Augmented reality is no longer niche and has been used in many sectors outside of the exclusive world of gamers. From tourism to architecture, sport and education, augmented reality has found a myriad of applications in our daily lives.
But how does it add value in the medical field ? Let’s imagine if surgeons could see bones, muscles and internal organs displayed directly on top of the patient’s body without having to open it before going into surgery. This is just one of the compelling promises of augmented reality in healthcare.

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Virtual reality v. augmented reality

Augmented reality (AR) puts relevant digital information eyesight, building on the existing environment while virtual reality (VR) provides an immersive virtual experience aiming at taking the user away from the real world. In the medical field, both augmented reality and virtual reality have found applications. VR has found applications in reducing patients’ pain and anxiety during certain types of surgery (when used as an adjunct to anesthesia). Accordingly, the global AR and VR in healthcare market is expected to grow rapidly with AR generating $1,918.6 million by 2026.

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Augmented reality can save life

In the medical sector, access to information can save life. From patients’ medical records to patient’s bones, muscles and veins, augmented reality can be of assistance to healthcare professionals by providing them with all the necessary information, improving both diagnosis and care. During a procedure, some critical decisions must be made in the blink of an eye. Speaking of which, AR enables even life-saving information to appear in front of the surgeon’s eyes, via smart glasses, either in the field of vision or directly on top of the patient’s body. This technology is also promising in reducing invasive surgery.  A recent outstanding example is the first augmented reality minimally invasive spine surgery that took place at Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago last year. Using the Augmedics xvision Spine System the surgeon had a 3D view of the patient’s spinal anatomy through their skin during the procedure.

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Augmented reality improves the quality of care

With social distancing, lockdowns and travel limitations, the pandemic has changed the way people work together. Home-office and teleconferences have become the norm. The same is true for hospitals. Thanks to augmented reality, collaboration between healthcare professionals has never been easier. While performing a surgery, the healthcare professional can seek urgent advice from the best colleagues in the field, even outside of the OR, making use of augmented reality-assisted telesurgery. Such collaborations unlock the potential of AR as a life-saving tool. Similarly, while hospitals need more than ever to be cost efficient, AR enables surgeons to operate in 2 to 3 rooms simultaneously.

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Augmented reality facilitates training of future healthcare practitioners

Now, let’s imagine if medical students and trainees no longer needed to cut open a body in order to study human anatomy or learn how to perform surgery. AR in education provides medical students and trainees with valuable hands-on learning experiences.
In this field, TouchSurgery, an award winning surgical simulation platform, features over 200 procedures directly accessible through a mobile app.

The pandemic has fostered innovation in the field of AR in healthcare. Since it is highly beneficial both to healthcare practitioners and to hospitals, the growing popularity of AR technologies is unlikely to stall. Let’s put it this way, augmented reality is the gain without the pain.

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