoloLens from the stable of Microsoft and a couple of more similar devices from other companies are currently leading the way. Surgeons can see holograms of organs of a patient while performing procedures with the help of AR headset and this minimizes the need to glance at external monitors. The HoloLens or other AR headsets have proven useful in complex surgeries such as spinal operations and neurosurgery.
Apple Vision Pro headset is also finding a place in the medical world. It is being used to stream real-time footage while displaying the vitals of patient in the same field of vision.
Surgical Training, Global Collaboration
Traditional surgical training often involves observing real-time operations or practicing on cadavers. AR is changing the dynamic as it allows trainees to simulate surgeries with the use of 3D visualizations of real anatomical data.
Proximie and other such platforms let experienced surgeons guide less experienced professionals remotely in live surgeries by using AR. It mainly benefits for the rural or underserved areas where specialist surgeons may not be available.
ARCollab is a recent innovation and it allows multiple users to interact with shared 3D models of a heart of patient. The platform facilitates collaborative surgical planning and without the need for physical models or lab visits.
Patient Safety
Precision is about operation success as well as about outcomes of the surgery. AR in healthcare helps in improving the outcomes by reducing both risks and complications.
A study found that AR-guided CT interventions reduces number of required needles which passes through and also lowers radiation exposure. It simultaneously prevents injury to nearby organs. This is a great leap if compared to traditional techniques.
AR ensures that implants in total hip replacements and other orthopedic procedures are positioned with near-perfect alignment. It also reduces the likelihood of dislocation or revision surgeries. Surgeons are increasingly relying on AR to pre-map procedures in complex cardiovascular operations.
Challenges
There are some technical limitations in the use of AR in healthcare. Many AR systems today are suffering from visual drift, poor depth perception or display lag. Milliseconds matter in healthcare and such flaws cannot be acceptable. Developers need to address such drawbacks before AR can be adopted at scale.
Cost is also a barrier in AR. HoloLens, Vision Pro and other such devices are expensive. Associated software and training costs make things more difficult for smaller hospitals. Hence, AR in healthcare is becoming a luxury and available only in elite hospitals.
There are some ethical issues and needs to be addressed. It is yet to understand as what happens to the patient data that is used in the systems? It is also to be known whether patients are being properly informed about the role of AR in their surgeries? It is true that there is a thin line between innovation and intrusion. Hence, healthcare providers need to tread carefully.
Integration
Interest in AR in healthcare is growing at a rapid pace and several countries are investing heavily in AR-based surgical platforms. Medical schools are also gradually incorporating AR modules into their curriculum.
Medical infrastructure in countries like India and Brazil usually faces challenges. Low-cost AR solutions are being developed for teaching and diagnostics. It is heartening to see innovators trying to localize technology for maximum impact. We may soon see AR to become a standard part of surgical kits.
AR is currently also being tested in veterinary surgeries. The applications are far-reaching and proving again that the AR benefits in healthcare are not just confined to one field or one kind of patient.
AI + AR
One area where exponential growth can be witnessed is in the integration of artificial intelligence with AR. Simply imagine an AI algorithm that analyzes real-time surgery data and making suggestions on-the-fly while AR presents suggestions visually to the surgeon.
This same is happening now and it is no more sci-fi. Such pilot programs are currently being tested in the U.S. and Europe. The idea basically is to create an intelligent surgical environment where AR is the interface while AI is the brain in it. The two together can make surgeries safer, faster as well as more personalized.
The two can become impactful in diagnostics, robotic surgery and real-time error detection. AI-powered AR system can now alert a surgeon when they are dangerously close to a critical artery or suggest an alternate path for surgical tools.
Such developments highlight the bigger picture and it is that the AR in healthcare is a standalone trend as well as a part of a broader digital health revolution.
Verdict
AR in healthcare is not a buzzword today, but it is a bridge between knowledge and practice. It is also a bridge between urban hospitals and rural clinics. It is even a bridge between experience and learning.
However, it is not a silver bullet as there are pitfalls and we need to approach it with excitement as well as caution. AR in healthcare has the potential to become a permanent fixture in operating rooms, medical classrooms and healthcare policymaking.
The question at the end is not whether AR will change surgery, but the real question is that whether we can harness it equitably, safely as well as intelligently to build a healthcare system that truly serves everyone.
Q&A
Q1. What is AR in healthcare and why it is important in the healthcare industry?
A: AR is Augmented Reality and it is a technology to help doctors to see digital images such as CT or MRI scans over a patient’s body in real time. It is turning up important lately as it can help surgeons to perform operations more accurately and more safely.
Q2. How do surgeons use AR during surgeries?
A: Surgeons wear AR headsets and a couple of it to name here include Microsoft HoloLens and Apple Vision Pro. These devices show 3D images of organs while the doctor is conducting an operation. The process is helping doctors to avoid looking at separate monitors and makes the surgery more precise.
Q3. How is AR used in medical training?
A: AR allows medical students to practice surgeries with the use of 3D models and not by using real bodies. It also helps senior doctors to guide the junior doctors in live surgeries and from remote places.