Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has shared insight into the use of mixed reality technology at the trust to support patient consultations, enable immersive training for clinicians, and assist in preparations for some operations.
The trust is utilising XARlabs’ simXAR mixed reality tool, developed independently by one of their own registrars through the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. Originally planned for use within neurosurgery training, Imperial has “recognised the broader benefits” and expanded the tool for use in some patient consultations to help explain proposed treatments, along with using the tech to support teams in viewing and understanding surgical anatomy ahead of an operation.
The technology converts CT and MRI patient scans into 3D augmented reality models, with the surgeon and trainee or surgeon and patient wearing headsets to view and interact with the 3D model. Senior neurosurgery registrar and founder of the tech Mr Ali Haddad comments that the technology “allows us to visualise and rehearse surgical procedures with great detail and accuracy, which we believe brings quantifiable benefits to both patients and clinicians”.
Work is ongoing at Imperial to assess further potential benefits, with Mr Haddad sharing plans to “explore how the technology could benefit surgeries in real-time in the future”.
The wider trend: virtual reality
Stepping from mixed reality to virtual reality, earlier this year HTN reported how Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is utilising VR to help staff and students identify signs of sepsis, with the the tech exposing users to a series of immersive simulations relating to sepsis, asthma and anaphylaxis to help upskill the workforce.
In the summer, we highlighted how The Christie NHS Foundation Trust launched a two-year project to explore whether using virtual reality can help to reduce anxiety for children undergoing cancer treatment. On a similar note, April saw us share how chemotherapy patients at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust are being offered “immersive calming visuals” using VR headsets with the intention of helping to calm anxiety and pass time whilst having their treatment.
With regards to VR and staff training, we noted a pilot scheme at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals utilising computer-generated scenario so that participants can virtually interact with patients, administer tests, diagnose conditions and more; and we shared how North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust ran a pilot project exploring how VR tech can be used to support staff wellbeing.
Other news from the capital
In other recent news from the capital, we shared how DigitalHealth.London announced the latest cohort for its accelerator programme, with with 17 SMEs selected to develop digital solutions or services deemed to have the “highest potential to meet London’s NHS and social care challenges”.
We shared how North East London NHS Foundation Trust published a pre-procurement notice aiming to identify market capabilities and supplier interest for ADHD technologies.
And we explored the 2024-2027 strategy from the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative, which outlines shared priorities and plans to “address complex, system-wide issues more effectively in the years ahead”.
