Introduction
Many companies have begun to take advantage of Augmented Reality technology and its possible healthcare applications. By developing cutting-edge AR systems, leading tech firms like Siemens, Microsoft, and Karl Storz have helped to streamline many complex medical procedures that would otherwise be challenging and unpredictable. Let’s look at some important real-world applications of AR in enhancing patient medical experience.
Augmented Diagnosis
When nearly everything was digitized, Augmented Reality was the most difficult to bring online in healthcare. For instance, in the past, medical diagnostics and medical exams could only be performed with human involvement. However, this has changed with highly effective and convenient AR solutions that enable patient assessment, diagnosis, and therapies.
Augmented Practice
Anatomy 4D is an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) application designed to facilitate students’ visualization and practical application of theoretical concepts within their training. By seamlessly integrating AR into educational curricula, medical institutions can provide students with immersive and interactive learning experiences. The app showcases realistic representations of the human body on actual individuals, bringing textbook illustrations to life through the utilization of advanced technology. Furthermore, Anatomy 4D offers comprehensive assessment features, generating customized questions to assess students’ comprehension and mastery of the subject matter. Through its multifaceted functionalities, this app serves as a valuable tool for enhancing students’ educational journeys in the field of anatomy.
Augmented Surgery
AR technology enables surgeons to virtually overlay digital information, such as CT scans or X-rays, onto the patient’s body in real-time, providing surgeons with a complete picture of the patient’s anatomy and helping them make more accurate incisions.
Augmented Communication
Augmented Reality (AR) technology is used to improve the way doctors and patients communicate with each other. Medicine is a complex field that can be difficult to navigate, especially for patients who are just trying to get their treatment records from their doctor.
Augmented Health Lifestyle
Augmented Reality applications for healthcare can have a lasting impact on people’s lives and enable them to lead healthy lives without the need for outside help. There are augmented reality apps for memory issues, which remind people of their daily activities and needs. AR can also motivate people; everything looks more fun when it becomes a game.
How Augmented Reality helps patients?
Augmented Reality is used to enhance patient care and treatment results in a variety of ways. Here are some of the most popular AR applications in hospitals:
Surgical Planning and Guidance: AR overlays patient-specific information such as CT scans or X-rays onto the patient’s body in real-time, allowing surgeons to plan the surgery with more precision and greater accuracy, thereby minimizing the risk of complications.
Enhancing Patient Education: Augmented Reality (AR) empowers medical students and residents with interactive and immersive tools to deepen their understanding of the human body. This innovative approach allows for the visualization and comprehension of complex anatomical concepts that are often challenging to grasp through traditional teaching methods. AR enables physicians to present patients with interactive 3D models of their own anatomy, facilitating clearer and more comprehensive explanations of medical conditions and procedures.
Optimizing Physical Rehabilitation: AR technology plays a pivotal role in physical rehabilitation by providing patients with invaluable visual cues and real-time feedback. Through AR-enhanced exercises, patients can perform their rehabilitation routines with greater precision and effectiveness, accelerating their recovery process. By overlaying digital elements onto the real-world environment, AR enables patients to improve their motor skills, track progress, and engage in a more immersive rehabilitation experience, ultimately leading to enhanced outcomes.
Conclusion
AR in healthcare is being used to enhance patient care and overall treatment outcomes, as well as to provide new methods of diagnosis, treatment, and education for medical professionals.