Holographic Imaging in Healthcare: what is it?

Augmented reality platform

Have you ever wanted to project a CT scan in the air? You could twist the model around, look between organs, and make any manipulations that you need.

Even better, you could use this holographic imaging to catch early diagnoses or plan for surgeries. There are plenty of applications for this kind of technology.

Augmented reality in medicine is growing by the day. And holography is no different than the rest of these medical innovations.

To learn more about how holography is changing medicine, keep reading.

Understanding Augmented Reality in Medicine

Augmented reality has been but only a dream until recently. Dreams of x-ray vision and artificial worlds have been around for as long as we can remember. And, it seems like the dreams are only becoming more assertive.

As technology has improved over time, augmented reality has become closer to becoming an everyday thing. As of now, the medical community has a few unique technologies. However, there is still a long way to go.

Holograms, in particular, are one of these hurdles that the medical community has yet to jump through. The simplest holographic technologies are out-of-reach for common medical centres.

While holographic imaging exists in high-tech areas, there are still barriers. These are preventing physicians from accessing these materials.

The Rise of Holography in Medicine

Research technologists have been developing holographic technologies for several purposes. There are applications in education, surgery, communications, marketing, and more.

When holographic imaging first came about, a few test hospitals experimented with and used these technologies. Now, holography is spreading to more and more hospitals around the world.

The application of holography to the medical field developed out of the need for more accurate imaging readings. Machines like CTs and MRIs are great for seeing what goes on inside of the body. However, their images aren’t as detailed as the actual specifications in real life.

Holography can give medical professionals the precision and assurance that they need. With more accurate imaging, providers can make better decisions for their patients.

In the end, patients will get the care they deserve since providers can get the details they need. 

Most recently, the development and implementation of the Holoscope have changed everything. The Holoscope is the first medical holography system. With it, you can look at a patient’s heart as if it’s on the outside of their body.

From there, many other technology companies have ventured to make these systems. They are trying to create technologies that are capable of larger reproductions.

How Holography Is Changing Medicine

The rise of holography in medicine is giving medical providers an exciting look into the future of medicine. It’s a future in which we won’t need to do exploratory surgeries or make estimations about incisions. It’s a future in which we can detect cancer cells during yearly physicals without needing scans.

The future of medicine is giving providers hope about a cancer-less population. The future is full of longer, healthier lives.

However, all of these changes can’t happen overnight. Holography and other technologies are going to transform the face of medicine over time.

First, these technologies have to be implemented in every facet of medicine and patient care.

Communications

Communication between providers in the medical field can get highly confusing. Different providers use different terminology. Other specialties have different protocols when explaining conditions.

This struggle with communication can harm the patient if there is a misunderstanding. In the end, providers may end up seeing the wrong patients or performing the wrong surgeries.

People have lost limbs over miscommunications. 

Holography can help remedy these kinds of problems. Accurate documentation and stricter procedures have helped some hospitals reduce mistakes. But, holography can do more.

Instead of trying to communicate about a two-dimensional image, providers can give precise details. They’ll have a three-dimensional one.

Physicians will be able to give precise locations and even more straightforward descriptions. They can describe medical conditions and complications. Providers can perform better procedures and provide better medical advice with this information.

Medical Training

As with any healthcare technology, we have to discuss medical training.

Teaching graduate students and continuing to teach current providers is essential. Without this teaching and learning, medical practitioners would fall behind. In turn, patients would suffer.

Holography would help students and practitioners learn about the body’s anatomy in a more detailed manner. It would also help them understand some of the physiological changes that come with diseases and infections. With simulations and comparisons, students could learn more about their patients.

Eventually, holography will be able to show up full three-dimensional images of our entire bodies. With this more complete view, students can discuss systemic conditions.

Overall, this improved education with holography will produce better medical providers. Over time, this will advance patient care.

Surgery

Holography can transform surgical wings. Surgeons are very precise, but they do make mistakes. Plus, sometimes, they have to make estimates about where to cut or complete exploratory surgeries.

With holography, surgeons could get a complete view of the human body and any diseases affecting it. The key here is the three-dimensional imaging that holography offers.

By providing images in three dimensions, holography allows physicians to see every single inch of every organ. So, whether it’s a trauma case or a systemic condition, the physician can tell if there are any visible variations.

With this information, the surgeon (and the patient’s other physicians) can make better patient care choices. It would also ensure a better and more accurate surgical experience.

Obstacles Against Medical Innovations

There are always obstacles to innovation. 

Physicians may argue that these innovations can obstruct patient care. Patients may be wary about whether these technologies work. Families may not understand how these technologies could affect their loved one.

With that in mind, we have to consider that there will be some obstacles against holography. However, these obstacles go beyond individual opinions and capabilities.

First, we have to consider the technological innovations that have to take place before holography can work to the fullest extent. We have to be able to produce three-dimensional images of the entire human body.

Right now, holography is helpful for isolated organs. However, the medical field wants to take this a step further.

Next, we have to understand the machine learning capabilities that holographic devices have to have. As of now, these technologies understand how to take specific images. However, they cannot develop pictures of the entire body.

Hopefully, this will change with more advanced technological developments. Some researchers and scientists are working on this very thing right now.

Lastly, we have to consider technical data. For the machine to alert medical providers of inconsistencies, it has to know what to look for. To do that, it has to have enough medical data to make accurate assessments.

Over time, the medical community will teach and train the software. However, this doesn’t help today’s patients.

This kind of technical training could take years if the machine needs to recognize more advanced conditions. However, with minimal training, it could capture evidence of common diseases.

The Future of Holographic 3D Imaging

Since there is so much demand for more advanced technology in medicine, holography is going to grow. This is why experts project the digital holographic market to double by the year 2024.

The key is making sure that this technology is available for everyone to use.

The medical profession is already skewed. Considering this, it will be challenging to make sure that holographic technology is available for all. The main concern lies with currently underserved areas.

After the medical field gets the technology to make proper holographic imaging machines, there will be a battle over resources. Medical centres will shift budgets to make room for technology that could be in the thousands of dollars per unit.

This would leave underserved and underfunded areas at a disadvantage, furthering the medical gap.

Hopefully, we can get ahead of the issue by ensuring that the future of holographic imaging is a possibility for everyone. To do this, technicians have to make sure that they’re creating affordable and available technology.

The future of holographic imaging gives us these kinds of unknowns, but the prospect is exciting nonetheless. Most medical providers are looking forward to these technologies. Even patients get excited about these technological advancements.

Advancing With XR Doctor

Advanced holographic imaging is not yet available. Yet, there are other technical options that medical centres can use. These technologies are improving patient care and physician accuracy as we speak.

One of these coveted pieces of technology is XR Doctor. It’s a telehealth and medical training platform that uses 5G and has the capacity to 3D print. 

With our technology, students and providers can see conditions and complications more clearly. Thus, they’re able to make more informed decisions.

Check out XR Doctor today and see what it could do for your medical facility.

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