Introduction to Virtual Reality in Brain Surgery
Having undergone two aneurysm surgeries, Sandi Rodoni thought she understood all the pieces in regards to the procedure. But when it got here time for her third surgery, the Watsonville, California, resident was treated to a virtual reality trip inside her own brain. This modern approach is an element of a brand new software system utilized by Stanford Medicine, which mixes imaging from MRIs, CT scans, and angiograms to create a three-dimensional model that physicians and patients can see and manipulate.
How the Technology Works
The system, created by the Colorado startup Surgical Theater, helps train residents, assist surgeons in planning upcoming operations, and educate patients. It also helps surgeons within the operating room, guiding them in a three-dimensional space. After donning a headset connected to the VR system, patients like Rodoni can clearly see the problem, corresponding to a ballooning blood vessel, in addition to the spot where their neurosurgeon will place a clip to repair it.
Training Residents with Virtual Reality
For the residents, class is held in a room within the hospital basement. Under low lighting, and surrounded by three massive screens, the residents settle into reclining chairs complete with drink holders – all promising a snug ride contained in the human skull. Once the residents don headsets, an instructor – who shows up as an avatar in a white coat – can lead them contained in the brain of a patient. The system allows instructors to focus on different components of the brain, corresponding to arteries to point out an aneurysm, bones to point out skull deformities or tissue to point out a tumor, while rotating the view as an instance how a tumor or aneurysm looks from different angles.
A Window into the Brain
Surgeons make their way right down to the Neurosurgical Simulation Lab to practice an upcoming operation. Because they’re practicing on images from the actual patient, somewhat than a generic brain, they’ll map out the surgery ahead of time. "It’s a window into the brain – and a window into the brain of the actual patient we will operate on," said Anand Veeravagu, MD, an assistant professor of neurosurgery and the top of the Stanford Neurosurgical Simulation Lab. The three-dimensional aspect of the imagery eases surgeons’ planning and improves the accuracy of the surgery, with the aim of manufacturing safer procedures.
Patient Education and Reassurance
To show patients what is going on on inside their skulls, Malie Collins, MS, senior program lead for the VR program, rolls a mobile unit, complete with headset, into an examination or hospital room. Being capable of see the issue in three dimensions reassures them, she said, adding that it’s especially useful for young patients or those that don’t understand English well. She also can download the imagery onto a thumb drive and provides it to the patient as a souvenir. "Traditionally, doctors can show their patient a normal physical model of the brain or of the spine and say, ‘On this model, imagine your tumor is positioned here,’" she said. "But with VR, we’re capable of immerse patients in their very own anatomy, so that they can very clearly get a way of what is going on on."
Advanced Surgical Precision
Surgeons typically use video feeds while they’re operating, but the brand new VR technology adds a three-dimensional view which they’ll superimpose on the real-time video. "It has much, way more detail," said Gary Steinberg, MD, PhD, professor and chair of neurosurgery. For Rodoni’s surgery, "I had the 3-D rendering of her anatomy and will match that up with the surgical microscopic view, something I can not do with another technology." This level of detail and precision can significantly improve surgical outcomes and patient safety.
The Future of Virtual Reality in Medicine
Stanford Medicine doctors are using the VR technology for the brain and spinal cord because these organs are stable and lend themselves to imagery – unlike other body parts, which move with blood flow and respiratory. However, Collins said the technology may soon be available for the remainder of the body. As the technology continues to evolve, it’s likely that we’ll see much more modern applications of virtual reality in medicine.
Conclusion
The use of virtual reality in brain surgery is revolutionizing the way in which surgeons plan and perform operations. By providing a three-dimensional view of the brain and its structures, VR technology is improving surgical accuracy and patient safety. For patients like Sandi Rodoni, the power to see inside their very own brain and understand their condition generally is a powerful tool for reassurance and education. As this technology continues to advance, it’s likely that we’ll see much more exciting developments in the sector of virtual reality and medicine. With its potential to enhance patient outcomes and enhance the surgical experience, virtual reality is an innovation that is sure to have a long-lasting impact on the medical field.
