Applications of Virtual Environments in Medicine

Abstract

Summary Objectives: This paper intends to investigate the role of virtual reality (VR) in medicine. In particular it outlines the current state of research and technology that is relevant to the development of effective virtual environments in medicine. Methods: After describing the two different visions of VR we can find in medicine – the presentation of virtual objects to all of the human senses in a way identical to their natural counterpart, and a new human-computer interaction paradigm in which users are active participants within a computer-generated three-dimensional virtual world – the paper presents some of the most interesting applications actually developed in the area. Finally, it discusses the clinical principles, technological devices and safety issues associated with the use of VR in medicine. Results: With more than 1,000 VR papers already indexed in Medline, VR is a reality health care. Even if the number of controlled studies is still limited, its merging with emerging technologies like Ambient Intelligence and wireless communication will further improve its diffusion. Conclusions: The possible impact of VR on health care could be even higher than the one offered by the new communication technologies like Internet. In fact, VR is at the same tima technology, a communication interface and an experience: a communication interface based on interactive 3D visualization, able to collect and integrate in single real-like experience different inputs and data sets. However, significant efforts are still required to move VR into commercial success and therefore routine clinical use.

Interactive collaboration for Virtual Reality systems related to medical education and training

“…In this work, collaboration is considered as the information exchange by user interaction in a shared environment, i.e., there is collaboration when two or more users are included in a shared space performing some task together. Virtual Environments have been used in educational context in several areas of knowledge (Youngblut 1998), including medicine (Riva 2003). In general, these environments are designed to allow the acquisition of specific knowledge through the use of computer applications.…”

“…Virtual Reality (VR) has been established as an area that provides an effective and motivating way to help teaching in several fields (Kim & Park 2006, Riva 2003. It allows multi-sensory experiments by user interaction with virtual environments (VE) generated by computer.…”

Integrating Low-Cost Virtual Reality into Engineering Design Curricula

“…There is little guidance regarding the instructional design and classroom facilitation of VR technologies (Ausburn & Ausburn, 2004). These challenges include lack of necessary computing equipment for testing VR applications (Riva, 2003), lack of standardization of VR systems (Riva, 2003), and difficulty in establishing equivalent control groups (Crosier et al, 2000). This paper examines the use of VR at three higher education institutions, including one four-year university and two two-year community colleges.…”

Método de deformação elástica para simulação visual e háptica de procedimentos de punção.

“…A RV permite que profissionais da saúde tenham sensações semelhantes às do procedimento real, preparando-os técnica e psicologicamente para enfrentar uma situação real (RIVA, 2003).…”

“…De acordo com Moline (1997) apud Riva (2003) a capacidade de sentir as forças das malhas do objeto 3D com os movimentos naturais das mãos, melhoraria muito o desempenho dos simuladores de cirurgia e traria maior sensação de realismo aos profissionais da área médica que recebem o treinamento. Segundo Esteban et al (2013), com um simulador háptico moderno, um cirurgião pode ver e sentir da mesma forma que em uma cirurgia na vida real.…”