Virtual Reality in Medicine
With changings times, the world constantly faces new challenges. Throughout history, engineers have found ways to overcome these challenges. Recently, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has chosen 14 challenges that are seen as the most important challenges in this century. Certain challenges include areas such as improving energy use, advancing health and medicine, expanding technological functions, and much more. The goal is for engineers to discover solutions to these challenges, so that society can benefit as a whole. Of the 14 challenges, one vital challenge is to enhance virtual reality. [1] Since Virtual Reality is used in many applications within the medical field, the purpose of this research is to investigate the implantation of virtual reality by doctors and students. The two most prominent uses relate to education and training and surgery/diagnosis assistance. [2]
Virtual reality provides medical students as well as physicians with interactive training opportunities in a risk-free situation. Virtual reality is being used in all medical applications from cosmetic surgery to neurology. The technology transforms data, such as a CT or MRI scan, from a typically flat image to a three-dimensional image of the patient, which is stereoscopic. This allows surgeons to visualize complex procedures prior to the actual surgery and even practice surgical procedures. [2] Surgeons can train with virtual operations, so that they are prepared for real world situations where they must perform potentially dangerous surgeries. This is important because with this extra practice, surgeons can learn how to flawlessly execute different surgeries, without the risk of death to the patient. This can lead to a substantial decrease in the number of casualties in surgery. It is also used when training front line professionals and first responders to deal with emergencies. A series of virtual environments can be developed which contain different scenarios, e.g. road traffic accident which the first responders have to deal with. This is where they learn decision-making skills as well as the practical hands on skills required in this type of situation. Another option is disaster training such as a chemical spillage or an outbreak of an infectious disease, which often results in large numbers of casualties. [3]
New virtual reality technology would bring virtually created images of a patient into the operating room and project a 3-D image of the actual patient so that the surgeon can see the structure beneath the surface. [2] This means smaller incisions, shorter recovery times, and safer surgery. Surgeons are able to practice complicated operations on the virtual patient before performing the procedure on the actual patient. During surgery, the virtual system tracks the surgical instruments and their exact location. [2] With this precise information, the surgeon can make smaller incisions and reduce recovery periods. By projecting 3-D images of data gathered in a CT or MRI, very rapid diagnosis of a severe injury will be possible. [2] In order to reach a diagnosis, physicians must conduct a series of tests, which produce raw data. But virtual reality can be used to create a visual explanation of this data, which is easier to read, understand and interpret. [3]
Healthcare is one of the biggest adopters of virtual reality. This technology allows healthcare professionals to learn new skills as well as refreshing existing ones in a safe environment. Plus it allows this without causing any danger to the patients.
[3] http://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-healthcare/medicine.html
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