A medical team at Cromwell Hospital in London strapped a $3,500 Apple Vision Pro device during two spinal surgeries. Doctors are calling the device a “game-changer”, bolstering Apple's claims that the headset has a future as a medical device.
The doctors were not wearing the Vision Pro themselves, but a scrub nurse was reportedly wearing the VR goggles during surgical preparations and during procedures. Vision Pro was used to view virtual screens imposed on the operating room to select instruments and monitor the progress of surgery.
The software used by Cromwell Hospital was developed by eXeX, a company that builds AI-based applications for surgeons.
“Working with eXeX to use Apple Vision Pro has made a huge difference in the way we deliver care to our patients,” said Syed Aftab, one of the Cromwell surgeons who used the device. press release. “It is a real honor to be the first team in the UK and Europe to use this software in surgery, and I look forward to seeing how this technology progresses and the impact it can have across hospitals.”
According to another press release From Apple, a company called Stryker is promoting the “myMako” app for its Vision Pro device, which helps doctors develop surgical plans for hip and knee replacements using 3D models and other tools. A variety of other companies and developers are harnessing Vision Pro for medical training and education, with applications including Fundamental Medicine, CollaboratOR 3D, and Complete HeartX.
“With the unique capabilities of VisionOS, healthcare developers are creating new applications that were never possible before, transforming areas like clinical education, surgical planning, training, medical imaging, and behavioral health,” Apple wrote in its press release. And more.”
The first-of-its-kind Vision Pro-assisted surgeries play a role in a number of initiatives from Apple. The company is promoting the Vision Pro as an enterprise device for professionals from artists to accountants who can benefit from a few extra VR displays. Across Apple's various products, there is a heavy trend towards healthcare, although most related products and services so far have been aimed at consumers, such as the Apple Watch's heart rate tracking capabilities or the iPhone's sleep features.
