Contact Lens Display for Augmented Reality(AR) in Medicine

With my project now focusing on the Medical domain I began to look into the areas where this technology would be very beneficial. The following are specific areas/applications in medicine for Augmented Reality.

Puncture, Biopsy

This is the introduction of Needles into the body to extract tissue samples. Currently these interventions are performed by the physicians with the use of previously assembled image data and there experiences in the field regarding anatomy. At present it is impossible to see if the needle injection harms healthy areas by the intervention.
(http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)

Cancer Treatment, Brachytherapy

Medication is injected through a needle or a supply of radiation is introduced to tumor.
When a physician injects this radiation supply it must be as close to the tumor as possible in order to minimize damage to the surrounding cells which are healthy. This however is not always possible as the tumor is sometimes hidden from the view of the doctor.
(http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)

Minimum invasive surgery

An instrument for inspection or intervention is introduced through a natural or induced body opening. (http://www.igd.fhg.de/igd-a7/projects/medarpa/en/index.html)

This area has become increasingly recognized over the past fifteen years - As the avoidance of large incisions typically results in a reduced loss of blood, significantly less post-operative pain, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results. However, the first problem encountered with minimal invasive surgery is it confronts the physician with a limited view to the region of intervention. The second problem is the lack of reference between the pre-operatively acquired medical image data (MRI, CT etc.) and the patient during the operation. This relationship between the treatment region and the pre-operatively acquired medical data is an unsupported process leaving a considerable extra workload for the surgeon. (http://www.inigraphics.net/press/topics/2004/issue1/1_04a13.pdf)

The above listed areas will all be revolutionized through augmented reality…as the pre-op image data will be directly registered in the exact position of the treatment area with all instruments used being tracked electromagnetically. This will be further complemented with helpful information regards the procedure displayed through the lens display for the physician to see.