Augmented reality helps surgeons ’see through’ tissue to reconnect blood vessels

Using augmented reality in the operating theatre could help surgeons to improve the outcome of reconstructive surgery for patients. In a series of procedures carried out by a team at Imperial College London at St Mary's Hospital, researchers have shown for the first time how surgeons can use Microsoft HoloLens headsets while operating on patients undergoing reconstructive lower limb surgery. The HoloLens is a self-contained computer headset that immerses the wearer in 'mixed reality', enabling them to interact with 'holograms' - computer-generated objects made visible through the visor. In the UK, headsets are currently only available for developers. The Imperial team used the technology to overlay images of CT scans - including the position of bones and key blood vessels - onto each patient's leg, in effect enabling the surgeon to 'see through' the limb during surgery. According to the team trialling the technology, the approach can help surgeons locate and reconnect key blood vessels during reconstructive surgery, which could improve outcomes for patients. "We are one of the first groups in the world to use the HoloLens successfully in the operating theatre," said Dr Philip Pratt , a Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery & Cancer and lead author of the study , published in European Radiology Experimental.