Usability of an Immersive Augmented Reality Based Telerehabilitation System with Haptics (ARTESH) for Synchronous Remote Musculoskeletal Examination

This study describes the features and utility of a novel augmented reality based telemedicine system with haptics that allows the sense of touch and direct physical examination during a synchronous immersive telemedicine consultation and physical examination. The system employs novel engineering features: (a) a new force enhancement algorithm to improve force rendering and overcoming the “just-noticeable-difference” limitation; (b) an improved force compensation method to reduce the delay in force rendering; (c) use of the “haptic interface point” to reduce disparity between the visual and haptic data; and (d) implementation of efficient algorithms to process, compress, decompress, transmit and render 3-D tele-immersion data. A qualitative pilot study (n=20) evaluated the usability of the system. Users rated the system on a 26-question survey using a seven-point Likert scale, with percent agreement calculated from the total users who agreed with a given statement. Survey questions fell into three main categories: (1) ease and simplicity of use, (2) quality of experience, and (3) comparison to in-person evaluation. Average percent agreements between the telemedicine and in-person evaluation were highest for ease and simplicity of use (86%) and quality of experience (85%), followed by comparison to in-person evaluation (58%). Eighty-nine percent (89%) of respondents expressed satisfaction with the overall quality of experience. Results suggest that the system was effective at conveying audio-visual and touch data in real-time across 20.3 miles, and warrants further development.

Review of innovative immersive technologies for healthcare applications

Immersive technologies, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), can connect people using enhanced data visualizations to better involve stakeholders as integral members of the process. Immersive technologies have started to change the research on multidimensional genomic data analysis for disease diagnostics and treatments. Immersive technologies are highlighted in some research for health and clinical needs, especially for precision medicine innovation. The use of immersive technology for genomic data analysis has recently received attention from the research community. Genomic data analytics research seeks to integrate immersive technologies to build more natural human-computer interactions that allow better perception engagements. Immersive technologies, especially VR, help humans perceive the digital world as real and give learning output with lower performance errors and higher accuracy. However, there are limited reviews about immersive technologies used in healthcare and genomic data analysis with specific digital health applications. This paper contributes a comprehensive review of using immersive technologies for digital health applications, including patient-centric applications, medical domain education, and data analysis, especially genomic data visual analytics. We highlight the evolution of a visual analysis using VR as a case study for how immersive technologies step, can by step, move into the genomic data analysis domain. The discussion and conclusion summarize the current immersive technology applications’ usability, innovation, and future work in the healthcare domain, and digital health data visual analytics

Augmented and virtual reality in surgery—the digital surgical environment:applications, limitations and legal pitfalls

The continuing enhancement of the surgical environment in the digital age has led to a number of innovations being highlighted as potential disruptive technologies in the surgical workplace. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are rapidly becoming increasingly available, accessible and importantly affordable, hence their application into healthcare to enhance the medical use of data is certain. Whether it relates to anatomy, intraoperative surgery, or post-operative rehabilitation, applications are already being investigated for their role in the surgeons armamentarium. Here we provide an introduction to the technology and the potential areas of development in the surgical arena

Home-based rehabilitation of the shoulder using auxiliary systems and artificial intelligence: an overview

Advancements in modern medicine have bolstered the usage of home-based rehabilitation services for patients, particularly those recovering from diseases or conditions that necessitate a structured rehabilitation process. Understanding the technological factors that can influence the efficacy of home-based rehabilitation is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes. As technologies continue to evolve rapidly, it is imperative to document the current state of the art and elucidate the key features of the hardware and software employed in these rehabilitation systems. This narrative review aims to provide a summary of the modern technological trends and advancements in home-based shoulder rehabilitation scenarios. It specifically focuses on wearable devices, robots, exoskeletons, machine learning, virtual and augmented reality, and serious games. Through an in-depth analysis of existing literature and research, this review presents the state of the art in home-based rehabilitation systems, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Furthermore, this review proposes hypotheses and potential directions for future upgrades and enhancements in these technologies. By exploring the integration of these technologies into home-based rehabilitation, this review aims to shed light on the current landscape and offer insights into the future possibilities for improving patient outcomes and optimizing the effectiveness of home-based rehabilitation programs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Clinical Application of Three-dimensional Printing and Extended Reality in Congenital Heart Disease

This PhD study investigates the clinical role of the two emerging techniques, which are 3D printing and virtual reality, to improve the visualisation and surgical planning of congenital heart disease. This research findings show that both of these technologies can enhance the users’ perception on the spatial relationship of the heart structures and defects, and therefore improving the management of congenital heart disease

Telemedicine Quality Improvement Study

Title from PDF of title page viewed January 2, 2020Thesis advisor: Mark HoffmanVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 46-50)Thesis (M.S.)--School of Medicine. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2019Telemedicine is a novel field that contributes to the modernized healthcare system we have today, wherein a need exists for further refinement of applied methods and technology that is readily available and economical. Telemedicine (TM) is the modern-day spinoff of a telecommunication system that has roots back to the early 1900s. The creation of Voice Over IP (VoIP) and synchronous communication allows individuals at two or more locations to communicate live in real-time, this is the margin that we use to develop and refine telemedicine technology at a reasonable cost. Success is measured in direct benefit to the patient in terms of quality of care and cost, and to the provider in terms of increased work flexibility and minimal technological difficulties. Mixed reality devices may further contribute to the telemedicine platform that is proven to increase provider and patient access and decrease both monetary cost and time spent traveling and waiting for appointments by providers and their patients alike. This quality improvement comparative analysis study consisted of simulations representing current-state and future-state telemedicine consultation appointments. The future-state consultation utilized a developer edition of HoloLens, a mixed reality head-mounted computer processor display that is untethered allowing for free-range mobility. This was compared to current-state technology made by InTouch Health. Feasibility and acceptability data from the provider perspective were gathered via administration of a REDCap survey. Our findings suggest that with further refinement in HoloLens technology, providers will accept this technology when conducting telemedicine appointments. Added usability of ancillary devices and refinements to ensure simple three-way communication would place the HoloLens at the same level of performance – if not higher – compared to the current InTouch platform. The HoloLens program as it develops should include device and technique training, and technological support. Adding HoloLens to the Children’s Mercy Hospital program could further enhance pediatric telehealthcare in prevention and treatment of disease regardless of physical location.Introduction -- Review of literature -- Methodology -- Results -- Discussion -- Appendix A. Script -- Appendix B. Consent to Participate and Survey Questionnaire -- Appendix C. Image

Immersive Participation:Futuring, Training Simulation and Dance and Virtual Reality

Dance knowledge can inform the development of scenario design in immersive digital simulation environments by strengthening a participant’s capacity to learn through the body. This study engages with processes of participatory practice that question how the transmission and transfer of dance knowledge/embodied knowledge in immersive digital environments is activated and applied in new contexts. These questions are relevant in both arts and industry and have the potential to add value and knowledge through crossdisciplinary collaboration and exchange. This thesis consists of three different research projects all focused on observation, participation, and interviews with experts on embodiment in digital simulation. The projects were chosen to provide a range of perspectives across dance, industry and futures studies. Theories of embodied cognition, in particular the notions of the extended body, distributed cognition, enactment and mindfulness, offer critical lenses through which to explore the relationship of embodied integration and participation within immersive digital environments. These areas of inquiry lead to the consideration of how language from the field of computer science can assist in describing somatic experience in digital worlds through a discussion of the emerging concepts of mindfulness, wayfinding, guided movement and digital kinship. These terms serve as an example of how the mutability of language became part of the process as terms applied in disparate disciplines were understood within varying contexts. The analytic tools focus on applying a posthuman view, speculation through a futures ethnography, and a cognitive ethnographical approach to my research project. These approaches allowed me to examine an ecology of practices in order to identify methods and processes that can facilitate the transmission and transfer of embodied knowledge within a community of practice. The ecological components include dance, healthcare, transport, education and human/computer interaction. These fields drove the data collection from a range of sources including academic papers, texts, specialists’ reports, scientific papers, interviews and conversations with experts and artists.The aim of my research is to contribute both a theoretical and a speculative understanding of processes, as well as tools applicable in the transmission of embodied knowledge in virtual dance and arts environments as well as digital simulation across industry. Processes were understood theoretically through established studies in embodied cognition applied to workbased training, reinterpreted through my own movement study. Futures methodologies paved the way for speculative processes and analysis. Tools to choreograph scenario design in immersive digital environments were identified through the recognition of cross purpose language such as mindfulness, wayfinding, guided movement and digital kinship. Put together, the major contribution of this research is a greater understanding of the value of dance knowledge applied to simulation developed through theoretical and transformational processes and creative tools

Evaluating Advanced Nurse Clinicians’ Readiness to Use Augmented Reality for Delivery of Simulated Teaching Sessions

Background Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have adapted numerous new processes and procedures. Keeping patients safe is dependent on the education and experience of providers caring for them. By utilizing the capabilities of augmented reality (AR), clinical nurse educators (CNEs)/advanced nurse clinicians (ANCs) can provide real-time learning while providing feedback to nurses during simulated instructional experiences. AR instructional methods hold promise for educators due to staff shortages, time constraints, and inadequate facility space for in-person teaching sessions. Purpose The purpose of this doctoral project was to evaluate the ANCs readiness to adopt new AR technology, the Microsoft HoloLens, as a teaching strategy. Methods In this pretest-posttest design, four educational sessions were employed to explore the ANCs perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU) of the HoloLens headset. Results Four educational sessions on AR, the Microsoft HoloLens AR headset, and its use for training of nurses were held. The total sample size of ANCs that attended a session was 14. The perception of the HoloLens PU and PEU as a teaching strategy total pre and post survey mean scores increased from 59.07 to 77 respectively (p \u3c.001). This shows significance that the ANCs perceived the HoloLens to be easy to use and useful to their job performance. Discussion The study results were significant; however, it also implies that ANCs were likely to adopt this technology prior to the educational session(s). Both PU and PEU 2 increased after the educational sessions, which demonstrates ANCs readiness to adopt this new technology into their training of nurses