Introduction to Augmented Reality in Healthcare
Most people may associate augmented reality (AR) with smartphone apps and video games, even perhaps Pokemon Go. However, augmented reality is gaining traction in various industries, including manufacturing and healthcare. The healthcare industry, particularly, could also be poised to adopt AR into workflows as a less expensive alternative to AI for some use-cases. AI often involves a lengthy and time-intensive integration, a whole overhaul of workflows, and an upgrade of worker skills.
Augmented Reality vs. Artificial Intelligence
This is just not the case with AR; augmented reality solutions are way more like traditional software solutions: plug and play. That said, there are AR applications that involve artificial intelligence, although these are less common in industry. One such potential AI-enhanced AR use-case is Google Glass. Google Glass could have missed the mark with consumers, however the healthcare industry has expressed interest in making it work for physicians.
Google Glass in Healthcare
Although it’s a nascent use-case, healthcare networks wish to equip their doctors with Google Glass software that will allow them to see patient notes without taking their eyes off their patient. This could allow physicians to be more present with patients during visits. In the long run, AI startups may develop natural language processing-based (NLP) software and/or facial recognition technology that mechanically pulls up a patient’s record with a voice command and transcribes notes in regards to the visit into an electronic health record system.
AR Solutions in Healthcare
There are just a few vendors selling AR solutions to healthcare networks. Two notable examples are AccuVein and EchoPixel. AccuVein offers a vein visualization device that claims to assist medical professionals at healthcare organizations more easily find patients’ veins for blood draws. EchoPixel, however, offers the True 3D medical visualization software, which will help healthcare professionals visualize and interact with 3D images that depict human tissue and organs in open space as in the event that they were real objects.
AccuVein
AccuVein claims that its handheld augmented reality device uses a near-infrared (NIR) 3D imaging system to detect veins. The device is concentrated on a patient’s goal area, and the primary IR detects hemoglobin within the veins through the patient’s skin. A photodetector receives light reflected from the patient’s goal area, comparable to the arm or back of the hand, as a contrasted image. Image processing algorithms then layer the photographs of veins in accordance with their depth to create one image. Another laser emits a second wavelength of sunshine and combines with the scanner to project a composite image of the veins onto the goal area.
Case Study: AccuVein
AccuVein claims to have helped 4 haemophilia treatment centers in France reduce the cases of inauspicious venous access (DVA) amongst patients. The study involved 450 participants, and using the device, veins were difficult to locate in fewer DVA patients when the vein visualizer was used (76.0%) than when not used (92.3%). The case study also reported only 34% of the DVA patients reported being in pain in the course of the puncturing when using the device, compared with 55.4% when not using the device.
EchoPixel
EchoPixel offers the True 3D medical visualization software, which will help healthcare professionals visualize and interact with 3D images that depict human tissue and organs in open space as in the event that they were real objects. The software uses machine learning to record the way in which doctors interact with the generated 3D image, allowing other doctors to subsequently interact with the image in the identical way previous doctors had.
Case Study: EchoPixel
EchoPixel claims to have helped doctors on the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford precisely map the native vessels supplying the lungs of patients afflicted with pulmonary atresia (PA) with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCA) prior to surgery. The researchers found that, compared with traditional 2D tomography techniques, the photographs captured by the True 3D Viewer improved the surgeon’s ability to see and interpret anatomical details rose to 90% from 81% previously.
Conclusion
Augmented reality is gaining traction within the healthcare industry, and firms like AccuVein and EchoPixel are leading the way in which. These AR solutions have the potential to enhance patient outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance the general healthcare experience. As the technology continues to evolve, we are able to expect to see much more modern applications of AR in healthcare. With its ability to offer immersive and interactive experiences, AR is poised to revolutionize the way in which healthcare professionals diagnose, treat, and interact with patients.
