Philips and Microsoft unveil mixed reality concept for minimally invasive procedures

Royal Philips unveiled a mixed reality concept it developed with Microsoft for minimally invasive procedures at MWC Barcelona.

The companies showcased augmented reality applications for image-guided minimally invasive therapies based on Philips’ Azurion image-guided therapy platform and Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 holographic computing platform.

During minimally invasive procedures physicians cannot directly see and touch the treatment area. Instead they rely on advanced medical imaging technologies such as ultra-low dose X-ray imaging and ultrasound, as well as other navigation technologies, to see inside the patient and guide their actions.

The Philips and Microsoft augmented reality concept, built for HoloLens 2, brings live imaging and other sources of data currently displayed on large 2D screens into a 3D holographic augmented reality environment with the aim it can be ergonomically, easily and intuitively controlled by the physician. The concept is being used to gather further clinical insights to support the development of future commercially-available augmented reality solutions for use in image-guided procedures.

Atul Gupta, a radiologist, and chief medical officer for image guided therapy at Phillips said: “The transition from open surgery to image-guided procedures has driven a seismic shift in improving patient outcomes and reducing costs – not least by dramatically reducing the length of time a patient stays in a hospital after their procedure.

“On our Azurion platform we seamlessly integrate a range of data sources in a way that’s intuitive to understand and control. By collaborating with Microsoft and HoloLens 2 we can take it to the next level, immersing the physician in a tailored augmented reality environment. This concept allows me to see the real world superimposed with the live data and 3D medical imagery needed to guide our precision therapy, and importantly also lets me control Azurion with voice recognition, eye tracking and advanced gestures. It’s all about keeping our focus on the patient.”

HoloLens is a self-contained holographic computer that enables hands-free, heads-up interaction with three-dimensional digital objects. HoloLens 2 builds on the technology of HoloLens.

Alex Kipman, technical fellow, AI and mixed reality at Microsoft said: “Mixed reality is giving people new ways to interact with the digital and physical world, bringing the benefits of the digital revolution to entirely new experiences across the globe. I am thrilled to see companies in a broad range of industries achieve more using the products that we build with our partners and ecosystem. Mixed reality holds great potential in healthcare, and our collaboration with Philips shows how that potential is already beginning to be realised.”