Apple Vision Pro Shows Promise in Field of Radiology in New Study
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A new study published earlier this week highlights how Apple’s Vision Pro can be used in healthcare situations. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, compared the performance of the Vision Pro to that of a traditional desktop computer.
Researchers praised the Apple Vision Pro’s ergonomics while also touting “new opportunities for 3D virtualization.”
Radiologists were given Apple Vision Pro headsets and were tasked with using the Visage Ease VP app to review 100 CT scans for signs of diverticulitis. Their performance was compared to viewing the same 100 scans on a desktop computer. Radiologists were also surveyed on things like ease of use and preferred device.
The study results showed “no significant difference” in performance between radiologists using Apple’s Vision Pro versus a traditional desktop.
Given the importance of CT within radiology, it is important to address whether its highest-resolution features can be visualized on imaging displays such as those of next-generation VR/AR headsets. This pilot study found no significant difference in the pooled diagnostic performance for diverticulitis between radiologists using a headset versus a desktop, and radiologists reported an overall good user experience with the headset. These results suggest that the display of this headset may suffice for visualization of such features.
The study also showed that the Apple Vision Pro offers new opportunities in 3D visualization and radiology:
In addition, the headset offers new opportunities for 3D visualization through its immersive display and new possibilities for ergonomics through the eye and hand tracking of its user interface. For these reasons, next-generation VR/AR headsets are promising for many applications throughout radiology.
Images were viewed in Visage Ease VP running on an Apple Vision Pro headset and in Visage 7 on a desktop diagnostic monitor. While the luminance of the desktop had been DICOM GSDF calibrated for clinical use, no utilities were available to calibrate the luminance of the headset, so the study instead used off-the-shelf settings.
Researchers in the study also pointed to other uses for VR products in medical imaging:
These showed promising diagnostic performance of a headset for pulmonary nodules, favorable user experiences with a virtual reading room for presurgical planning, and many other potential applications such as intraoperative guidance, where augmented reality may become essential. Eye tracking has been investigated extensively in radiology, for studying search patterns and accelerating image annotation. These utilized desktop-based devices, but headset-based devices may facilitate eye tracking in additional applications.
The full study can be read in the Journal of Imaging Informatics in Medicine.
This is not the first time the Apple Vision Pro has proven valuable in a medical setting. In April, Medical software maker eXeX revealed that the Apple Vision Pro was used to organize and manage a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. The procedure involved replacing a shoulder’s ball-and-socket joint, helping to improve muscle function.
It marked the first time the Apple Vision Pro had been used in that type of procedure. It should be noted that the headset was not worn by the surgeon who performed the procedure on the patient but was instead used by a technician to handle the setup, inventory, and procedural guidelines.
eXeX said the Apple Vision Pro increased surgical efficiency, as it provided the surgical team with data and visualization previously unavailable to them.
