Surgeons Highlight That Apple Vision Pro Prevents Injuries; 'We Are All Surprised...'
Surgeons praise the Apple Vision Pro for its ability to significantly reduce injuries.
Since its launch in February 2024, the Apple Vision Pro has been hailed by surgeons around the world for its advanced high-resolution imaging and ergonomic design, which could help reduce the risk of injuries leading to early retirement. Santiago Horgan, a leader in robotic gastric surgery and director of the Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego, has become an enthusiastic advocate for this device, highlighting its potential to revolutionize surgical practices.
Reflecting on the Apple Vision Pro, Horgan compared it to the innovative robotic tools he encountered in the year 2000, emphasizing its importance in making a broader impact due to its enhanced accessibility. In his previous experiences with other augmented reality systems, such as Microsoft's HoloLens and Google Glass, the image clarity results were unsatisfactory. However, after using the Apple Vision Pro during a paraesophageal hernia operation, he and his team found the results astonishing, exceeding their expectations.
This device enables surgeons to access key images and patient data seamlessly, helping them maintain focus during procedures. Traditionally, surgeons had to divert their attention to monitors displaying CT scans or endoscopic views, which could prolong the time patients remained under anesthesia and increase the physical burden on the surgeons. By streamlining this process, the Apple Vision Pro offers benefits for both patients and surgeons.
A study conducted in 2022 revealed that a significant percentage of surveyed surgeons considered the possibility of early retirement due to discomfort experienced during surgeries. The ergonomic features of the Apple Vision Pro could help these experienced professionals stay active in their field longer. Christopher Longhurst, Chief Clinical Officer and Innovation at UC San Diego Health, mentioned that, at an approximate cost of $3,500, the device represents a lower expense compared to the $20,000 to $30,000 that traditional operating room monitors cost, making it a practical investment for healthcare institutions.
In the future, Longhurst envisions that the Apple Vision Pro will become a standard component in operating rooms worldwide, especially for 3D radiological imaging and other medical applications. He noted that the device's ability to work with multiple video streams sets it apart from other augmented reality options, which often require several devices.
Miguel Burch, Chief of General Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, shared his own struggles with physical injuries resulting from minimally invasive surgeries, indicating that the Apple Vision Pro could mitigate what he called the "silent problem" of premature career endings for surgeons by providing a more comfortable and effective means to perform complex tasks. Furthermore, a surgical assistant in the UK who transitioned from HoloLens 2 to the Apple Vision Pro described the change as a "game changer," reinforcing the transformative possibilities of the headset within the surgical field.
As this technology is increasingly adopted by medical professionals, the Apple Vision Pro is on track to redefine surgical practices, enhancing both patient care and the wellbeing of surgeons.
