Brazilian doctor Bruno B. Gobbato, who is an orthopedist and traumatologist specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery, performed surgery while wearing Apple Vision Pro glasses.
It may seem like a futuristic and somewhat surreal scenario, but that’s how it was. Gobbato took advantage of this device Apple mixed reality to view a 3D model of a shoulder in real timethe patient reports in the Notes app and of course, the body you were operating on.
The surgical intervention was performed at the Jaraguá Hospital, a city located in the south of Brazil. Over there, Specialist doctor Bruno B. Gobbato performed surgery to resolve an injury to the shoulder tendons using the arthroscopy technique and glasses Apple Vision Pro.
This method involves inserting a camera into the joint, allowing the required procedures to be performed without the need to open the shoulder completely.
The camera was also connected to Apple Vision Pro, giving the doctor the ability to observe the operation on a large screen with ultra-high resolution. The operation was complemented by the use of the Notes application and 3D visualization of the shoulder scanner.
Dr. Gobbato confessed that one of his biggest concerns was how the glasses’ camera was going to process the real images given that there was not enough lighting in the operating room.
However, this Apple device, it seems, lived up to the task since it allowed you to view the three points mentioned above: the 3D modeling of the shoulder, the Notes application and the real shoulder.
The same doctor has also used Microsoft HoloLens to perform operations using augmented realityin addition to having the virtual assistance of other doctors in the surgery room.
What doctor Gobbato did, as surreal as it may sound to some, is not new. The application of Apple Vision Pro glasses in a spinal operation at Cromwell Hospital in London was also recently known.
According to the Daily Mail newspaper, the technological advance was led by Suvi Verho, who works as a scrub nurse. Verho used the mixed reality glasses in order to provide assistance during the surgical procedure.
Verho’s skill in monitoring the surgery in real time, selecting the precise tools and safely preparing the procedure, resulted in a significant increase in precision and a decrease in human error.
Surgeon Syed Aftab, Verho’s collaborator in the spine operation, described the technology as being equivalent to having a highly experienced assistant, highlighting the fluidity and effectiveness in their first joint collaboration.
Aftab compared the experience to having a “superpower” in the operating room.which emphasizes the significant impact of this technology in the surgical environment.
Mixed reality in medicine offers various applications, transforming both medical education and patient care and assistance: from diagnosis, interventions, treatment and even recovery.
It allows professionals to simulate complicated surgeries, providing a safe platform to practice without risk.
In treatment and diagnosis, it facilitates precise 3D visualizations of organs, supporting critical decisions with greater information. It also improves telemedicine, connecting patients with specialists through virtual environments, making consultations more interactive.
Additionally, it can be a key tool in rehabilitation, providing controlled and personalized environments for therapeutic exercises, improving the effectiveness of treatment.
