The Medicine of the future will rely on Extended Reality

The Medicine of the future will rely on Extended Reality

Technologies such as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are transforming medical care and improving the quality of life of patients in Spain.
 
As an example, a report on Virtual Reality in Spain has revealed that this technology is transforming medical care in the country. 12% of Virtual Reality projects in Spain are developed for the healthcare sector, demonstrating the potential of this tool to improve the quality of life of patients.
 
Currently in the health sector, these technologies are being used in therapies, to treat mental health problems, and in rehabilitation processes for patients with brain or physical injuries. In addition, they are also useful in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, allowing doctors to visualize the human body in 3D, and even in the training of healthcare personnel, providing the opportunity to practice surgical procedures and techniques in a virtual environment.
 
The third of the immersive technologies, known as Mixed Reality, is also opening up new possibilities in medicine, and its most developed applications at present are remote participation in surgical operations and the visualization of 3D images in ultrasound scans.
 
In addition, the emerging Metaverse ecosystem is beginning to revolutionize the patient experience, digitizing content and offering innovative interaction with healthcare services. Undoubtedly, these technologies offer vast potential in the healthcare sector, improving medical care and opening up new perspectives for the future.
 
And in this blog we have compiled the most interesting technological innovations in the healthcare sector to give you a global perspective and the possibilities they can offer us in the future. Read on and discover them!
 

New medical techniques with Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is revolutionizing the field of medicine and healthcare by offering a variety of promising applications. Its ability to create immersive environments and interactive simulations has opened up new opportunities in medical diagnosis, treatment and training. Here's a look at the innovative Virtual Reality solutions that are transforming the way we address medical challenges and improving the quality of healthcare.

Therapy and treatment of phobias with Virtual Reality

27% of patients suffering from specific phobias and anxiety reject live exposure as too intense, while only 3% reject VR exposure.

The gradual exposure method is one of the most used therapies to overcome phobias. It consists of exposing oneself progressively to a situation that generates anxiety. Virtual Reality makes this technique more effective, since the situations are experienced in a very similar way to reality, but in controlled environments. In addition, technology can provide stimuli that would otherwise be very costly, complex or impossible to generate within the traditional psychotherapeutic environment.
 
In the case of generalized anxiety disorders, Virtual Reality technology is a great ally in teaching relaxation techniques. It allows learning to be more vivid and faster than in the traditional way. Therefore, Virtual Reality is a valuable tool in therapies that require relaxation and gradual exposure.
 
A woman wearing Virtual Reality goggles during a psychological therapy session.
 

Use of Virtual Reality in the rehabilitation process

Virtual Reality has proven to be a revolutionary tool in the rehabilitation process. These patients, during the process, suffer pain and physical limitations, but using Virtual Reality, we can teleport them to a more pleasant and welcoming place than the hospital or clinic where they are.
 
On a psychological level, clearly, it is a tremendously positive factor. But, on a physical level, it also proves to bring multiple benefits, helping patients to perform and practice repetitive and monotonous exercises in a more entertaining and motivating way. In addition, it is a tool that allows therapists to customize the experience to suit the specific needs of each patient, providing a more individualized and effective approach.
 
An elderly woman performs physiotherapy exercises with a virtual reality goggle.
 

Training of medical professionals with Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality is undoubtedly a very interesting tool to enhance learning processes and the acquisition of new skills through the virtual simulation of realistic situations in which to practice without putting the health of patients at risk.

In this context, we developed this Virtual Reality project for 4Doctors with the aim of providing new and more immersive training possibilities for healthcare professionals.
 
In this way, through VR experiences, users of the 4Doctors training platform could access immersive clinical cases in which to practice and train medical processes and operations in a safe virtual environment.
 
Medicine is constantly evolving and Virtual Reality is an innovative tool that drives 4Doctors' online training, positioning them as leaders in the sector.

Augmented and Mixed Reality applications in medicine

As with Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality technologies are generating tangible and effective tools in the world of health and medicine. Through these technologies we can improve the real world environment by introducing virtual elements that complement it by providing information. Some of the most interesting solutions that are being created with these technologies are the following
 

Augmented Reality to facilitate mobility in hospitals

An Augmented Reality app can optimize and facilitate the mobility and orientation of patients, visitors and staff in hospitals and clinics through wayfinding technology.
 
The operation of this application would allow to superimpose real-time navigation information on the hospital environment. Through visual indications on the screen, users can quickly and accurately find the location of departments, waiting rooms and other points of interest within the hospital.
 

Augmented Reality App for hospitals

 

Virtual medical instructions in Augmented Reality

By focusing the Smartphone camera on an object, Augmented Reality allows to know the information and instructions for use, without the need for a physical manual on paper. It could also be useful when creating virtual leaflets, providing data on dosage instructions, side effects and contraindications in an interactive and easy-to-understand way.

In this way, professionals can obtain instructions on the use of medical instruments and patients can access accurate and understandable information on their medications. In both cases, it is a solution that contributes to more informed decision-making and safer use.

Augmented Reality App to view medical leaflets virtually

 

Remote operations in Mixed Reality

Through the use of Mixed Reality devices, surgeons can receive real-time visual information while performing remote procedures. This technology allows the superimposition of medical images, surgical guides and vital data directly in the surgeon's field of vision, improving accuracy and decision making.
 
In addition, Mixed Reality facilitates real-time communication with other healthcare professionals, enabling collaboration and knowledge sharing during surgery. These innovative applications of Mixed Reality are paving the way for more precise and safer surgery, even in remote environments, and opening up new possibilities in healthcare globally.

Health professionals using Hololens 2 mixed reality glasses during medical surgery

New Immersive Medical Tests Using Mixed Reality

Combining virtual elements with the real environment, Mixed Reality allows healthcare professionals to interact with medical images and data in a three-dimensional way.
 
This provides a more detailed and accurate perspective, enabling a deeper understanding of anatomy and possible pathologies. In addition, Mixed Reality enables interactive manipulation and exploration of images, facilitating treatment planning and decision making.
 
Use of the Metaverse in medicine and healing
 

Benefits of using Extended Reality in Healthcare

Extended Reality technologies offer multiple advantages in the medical sector and here is a list of the most obvious and interesting benefits of its use:
 
  1. Improved medical training and education, allowing practice and virtual simulations of clinical cases.

  2. Guided surgeries, improving the precision and safety of surgical procedures.

  3. Reduced risks and costs by allowing practice and training prior to real medical procedures..

  4. Improved communication and collaboration between professionals, allowing remote consultation and participation.

  5. Support in rehabilitation and physical therapy, through the use of immersive experiences to improve patient motivation.

  6. Promoting health and disease prevention by offering interactive and educational experiences on healthy habits.

  7. Increased accessibility to medical care by enabling telemedicine and virtual consultation.

  8. Boosting medical research by providing virtual environments for experimentation with new techniques and treatmen

These advantages demonstrate the transformative impact of extended reality technologies in the medical sector, improving care, training and experience for both healthcare professionals and patients.

 
Several employees in the medical sector using Virtual Reality goggles.

As you have been able to see, virtual medicine is making its way as a new way to offer an improvement to the health of your patients.
 

For this reason, if you want to take advantage of the benefits of this new technological wave, introducing in your company technologies such as Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality, but you do not know where to start, we recommend you to rely on professionals.
 
At DeuSens we would love to know your idea and help you make it a reality, accompanying you in all phases of the project; from conception and conceptualization to the final launch.
 

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