A medical team at Cromwell Hospital in London wore the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro during two spinal surgeries. Doctors called the device a “game-changer,” reinforcing Apple’s claim that the headphones have a future as a medical device.
The doctors themselves did not wear the Vision Pro, but one nurse reportedly wore the VR goggles in preparation for and during surgery. Vision Pro is used to view virtual screens in the operating room to select tools and monitor surgical progress.
The software used at Cromwell Hospital was developed by eXeX, a company that specializes in developing artificial intelligence-driven applications for surgeons.
“Working with eXeX to use Apple Vision Pro has had a huge impact on the way we provide care to our patients,” said Syed Aftab, one of the Cromwell surgeons using the device. Press release. “It’s a huge honor to be the first team in the UK and Europe to use this software during surgery and I look forward to seeing how the technology progresses and the impact it has on hospitals.”
According to a recent Press release A company from Apple called Stryker is marketing Vision Pro’s “myMako” app, which helps doctors plan hip and knee replacement surgeries using 3D models and other tools. Many other companies and developers are leveraging Vision Pro for medical training and education with applications including Fundamental Survival, CollaboratOR 3D and Complete HeartX.
“With the unique capabilities of VisionOS, healthcare developers are creating new applications that were previously impossible, transforming clinical education, surgical planning, training, medical imaging, behavioral health and more,” Apple wrote in a press release.
The first-of-its-kind Vision Pro-assisted surgery incorporates many of Apple’s measures. The company is pitching the Vision Pro as an enterprise device aimed at professionals, from artists to accountants, who could use some extra VR screens. Across Apple’s various products, there’s a big push into the healthcare space, although so far most related products and services have been aimed at consumers, such as the Apple Watch’s heart rate tracking feature or the iPhone’s sleep feature.
