This presentation discusses how augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality are changing healthcare. Examples discussed include using VR to reduce phantom limb pain in amputees, treat burn patients without painkillers, assist in physical rehabilitation for stroke patients, and help patients with spinal cord injuries learn motions. AR and VR are also being used to help quadriplegics perform daily tasks, develop social skills for those with autism, improve surgical training, restore vision, and translate speech to sign language. Additional applications discussed are using VR for cancer treatment, mental health therapies, and allowing sick children to virtually travel.

1. Augmented & Virtual
Reality in Healthcare

2. This presentation is focused on how Augmented Reality, Virtual
Reality and Mixed Reality (a hybrid of the first 2) are already
changing healthcare. With real and recent examples

3. Pain
Relief

4. MindMaze combines gaming and easing pain. Based on direct
interaction with brainwaves, zapping zombies is done efficiently,
rendering the remainder of the nervous system redundant
Ok sounds fun but for pain relief?
Recent Amputees wear a MindMaze MR headset, they raise their
right arm, and the avatar in their headset will raise the left, fooling
their brain to believe the amputated limb is still present and thus
reducing, even eliminating phantom limb pain
READ MORE

5. The University of Washington are using Virtual Reality to treat
burns patients without painkillers.
READ MORE

6. Rehabilitation

7. The earlier MindMaze technology is using its tricksy ways to fool
stroke patients into using their limbs again. And it works
according to a Cochrane Review. This has potential across a
range of conditions that require physical therapy, even trauma or
accident.
READ MORE

8. Eksobionics make exoskeletons, primarily used for patients with
spinal cord injuries. These exoskeletons are linked with a patients
VR head set and avatars can help them learn motions. It is often
the case if they believe they can do it, then they can
I see this evolving into patients with neurodegenerative disorders
such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease or ALS - and age
related conditions such as arthritis. Oh here is an example of the
potential in Multiple Sclerosis.
READ MORE

9. Assisted Daily
Living

10. Braingate help quadriplegics by using robotic devices and smart
prosthetics that interface with brainwaves to enable self help and
perform everyday tasks e.g. brushing teeth, opening jars,
preparing food or moving around. The patient interface is a mixed
reality headset.
Again this has big potential in the above neurodegenerative
disorders. Oh and consider Alzheimer's Disease - augmented
reality via a headset helping patients with daily tasks. There are
already apps for that.
READ MORE
READ MORE

11. Empathy

12. The Genworth Aging Experience, is a virtual reality exoskeleton
that can help the wearer experience aging, for example creating
tinnitus, vision problems i.e. macular degeneration, pressure on
joints that simulate arthritis
SEE MORE

13. Autism Speaks uses virtual reality to help young adults develop
social skills and with situations such as dates or job interviews.
Virtual reality can be used to help teach kids with autism, an
avatar continues to teach until it recognizes the child's facial
expressions indicating their mind is wandering. This could be
used to good effect in ADHD also
READ MORE

14. Wearables &
Sensors
3D Printing
Virtual
Surgeries
Image via Medical Realities

15. Virtual reality has a big play in training physicians or helping them
rehearse pioneering or unique operations. The example was
given of operating on a rare tumor type in an inaccessible part of
the leg. The operation site was mapped in 3D and surgeons were
able to practice the operation virtually.
And this year the worlds first operation was streamed live in
virtual reality.
READ MORE

16. 3D Visualization and Augmented Reality are being used in the
operating room to widen the teams field of view. This example
was featured as number 8 in the Cleveland Clinic Top 10
innovations 2017
READ MORE

17. Augmented
Senses

18. NuEye's technology uses virtual reality, bypasses damaged
retinas and helps restore vision to patients with macular
degeneration.
Second Sight uses an augmented reality headset combined with
a retinal sensor, essentially creating a bionic eye
READ MORE

19. And Holohear, a product created overnight at a hackathon,
translates speech, real time, into sign language via an avatar,
with subtitles also
READ MORE

20. Oncology

21. Virtual reality is being used to treat cancer patients more
effectively, exploring genetic mutations and protein structures in
3D and help find a better targeted therapy
READ MORE

22. St Judes Hospital Nashville, partnered with Expedia, to help
children suffering from cancer to travel to exciting destinations. A
way of escaping the burden of their condition.
READ MORE

23. Mental Health

24. Virtual Reality can employ its brain trickery, for example taking
people with phobias into ‘real life’ situations. On an airplane, with
spiders or walk on top of a high building. This exposure therapy
is indistinguishable by the brain from the actual real life situation.
The approach is also showing promise in other areas such as
PTSD, delusions and paranoia.
READ MORE

25. Note: A number of these examples are featured in more
detail in the health section of the following book:
The Fourth Transformation: How Augmented Reality &
Artificial Intelligence Will Change Everything

26. Thank you
@garymonk
+1-917-689-6053
linkedin.com/in/garywmonk