Augmented reality (AR) is an innovative system that enhances the real world by superimposing virtual objects on reality. The aim of this study was to analyze the application of AR in medicine and which of its technical solutions are the most used. We carried out a scoping review of the articles published between 2019 and February 2022. The initial search yielded a total of 2649 articles. After applying filters, removing duplicates and screening, we included 34 articles in our analysis. The analysis of the articles highlighted that AR has been traditionally and mainly used in orthopedics in addition to maxillofacial surgery and oncology. Regarding the display application in AR, the Microsoft HoloLens Optical Viewer is the most used method. Moreover, for the tracking and registration phases, the marker-based method with a rigid registration remains the most used system. Overall, the results of this study suggested that AR is an innovative technology with numerous advantages, finding applications in several new surgery domains. Considering the available data, it is not possible to clearly identify all the fields of application and the best technologies regarding AR.

Arterial stenosis is one of the main vascular diseases that are treated with minimally invasive surgery approaches. The aim of this study was to provide a tool to support the medical doctor in planning endovascular surgery, allowing the rapid detection of stenotic vessels and the quantification of the stenosis. Skeletonization was used to improve vessels’ visualization. The distance transform was used to obtain a linear representation of the diameter of critical vessels selected by the user. The system also provides an estimate of the exact distance between landmarks on the vascular tree and the occlusion, important information that can be used in the planning of the surgery. The advantage of the proposed tool is to lead the examination on the linear representation of the chosen vessels that are free from tortuous vascular courses and from vessel crossings.

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