X-rays and CT scans have been helpful in imaging and give us insight into what’s inside our bodies. However, technology has made it possible to see the inside of our bodies a bit clearer, all thanks to augmented reality (AR). In practice, several doctors use it for preparation for surgery. However, the application of AR for diagnosing and taking a good look at what’s inside our bodies has yet to be explored. What can an augmented reality medical appointment look like for us, then?
Your Body Uncovered
Your Body Uncovered is a BBC2 TV Show hosted by Kate Garraway. She and the guests explore what’s inside the human body. In this show, medical practitioners, particularly radiologists, work alongside artists to create a digital render of the patient’s body. With Microsoft Hololens, the patient can see what’s inside their body, and a doctor explains what makes it different.
The show tackles Hilda’s case. She has uterine fibroids, which have become painful for her. Hilda was taken aback and got emotional by the image she saw regarding her uterus. The doctor (Dr. Stephen Quinn) in the show suggests that there are around 90 fibroids inside Hilda’s uterus. Normally, any woman who has fibroids would have five to ten. Plus, Dr. Quinn found the likely cause of the pain Hilda experiences every day .
After that, Hilda underwent surgery to remove the fibroids. During surgery, they found 100 fibroids, and the doctors are hopeful that she will no longer experience the pain she has felt.
How AR Works in the Show
Patients undergo an in-depth scan of their bodies. Radiologists help identify tissues and organs. From there, artists draw around or use artificial intelligence.
Augmented Reality Medical Appointment: Current Applications
It’s no surprise that technology will become a huge part of any medical practice. If anything, it’s already started for some physicians. But when will AR make its mark in most medical practices?
Dr. Quinn predicts that AR will be part of any medical practice, in around five to ten years. On the other hand, radiologist Dr. Dimitri Amiras suggests that while AR is promising, imaging can be time-consuming.
As already mentioned, AR has been used in surgery, and there are different companies dealing with AR, such as BioFlight VR, EchoPixel, and Medical Realities.
In diagnosing, one big name in AR in the medical field is Accuvein. This helps medical practitioners find veins by scanning the patient’s arm or area where they will inject. Other startups in this field include TouchSurgery and ImmersiveTouch.
But will everyone accept AR to help them view images of their bodies? Dr. Amiras has had the experience where 90 percent of his patients are fascinated and interested in seeing their bodies in AR. Ten percent aren’t keen on seeing it. Having the AR option opens new avenues to learn more about the human body.
Other Practical Uses in Medicine, Healthcare, and Education
Curiscope
One such example of using AR to teach non-medical practitioners is Curiscope. It’s aimed at kids, but anyone with a smartphone can use Curiscope to examine the human body in AR. They need to buy a Virtuali-Tee and download an app to help them see different systems of the body.
Random42
AR has also made its way in pharma. It can be used in sales and manufacturing, just like Random42’s AR software. Sales reps can show healthcare professionals data and outcomes through AR. Meanwhile, on the manufacturing side, it helps engineers ensure they produce machines that will help healthcare professionals and patients.
Dorothy
Dorothy is an app for those who have memory issues. It reminds users to take their medicine or do other activities, guides users using AR, and shows you the location of your loved one with a memory issue.
