Augmented reality & virtual reality

Extended reality applications like virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality transform the practice of medicine. We report on their widespread use – from the use in the operating room to clinical medicine, drug development, medical training and education, to treatment in pain management, psychology and psychiatry.

What happens when your brain can't tell which way is up or down?

Using virtual reality, researchers found that people differ in how much they are influenced by their visual environment.

VR applied to rehabilitation for stroke patients

VR-based rehabilitation programs are becoming an important complement to conventional motor therapy for stroke patients and individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.

AR makes chemistry and biology accessible everywhere

A new website allows teachers and students to explore concepts from chemistry and biology by manipulating virtual molecules in augmented reality.

Creating an accessible surgery simulator

Researchers are developing a simulator that could be used to train both surgeons who are in the early stages of their career and those who are more experienced.

VR helps measure vulnerability to stress

Behavioral scientists have developed a virtual reality test that assesses a person’s vulnerability to stress while exploring immersive environments.

Using VR to better understand auditory perception

In the new priority program AUDICTIVE, experts want to use virtual reality (VR) to better understand complex auditory processes.

Interactive VR tool for drug design against COVID-19

Scientists have demonstrated a VR technique which should help in developing drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 virus – and enable researchers to share models and collaborate in new ways.

VR: Concurrent sharing of avatar by two individuals

Researchers have developed a method for two individuals to share an avatar in Virtual Reality.

3D hand pose estimation using a wrist-worn camera

Researchers have developed a wrist-worn device for 3D hand pose estimation. The system consists of a camera that captures images of the back of the hand, and is supported by a neural network.

Exposure therapy in VR to prevent disorders

VR can have significant impact on the validity of remote health appointments for those with eating disorders, through called Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET).

VR allows scientists to 'walk' inside cells

Virtual reality software which allows researchers to 'walk' inside and analyse individual cells could be used to develop new treatments for disease.

Virtual rehab for stroke patients

Researchers have been putting virtual reality rehabilitation for stroke survivors to the test and created a gaming platform to improve their lives.

VR trains public to reverse opioid overdoses

Researchers developed a virtual reality immersive video aimed at training and motivating people to save lives from opioid overdoses.

VR training improves physical and cognitive functions

Researchers have developed an innovative training protocol that, utilizing immersive virtual reality (IVR), leads to real physical and cognitive benefits.

Augmented Reality in the OR: matching man and machine

One of the crucial future technologies in surgery is Augmented Reality. Most experts agree that AR will increase safety and efficiency, improve surgical training and decrease costs.

AR telemedicine effective for battlefield

A study shows medics successfully performing surgery in life-like simulations of these war zones by receiving guidance from surgeons through an AR headset.

Wearable haptics make virtual objects feel real

Researchers have created soft actuators that can simulate the feeling of touching a virtual object with your fingers.

Using holograms during cardiac procedure

Physicians have shown that using a holographic display improves physician accuracy when performing a procedure to treat irregular heartbeat.

Multimodal mixed reality visualisation for surgical guidance

Researchers have developed a MR visualisation platform which projects multiple imaging modalities to assist intraoperative surgical guidance.

Closer threats inspire a more primitive kind of fear

Using VR to make threats appear near or far is what makes it harder to extinguish the fear of a close-up threat and more likely that you’ll have some long-term stress from the experience.

Virtual reality takes the 'work' out of workouts

If you want to exercise harder, enjoy it more and feel it less, pull on a VR headset and plug in some upbeat tunes.

First AR minimally-invasive spine surgery

Dr. Frank Phillips, Professor and Director of the Division of Spine Surgery and the Section of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at Rush University Medical Center, completed the first augmented reality (AR) minimally invasive spine surgery.

Ocutrx unveiled 8K AR surgery system

Ocutrx Vision Technologies has released a new system that provides the most modern options for surgery visualization designed to make it easier for surgeons to perform procedures.

VR study: our visual world of color is incorrect

A study finds that people are aware of surprisingly limited color in their peripheral vision; much of our sense of a colorful visual world is likely constructed by our brain.

Virtual reality simulation improves cardiovascular interventions

Engineers are developing a massive fluid dynamics simulator that can model blood flow through the full human arterial system at subcellular resolution.

VR & 3D printing used to prepare for lung-operation

An anaesthesia team used 3D printing and virtual reality to produce an exact model of the airway of a 7-year-old girl in order to prepare properly for an operation to remove part of her lung.

Augmented reality brings ultrasound into a new dimension

Augmented reality ultrasound has, for the first time, made it possible to superimpose topographical representations of ultrasound images directly on a patient, with the examiner seeing the sectional image in AR glasses.

VR and lightweight robot simulate hip replacement

Researchers have developed a HIPS, the worldwide first Virtual Reality training simulator for hip replacement surgery.

Re-association of body parts using VR

Researchers report that a re-association of the right thumb with a virtual left arm can be induced by visuo-motor synchronization in a virtual environment.

Modern VR and AR device can help simulate sight loss

Virtual/augmented reality devices can simulate some of the key difficulties experienced due to glaucoma, suggests new study from City, University of London.

VR for early detection of MS balance problems

The UNC School of Medicine lab of Jason Franz, PhD, created virtual reality experiments to show how a potentially portable and inexpensive test could reduce falls and related injuries in people with multiple sclerosis.

Bringing physiotherapy home with VR

Virtual reality could help physiotherapy patients complete their exercises at home successfully thanks to researchers who managed to combine VR technology with 3D motion capture.

Virtual games help people stand and walk in rehab

Virtual reality video games, activity monitors, and handheld computer devices can help people stand as well as walk, the largest trial worldwide into the effects of digital devices in rehabilitation has found.

VR supports the treatment of children with brain injury

Research confirms the efficiency of using computer-based programmes and virtual reality for improving children's attention and social skills.

VR reasearch reveals promising intervention in cancer treatment

The use of virtual reality can reduce anxiety and improve mood in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Is virtual reality not suited to visual memory?

Researchers have found that virtual reality may interfere with visual memory.

Augmedics launches AR guidance system for surgery

Groundbreaking AR system allows surgeons to visualize anatomy in real time – as if they have “x-ray vision” – and accurately guide their instruments and implants.

Human ‘check engine’ lights not far away

A scientist thinks the future of health care looks like the blinking check engine light on the dashboard of your car.

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