The 3D operating room with unlimited perspective change and remote support

Abstract

Information and communication technologies combined with extended reality improve diagnostics, medical treatment, and surgical operations courses. Thus, the new generation of devices, which enable displaying of holographic objects, allows visualizing a patient’s internal organs, both anatomical and pathological structures, as interactive 3D objects, based on retrospective 2D images, namely computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Remote users can observe ongoing surgery with additional features like standing in front of the operation table, walking around in, and changing the user’s perspective without disrupting the operating doctors. Moreover, the operation can be recorded, then played with additional functionalities—remote pointing and painting, which is important in medical education. The operating surgeon may also ask remotely more experienced operators for consultation, and as a consequence, the number of complications and failed procedures can decrease. It can be also applied to robot surgeries as a first step to remote surgery.