10.12.2024
A VR training environment with haptic feedback is intended to realistically depict surgical situations and allow risk-free training of surgical procedures. Prof. Björn Krüger describes the goals of the VIRTOSHA research project.28.11.2024
Hokkaido University researchers in Japan have developed the Simmar+ESTE-SIM, an advanced XR simulator that provides nursing students with realistic, hands-on training in pediatric procedures such as mechanical ventilation and tracheal suctioning.07.11.2024
EPFL researchers have developed a neurotechnology that uses virtual reality, non-invasive brain stimulation, and fMRI imaging to improve spatial memory without surgery or medication. This method targets the hippocampus to enhance navigation and recall, offering potential for future dementia therapies.13.09.2024
A research team from Bonn University Hospital, Cologne University of Applied Sciences and other partners is working on the VIRTOSHA project, which is developing a virtual reality training environment for surgical procedures.23.01.2024
In the operating room, every move has to be precise. This applies not only to the surgical staff but also to the surgical assistants. Whether it's sterile products or consumables, the proper handling of them is essential for a smooth workflow.13.11.2023
Every year, the MEDICA START-UP PARK attracts a lot of visitors. Young, up-and-coming companies present their products here – often for the first time ever. This stand has already been the starting point for the success stories of some companies that are now internationally active. At MEDICA 2023, we are once again taking the opportunity to talk to promising start-ups.06.11.2023
When surgically inserting an artificial hip, the preparation of medical staff jumps from theory to practice directly on the patient. The training system OrthoMiniGames now offers a simulation as an intermediate step. The use of virtual reality optics combined with tactile devices provides the opportunity to conduct the procedure within a haptic experience before approaching the patient.19.07.2023
Can elderly people really learn how to use new technologies and adapt themselves in learning new tools? The answer, according to researcher Dr. Amir Jahanian Najafabadi and colleagues at Constructor University in Bremen, is yes.18.05.2023
The Dynamic Digital Resilience for Medical and Allied Professions (DDS-MAP) in Health Services project aims to strengthen health systems and support the digital transformation of healthcare by understanding the digital learning needs of healthcare professionals and developing innovative learning programmes.15.05.2023
The Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI) is coordinating the newly launched project "Technology-supported Motor Rehabilitation for People with Rett Syndrome" (TeMoRett).17.04.2023
The innovation created by a team of Lithuanian scientists is a VR-based rehabilitation system, a VR technology without the VR world and glasses.17.04.2023
Research is revealing that some patients living far away from specialist health service provision choose not to use these services because of the long distances they have to travel.21.02.2023
Older people have a much higher risk of falls and serious injury arising from a fall. Researchers involved in the “Augmented Balance" project aim to develop augmented reality (AR) glasses to help improve balance and prevent falls.08.08.2022
Immerse yourself into strange worlds, solve tasks, experience adventures – computer games look especially realistic in Virtual Reality. Medicine is also making good use of virtual worlds: With CUREO, the CUREosity GmbH from Düsseldorf has developed a VR system for physiotherapy and Ergotherapy.01.06.2022
Gamification has long since made its way into modern physical therapy. Games make it easy for people of all ages to enjoy their exercises. And that in turn contributes to the success of therapy – whether after a sports injury or in exercise therapy for children. Find out more in our Topic of the Month.01.06.2022
Some patients need physiotherapy after suffering an injury, but the process can be tough and tedious. Depending on the indication, this may necessitate multiple treatment sessions that can span several weeks. Added to this are therapy exercises patients should do at home. The amount of training and repetitions can make it difficult to stay engaged. Gamification in therapy can boost motivation.22.03.2022
The cause of chronic back pain can be hard to find. Pain sufferers are typically advised to embark on regular exercise, combined with physical therapy and pain management training to overcome potential psychological and emotional factors. Virtual reality applications could become an innovative treatment tool in this setting – targeting pain perception right in the brain.06.07.2021
The most important resource in surgical education is the hands-on experience young surgeons are able to get in the OR. But the possibilities to perform surgery on real patients are very limited, and these situations cause insecurity and stress in beginners.01.04.2021
The job of surgeons starts long before they step into the operating room. They must use two-dimensional MRI or CT scans to plan the surgical steps on a three-dimensional patient, relying on their experience, skill, and spatial sense. Using mixed reality (MR) to view human anatomical models allows for better visualization and navigation.01.04.2021
Surgeons do not only have to gather theoretical knowledge and practice to perform successful interventions. They also need a good visual thinking and have to know the anatomical characteristics of each individual patient. Some of these tasks will become easier when Virtual and Mixed Reality bring three-dimensional, digital models into their profession.01.04.2021
Surgeons have only limited options to practice surgical techniques before they enter the operating room. The implantation of an endoprosthesis requires extensive practical training since it necessitates strength and utmost precision. The "Dynamic HIPS" project develops a virtual reality hip implant simulator that provides realistic haptic feedback.01.04.2021
For surgeons, nothing is more important than intimate knowledge and a spatial understanding of their operating field. Yet even three-dimensional imaging methods only provide limited assistance because the data is viewed on two-dimensional screens. When it comes to surgical planning or medical education, Mixed and Virtual Reality foster a better spatial understanding of the human body.01.09.2020
There is likely no other branch of medicine where you can find as many high-tech devices as in modern laboratories. A major part of diagnostic and biomedical research is done here. A lot of individual steps in work processes need to be followed precisely to ensure the results’ quality. Also, a lot of data is generated here.01.09.2020
Accuracy is paramount in laboratory settings and ensures that lab results are valid. Errors in a lab can render series of tests unusable and waste precious time and money. In the medical realm, this might even result in clinical trial errors. Augmented reality (AR) can help laboratory technicians to prevent errors and guide their work in the future.10.08.2020
This is how a conventional ultrasound scan works: patients lie down on a table next to the ultrasound machine. A doctor uses a probe to scan the part of the body in question, while he or she looks at the pictures on a monitor. In other words, the physician either focuses on his/her hand on the patient or the monitor. The Fraunhofer IGD wants to change this process as part of the "sonAR" project.03.08.2020
Delirium occurs in 30 to 80 percent of patients in intensive care units. This cerebral impairment not only causes mental confusion and emotional disruption but also drastically increases the mortality risk of patients. A controlled circadian rhythm and sleep/wake cycle is the prerequisite for delirium prevention. This is where the new VitalMinds concept from Philips comes in.08.06.2020
Professional athletes depend on a speedy recovery from sports injuries or surgery because their livelihood depends on their physical fitness. Returning to competition too soon after injury can have negative health consequences. Standard tests are now combined with virtual reality to determine the optimal time to return to play.04.05.2020
In the operating room, minimally invasive procedures are increasingly used. Robot-assisted systems are a great help for the surgeon. They support the surgeon and are extremely precise. Through innovative research approaches, robotic systems are constantly evolving.04.05.2020
Surgical robots are transforming the operating room. They deliver many benefits but also present new challenges. That is why the efficient handling of robotic mechanisms must also be reflected in the respective training courses.04.05.2020
More compact, more flexibility, and more precision - these are the main characteristics developers strive for as they advance robotic-assisted surgical systems for the operating room. Several technology providers have already shown how it’s done, including the makers of the popular daVinci Surgical System. Yet for robotic-assisted systems, the sky is the limit.25.02.2020
Neurological disorders like Parkinson's are often diagnosed once the disease has already progressed to a later stage. The VAFES project was initiated to facilitate an early detection. Sensor technology and VR are used in the creation of a playful test system.22.07.2019
Modern imaging opens news doors to surgeries. Yet it also poses major problems for surgeons: They use two-dimensional images to navigate through a three-dimensional surgical environment, while they continuously have to switch their focus back and forth between the images and the patient. Now help is on the way in the form of interactive 3D projections and mixed reality (MR).03.06.2019
Humans are living longer than ever but still want to continue to live independently as they age. Meanwhile, our motor and cognitive abilities decline as we age, sometimes as the effects of a stroke. The number of people in need of long-term care is growing at breakneck speed. At the same time, fewer and fewer young people choose stressful careers as caregivers.03.06.2019
It takes consistent repetitions if rehab patients want to relearn skills after surviving a stroke. This requires extreme effort. The industrial sector uses robots to perform repetitive tasks or handle jobs that require strength. What has been a fixture in factories for decades is now also making its way into rehabilitation facilities.23.04.2019
It's noisy, tight and scary - that's how children feel about a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. Because they are scared, they are often too fidgety and anxious during the procedure, causing the images to blur or the scan to be stopped. Researchers have now developed a VR app called Pingunauten Trainer that’s designed to gently prepare the little patients for MRI scans.