Updated: Jun 28
3 Applications of Virtual Reality in Surgery
Surgical education and surgical training
Preoperative planning
Collaboration between surgeons and telesurgery
01. Surgical education and surgical training
Virtual reality (VR) technology has the potential to significantly improve training and education for medical students and surgical residents.
The use of VR in medical education can provide a more innovative and engaging learning experience.
Surgical residents who have the opportunity to train on VR surgical simulators can develop the skills and knowledge necessary to perform high-quality surgical procedures.
With VR, surgeons can also broadcast operations, allowing medical students to be present in the operating room virtually through VR glasses. This eliminates the need for students to look over the surgeon's shoulder.
02. Preoperative planning
Preoperative simulation of a particular surgery using VR technology allows surgeons to virtually explore a patient's imaging and plan the operation with their colleagues on the day of the surgery.
This improves the accuracy and effectiveness of the surgery, by allowing the surgeon to identify potential challenges and develop a more effective plan of action.
03. Collaboration between surgeons
Virtual reality (VR) technology has the potential to significantly enhance collaboration between remote surgeons, through the use of "telesurgery" and remote surgical training in rural areas.
This allows for the sharing of knowledge and expertise among surgeons, regardless of their physical location.
VR also has the potential to improve the effectiveness of health systems in rural areas, as demonstrated by the Orlando Medical Institute in Florida, which has been providing emergency medical training for pediatric emergencies since 2021.
The potential for virtual reality in surgery is vast, and it can potentially enhance the way surgical procedures are performed, trained, and taught.
Updated: Jun 28
Patient safety during and after surgery has improved in recent decades due to several factors.
These include the widespread use of checklists, the implementation of quality improvement and team-based care models, and the introduction of measurement tools to monitor performance and outcomes.
Surgeons and patients can now benefit from emerging and innovative technologies (AR, AI, ML,...) that have the potential to improve accuracy and reproducibility, optimize minimally invasive surgeries, and shorten patient recovery and operation time.
Augmented reality (AR) is one of these technologies that hold great promise, thanks in large part to the enhanced visualization and image guidance capabilities it provides.
3 Advantages of AR in the operating room
The operating room could benefit greatly from augmented reality, as follows:
Increase the safety of surgeries.
Reduce expenses of surgeries.
Optimize training for residents.
1. Making surgery safer
By applying augmented reality, all members of the operation room have accurate pre-operative images to get the best results from well-planned procedures.
Anesthesiologists could easily monitor all aspects of a patient’s physiology and supervise all essential medications.
Similarly, surgical nurses ensure that all required equipment is ready and available. Surgeons could be completely immersed in the operating procedure without any distractions.
2. Reduce hospital expenses
Due to the use of AR in hospitals, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of money spent on many display screens that need to be connected to some devices such as ultrasound or endoscopy.
AR can provide a shared view to monitor and analyze all patient data in real time.
3. Optimize surgical training
Augmented reality can help medical centers and hospitals to have a much faster tool, cheaper and more convenient for residents to prepare for surgery by performing all procedures before entering the operating room.
Augmented reality is one of the most valuable technologies that can make surgery much safer and more promising.
Applying augmented reality in surgery and operating rooms will be an essential part of future hospitals.
Augmented reality is already used in the operating room in several specialties, especially in neurosurgery and orthopedics.
Updated: Jun 28
Virtual reality (VR) in surgery refers to the use of VR technology to enhance the surgical experience by providing a simulated environment for training, planning, and performing surgical procedures.
This technology provides high-resolution 3D visualization of the patient’s anatomy, improving accuracy and precision during procedures.
Virtual reality can also reduce stress and provide a safer environment for patients and surgeons. It has potential applications in areas such as laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic surgery, and robot-assisted surgery.
Examples of the use of virtual reality in surgery:
Fundamental VR offers haptic simulators that allow surgeons to practice and develop their skills. By using realistic vibration models, haptic technology gives doctors the feeling of holding real tools.
Combined with virtual reality, the Fundamental VR ecosystem provides surgeons with a realistic platform to perform different surgeries.
Source : FundamentalVR
EchoPixel Helps surgeons explore patient anatomy in 3D from 2D images.
Source: Echopixel
Osso VR is a virtual reality surgical simulation platform that offers realistic manual interactions. The company’s virtual reality focuses on practice with the virtual tools that orthopedists use.
ImmersiveTouch creates virtual reality solutions for surgical planning, training, and education. The company’s Immersive View Surgical Plan platform generates 3D replicas from patient exams, allowing surgeons to study and collaborate with their teams on surgical steps.
With the Oculus Rift helmet, surgeons can use several tools, such as dissection, drawing, and measuring instruments.
Proprio combines machine learning and augmented reality to create ultra-accurate 3D medical images. Imaging tools help surgeons overcome barriers and collaborate in real time with their colleagues.
The integrated artificial intelligence platform also analyzes 3D rendering and stores and shares surgical data in real time.
Source: Proprio
Surgical Theater created a virtual reality surgical rehearsal platform for preoperative neurosurgical planning and training. The company’s platform digitizes 2D images of the brain and on-site virtual reality specialists create custom 3D models.
Brain models are then used to guide the patient through the details of surgery and as a planning tool for the surgical team.
Virtual reality has recently gained more space in surgery with the concept of intelligent surgical robots.