techniques and tools, and prepare for procedures on specific
patients. The surgeon is transported to a virtual, 3D world where
they can better understand and interact with MRIs or CT scans of a
patient and prepare for unique circumstances. Essentially, VR can
enable the surgeon to practice the procedure and better navigate spe-
cific anatomy before they enter the OR. In addition, instrument and
equipment vendors are increasingly providing VR training to sur-
geons to promote safer use and a better understanding of their prod-
ucts.
AR is enhancing surgical planning and enabling safer, more efficient
execution in the OR through guides and overlays. Voluminous studies
have been produced on AR-powered surgical applications. For exam-
ple, one study used AR-generated, holographic 3D images to improve
surgical approach planning in the treatment of severe intra-articular
fractures of distal tibia in order to execute more precise and accurate
placement of incisions and less subsequent tissue damage
(osmag.net/DYw4Ar). Another successfully created prototypes of var-
ious AR-driven tools for safer robotic-assisted surgery, including virtu-
al markers that can be attached to intraoperative images, computa-
tional tools for measuring distances, rehearsals of procedures, visual
alarms that could alert staff to out-of-view instruments and viewing
patient data in the OR (osmag.net/
QhBk6R). The surgeon interacts with the AR system through voice
commands and by using the robotic instruments as cursors.
Because all this technology is digital, it can be shared for collabora-
tive purposes. For example, imagine a doctor using a VR headset to
perform a new surgical technique while hearing the voice of another
surgeon halfway around the globe who is guiding and educating them.
As IP networks become ever more robust and 5G data services that
offer exponential bandwidth boosts, it's not difficult to imagine sur-
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