Augmented reality

Mixed reality – Virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) – is used for neurological surgery with increasing frequency. The technology makes procedures safer, more efficient, and better in preserving quality of life. Mixed reality also has other applications in neurosurgery including education and simulation, surgical rehearsal and approach planning, as well as intraoperative guidance. Anatomic research can be conducted with VR models in place of cadavers, which lessens the cost and improves the accuracy. For all these reasons, LVHN have established a “first-of-its-kind” fellowship in mixed reality in intracranial surgery to teach neurosurgeons about this revolutionary technology and its application in complex brain and skull base procedures.

Learn more about the fellowship

 

VR/AR Publications

Examples of recent academic publications by our faculty involving novel applications of VR/AR in neurosurgery include:

Jean WC, Yang Y, Srivastava A, Tai AX, Herur-Raman A, Kim HJ, Li D, Wu Z: Study of Comparative Surgical Exposure to the Petroclival Region Using Patient-Specific, Petroclival Meningioma Virtual Reality Models. Neurosurgical Focus, in press

Tai AX, Herur-Raman A, Jean WC: The Benefits of Progressive Occipital Condylectomy in Enhancing the Far Lateral Approach to the Foramen Magnum. World Neurosurgery, 2019. doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2019.09.152

Tai AX, Sack KD, Herur-Raman A, Jean WC:  The Benefits of Limited Orbitotomy on the Supraorbital Approach: an Anatomical and Morphometric Study in Virtual Reality. Operative Neurosurgery: Jul 2019. doi.org/10.1093/ons/opz201

Jean WC, Tai AX, Hogan E, Herur-Raman A, Felbaum DR, Leonardo J, Syed HR: An Anatomical Study of the Foramen of Monro: Implications in Management of Pineal Tumors Presenting with Hydrocephalus. Acta Neurochir 161: 975-983, 2019. doi.org/10.1007/s00701-019-03887-4