Digitalizing development, training, & services with XR- technology

VR has been around since the 1960s, but only in recent years the technology has evolved to the point where it is able to deliver high-quality, immersive experiences. Now many big tech companies are seeing and investing in XR as the up-and-coming computing platform.?

Virtual Reality accelerates development and supports human-centered design decisions

There are many exciting use cases for XR-technologies in healthcare. This technology can help engineers develop medical devices throughout the product's lifecycle. Early on in the conceptualization phase, it can serve to simulate the context of the given use case and help reach a consensus on the device’s purpose and expected outcomes. Seeing the life-size device, getting a feel for the product's dimensions, and discovering its true nature in the context of its designated environment is inevitably the biggest “aha!” moment. At this stage, stakeholders can create different iterations and then evaluate them together to get a clearer picture, particularly from a usability perspective. Diverse users can interact with these variants in the virtual environment to determine for instance if buttons are easy to reach and warning lights are clearly visible from most angles. Once a design decision has been made, the VR prototype can be converted into a virtual digital twin - that is a model incorporating the device's geometry, kinematics, and logic data flow for use in simulations. XR can then serve as front-end that can be easily operated with one’s hands rather than having to fuss with abstract parameter values in a 2D dashboard.

Realistic environments for training and planning surgical procedures

VR also holds great promise for training scenarios. Medical professionals can be trained in the use of medical devices or prepare for specific procedures, such as surgical interventions. The training is interactive and immersive, which can yield better outcomes than passive learning: the individual steps in the operation are carried out with the hands, which trains the motor-sensory memory. Authentic stress situations can be simulated and triggered spontaneously. This allows medical staff to train themselves to best respond to emergencies.?

Augmented Reality enables reduced time and cost for support and maintenance

Maintenance and repair services also benefit from XR. It enables technicians to perform complex procedures even with little experience and knowledge of the device to be serviced. Even an experienced technician may not be familiar with every subcomponent installed in the system or aware of all the differences between product and component generations. AR-technology can help with that by identifying components and displaying blueprints. A technician wearing AR glasses is free to use both hands and to also operate the service application using voice control. A possible live analysis using real-time data speeds up the troubleshooting. Once the problem has been diagnosed, the XR-application can walk the technician through the process, pointing out which parts need to be replaced and explaining how to replace them. Even exotic issues can be resolved in the field in a bi-directional video chat with back-office experts. A link to the device serves to automatically document all part numbers and replaced parts. Built-in cameras record the entire process.

Whether as a virtual training system for medical professionals or in the development and maintenance of medical devices, virtual and augmented reality offer enormous potential to redefine the boundaries of possibilities and revolutionize healthcare. XR is definitely the up-and-coming computing platform – the next big thing.

Our colleague Dr. Ketoma Vix Kemanji tells you more about the possible applications of XR in healthcare in this video. He also has some exciting examples up his sleeve. Feel free to click in.

This was the last issue of our Healthcare Newsletter for this year. We have lots of exciting topics for you in the new year. So stay tuned! But for now, we wish you a wonderful Holiday season.

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