FX.co ★ UK Surgical Team Harnesses Apple Vision Pro For Spinal Surgeries

In London's Cromwell Hospital, a surgical team employed the use of Apple's Vision Pro headset to successfully complete two spinal surgeries. The $3,500 headset was donned by a scrub nurse who assisted leading surgeons Fady Sedra and Syed Aftab, aiding in the surgical preparations and throughout the procedures.

The Vision Pro headset allowed the team to view virtual screens in the operating room, making tool selection and procedure monitoring more efficient. Notably, the software used during these procedures was developed by eXeX, a company specializing in the creation of AI-driven applications for surgical use.

Syed Aftab expressed gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to use the Apple Vision Pro, developed in conjunction with eXeX, saying it significantly improved patient care. He said, "It’s a privilege to be the first team in the UK and Europe to use this software for surgery. I’m enthusiastic to see how this technology will evolve and potentially impact hospitals at large."

Previously, Apple had touted the Vision Pro as potentially being the cornerstone of the future of medical devices. In a press release, they noted that Stryker, a medical technology firm, is developing a dedicated application for Vision Pro called "myMako." This app is to aid doctors in creating surgical plans for knee and hip replacements with the use of 3D models and other tools.

Apple further added that many healthcare developers are utilizing the unique capabilities of Vision Pro's operating system to create applications that are transformative in nature. These innovations span various medical areas including clinical education, surgical planning, medical imaging, behavioral health, and training among others. Companies like Fundamental Surgery, CollaboratOR 3D, and Complete HeartX are harnessing this innovative technology to positively impact the healthcare sector.

In another recent development reported by CNBC, Apple's competitor, Meta Platforms, developed a virtual reality headset that was employed by doctors at Kettering Health Dayton in Ohio for a 2022 mock procedure. This technology has also been used by healthcare professionals to practice surgeries prior to actual operations.