Reston-based Virginia Spine Institute President Christopher Good, MD, is using augmented reality to enhance his clinical practice, ABC7 WJLA reported Oct. 20.
Five things to know:
1. Dr. Good recently used Augmedics' Xvision Spine System in a successful 2.5-hour surgery at Reston Hospital Center. The patient had been experiencing debilitating nerve pain in his legs.
2. Xvision is an augmented reality headset for surgeons that digitally projects a patient's anatomical scans onto the operating room table. It is designed to improve visualization and instrument navigation during surgery.
3. The headset is especially useful when operating on patients with complex anatomy, according to Dr. Good, who believes Xvision technology could soon have expanded applications beyond spine surgery.
"This is like using the GPS when you're driving in a big city that you've never been to before. It helps you to get there on the first try," Dr. Good said in an interview with ABC7.
4. Dr. Good is reportedly the Washington metro area's first surgeon to use augmented reality technology in the OR.
5. The first U.S. spine surgery performed with Xvision technology took place June 8 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.