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Healthcare and medical care have
long been at the forefront of innovation. Advancements in technologies over
time has aided to shape and improve healthcare. [1] Augmented Reality
(AR) technology was initially used in the medical field in the early 1990s for
preoperative planning of surgery and assessing complex data emerging
intraoperatively. [2] At present, AR is one of the most promising
digital health technologies with an unprecedented amount of growth. [3]
One of the most significant advantages of AR is that it integrates digital information with the user’s environment in real time. [4] It examines and shows information within a person’s field of view, thus enabling information to be used in real time. In this, you can visualize a physical reality that has been augmented or supplemented by computer-generated sensory inputs like graphics, Global Positioning System (GPS) data, sound, or video. [5]
This technology is a blend of both physical and digital worlds and is turning out to be more accessible, affordable, and user-friendly. [2] For improving the experience of users, AR adds sound, graphics, video, text, effects, and touch feedback. [1] It possess a remarkable potential to offer powerful, contextual and situated learning experiences. It also aids in constructing novel understanding on the basis of user’s interactions with virtual objects. [5]
With several AR technologies, a person can perform an extensive array of tasks. This includes video-conferencing, mapping virtual images to real objects, and demonstrating and manipulating information within one’s field of view. [5] AR, a rapidly emerging technology, has exhibited tremendous applications in multiple different healthcare sectors. [6] The benefits that AR can bring to the field of healthcare are indeed revolutionary. [7] This article provides an overview of the potential of various AR technologies to revolutionize the healthcare and pharma industries.
Key Difference Between Augmented and Virtual Reality
AR and virtual reality are closely associated but fundamentally distinct emerging technologies. [5] Virtual reality is completely immersive and builds a 3D world that fully detaches the user from reality (blocks out the external world). However, in AR, the users do not lose touch with reality. Rather, it helps in the maintenance of user’s connections with the real world. [3,5] Compared to virtual reality, AR is less cumbersome. [8]
Applications in healthcare
There is a huge demand for solutions that can improve the current clinical practice in rehabilitation, surgery, education, training, and healthcare. [9] With the rapid technological advancements, AR has been included in a variety of medical care specialties. [2] The application of AR technology is opening up novel opportunities in the healthcare industry. [7]
AR has immense potential for revolutionizing medical education and training. This modality aids to develop hyper-realistic simulations that offer a safe environment for learners to learn various skills and procedures. [5] It also aids to build interactive experiences that illustrate how medical devices and novel drugs interact with the body. [8] AR can also boost the training of medical professionals by allowing them to view the specific anatomy of a patient in an open 3D space. [10]
With the aid of AR technology, professors can educate medical students about basic anatomic and physiological concepts. Even clinicians can use it for learning about novel drugs and therapies. There is an app known as ARnatomy that utilizes optical character recognition for accessing textbook images and for overlaying digital information on human body structures. It's goal is to replace bulky books and aid students to learn the names of muscles and bones. [4]
AR has also transformed the way junior surgeons are given training in operating rooms. An app called ‘Touch Surgery’ provides users to perform surgery at any time and place. In this, an interactive mobile surgical simulator assists you step-by-step through every part of a surgical procedure. [4]
AR-enabled tablet-based simulations of different scenarios of patients helps nurses to know the exact problem and connect more with the patients. It also aids in handling daily work situations that require a combination of technical, social, and teamwork skills. [4]
In emergency medicine, AR possesses a wide array of applications. It has usefulness and feasibility in medical care delivery in patient care settings, inpatient settings, operating rooms, and in the training and education of emergency care providers. Furthermore, the usage of AR for care delivery over distances is feasible, thus illustrating an essential role in telehealth.
In the health care context, AR can offer valuable user-environmental interfaces. For example, on an AR platform, the display of live vital sign information in conjunction with lab data and imaging restricts the distraction of the doctor from their patient. Additionally, in the similar way that AR has been utilized in surgical settings with respect to planning and execution of procedures, AR can be utilized during live procedures in the emergency department.
For instance, the addition of ultrasound imaging to a visual interface restricts providers from looking away from their patient and their devices and needle. Delivery of expert guidance during procedures and telemedicine is also possible via AR. [5]
In the field of surgery, AR is a key tool to improve the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures. [11] It offers surgeons a unique choice to plan various surgeries and attain desirable results. For example, smartphone-assisted AR adaptation is a very convenient tool for planning different craniofacial reconstructive interventions. In terms of both financial cost and time, this approach is very economical. [2]
By superimposing stereoscopic projections during surgery, AR improves computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data visualization. This information is crucial in operations needing precise navigation to a specific organ. For example, AR can be utilized for planning the surgery related to tumor or surrounding procedure such as minimally invasive radical prostatectomy or partial nephrectomy where the challenging anatomy of the vascular or nervous system might complicate the elimination of tumor. [4]
A video support solution known as VIPAR (Virtual Interactive Presence in Augmented Reality) helps the remote surgeon in delivering real-time virtual guidance to the local surgeon via a standard internet connection. [12]
In the field of dentistry, the major area of use is maxillofacial and oral surgery, where dental implants placement and orthognathic surgery are the most common applications. AR technology has also considerably expanded to other areas of dentistry like endodontics, restorative dentistry, and orthodontics. [13] For example, The AR software built to fit into smart glasses helps a dentist build precise crowns or caps by superimposing real-time data directly from a dental scanner. [4]
Using AR, patients can more accurately describe their symptoms to physicians. This empowers them to play a more proactive role in their care. [12] With the help of AR, doctors can more precisely diagnose the symptoms of patients. [7] Using AR, a person can visualize a virtual real-time image of the vasculature on the skin surface. For example, AccuVein AV400 makes it feasible to digitally present a real-time map of the underlying vasculature on the skin surface. This enables physicians to view vein patency and also minimize discomfort during venipuncture procedures. [4,14]
Also, AR can help visually impaired people and legally blind people or patients having severe visual impairments to locate their lost items, identify people and easily navigate their environment. For example: VA-ST’s Smart Specs improves the visual appearance of daily objects and enhances the vision of people using 3D recognition software. [4]
Future Directions
AR is substantially revolutionizing the delivery of healthcare and medical care from routine checkups to point-of-care diagnostics to surgeries. This technology connects the physical world to the digital world, making it simpler for people to learn information, take decisions and execute tasks effectively and promptly. [14] As an emerging technology, AR has remarkable potential in bringing novel therapies to life, enhancing the quality of care, improving access, and minimizing errors, particularly when contextualized to acute care. [5]
All over the world, there has been an enormous interest in this technology. It has been anticipated that by 2025 consumers will be able to comprehensively examine their health and wellbeing in real time with the aid of AR-based apps. It would give them a snapshot of how time and unhealthy lifestyle choices would impact their bodies. [4] The future AR devices will possibly be able to connect and interface with emergency medical record systems, vital monitors, and ultrasound machines. This would need software standards to be developed. AR hardware and software are now being actively created by many companies and is set to become significantly highly ubiquitous in the near future. [5]
AR has an amazing potential for altering the paradigm of medical care for acutely ill and injured patients. Mental health and depression are often overlooked. Integration of AR with artificial intelligence might boost the ability for detecting and identifying voice tones, physical behaviors, and facial expressions. This can assist doctors and families recognize any signs of depression, anxiety or mental illness in real time. [15]
However, further research is warranted to focus on the efficacy of AR in tackling the more specific problems witnessed in medical settings. Future investigations must determine the impact of AR on patient safety and clinical outcomes in real time. Also, the role of AR in enhancing the quality of health care delivered to patients with the standard approaches must be explored. [5]
References
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