Comparison of Augmented Reality Display Techniques to Support Medical Needle Insertion

Chiral quasi bound states in the continuum for augmented reality

Augmented Reality technology enables users to interact with virtual imagines and the real world. The emergence of AR has propelled the development of the next generation of optical devices towards miniaturization, lightweight design, and enhanced light field manipulation capabilities. However, current AR glass still suffer from shortcomings of low efficiency. This work proposes a near-eye display device based on bilayer chiral quasi-BIC (Bound States in the continuum) nonlocal metasurfaces which can reflect narrow bandwidth RGB light with high efficiency while being able to see the natural environment clearly. At the same time, the geometric phase is introduced to realize oblique emission and reflective focusing. Due to its ability to manipulate narrowband light fields, it can reduce the interaction of metasurfaces and environment light, and has potential applications in the fields of imaging and near-eye display.

Design Patterns for Situated Visualization in Augmented Reality

Situated visualization has become an increasingly popular research area in the visualization community, fueled by advancements in augmented reality (AR) technology and immersive analytics. Visualizing data in spatial proximity to their physical referents affords new design opportunities and considerations not present in traditional visualization, which researchers are now beginning to explore. However, the AR research community has an extensive history of designing graphics that are displayed in highly physical contexts. In this work, we leverage the richness of AR research and apply it to situated visualization. We derive design patterns which summarize common approaches of visualizing data in situ. The design patterns are based on a survey of 293 papers published in the AR and visualization communities, as well as our own expertise. We discuss design dimensions that help to describe both our patterns and previous work in the literature. This discussion is accompanied by several guidelines which explain how to apply the patterns given the constraints imposed by the real world. We conclude by discussing future research directions that will help establish a complete understanding of the design of situated visualization, including the role of interactivity, tasks, and workflows.

Evaluation of AR visualization approaches for catheter insertion into the ventricle cavity

Augmented reality (AR) has shown potential in computer-aided surgery. It allows for the visualization of hidden anatomical structures as well as assists in navigating and locating surgical instruments at the surgical site. Various modalities (devices and/or visualizations) have been used in the literature, but few studies investigated the adequacy/superiority of one modality over the other. For instance, the use of optical see-through (OST) HMDs has not always been scientifically justified. Our goal is to compare various visualization modalities for catheter insertion in external ventricular drain and ventricular shunt procedures. We investigate two AR approaches: (1) 2D approaches consisting of a smartphone and a 2D window visualized through an OST (Microsoft HoloLens 2), and (2) 3D approaches consisting of a fully aligned patient model and a model that is adjacent to the patient and is rotationally aligned using an OST. 32 participants joined this study. For each visualization approach, participants were asked to perform five insertions after which they filled NASA-TLX and SUS forms. Moreover, the position and orientation of the needle with respect to the planning during the insertion task were collected. The results show that participants achieved a better insertion performance significantly under 3D visualizations, and the NASA-TLX and SUS forms reflected the preference of participants for these approaches compared to 2D approaches.

User's image perception improved strategy and application of augmented reality systems in smart medical care: A review

BACKGROUND

Augmented reality (AR) is a new human-computer interaction technology that combines virtual reality, computer vision, and computer networks. With the rapid advancement of the medical field towards intelligence and data visualisation, AR systems are becoming increasingly popular in the medical field because they can provide doctors with clear enough medical images and accurate image navigation in practical applications. However, it has been discovered that different display types of AR systems have different effects on doctors' perception of the image after virtual-real fusion during the actual medical application. If doctors cannot correctly perceive the image, they may be unable to correctly match the virtual information with the real world, which will have a significant impact on their ability to recognise complex structures.

METHODS

This paper uses Citespace, a literature analysis tool, to visualise and analyse the research hotspots when AR systems are used in the medical field.

RESULTS

A visual analysis of the 1163 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database reveals that display technology and visualisation technology are the key research directions of AR systems at the moment.

CONCLUSION

This paper categorises AR systems based on their display principles, reviews current image perception optimisation schemes for various types of systems, and analyses and compares different display types of AR systems based on their practical applications in the field of smart medical care so that doctors can select the appropriate display types based on different application scenarios. Finally, the future development direction of AR display technology is anticipated in order for AR technology to be more effectively applied in the field of smart medical care. The advancement of display technology for AR systems is critical for their use in the medical field, and the advantages and disadvantages of various display types should be considered in different application scenarios to select the best AR system.

The Advantage of Using an Optical See-Through Head-Mounted Display in Ultrasonography-Guided Needle Biopsy Procedures: A Prospective Randomized Study

An optical see-through head-mounted display (OST-HMD) can potentially improve the safety and accuracy of ultrasonography (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of an OST-HMD in US-guided needle-puncture procedures. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study in which we compared the accuracy and safety of the US-guided needle puncture procedure and the stress on the practitioner when using OST-HMD versus standard US display (SUD). Inexperienced medical students were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. A breast phantom was used to evaluate the required time and accuracy of the US-guided needle puncture. Practitioner stress was quantified using a visual analog scale (VAS). When the procedure was performed for the first time, the time required to reach the target lesion at a shallow depth was significantly shorter in the OST-HMD group (39.8 ± 39.9 s) than in the SUD group (71.0 ± 81.0 s) (p = 0.01). Using the OST-HMD significantly reduced the unintentional puncture of a non-target lesion (p = 0.01). Furthermore, the stress felt by the practitioners when capturing the image of the target lesion (p < 0.001), inserting and advancing the needle more deeply (p < 0.001), and puncturing the target lesion (p < 0.001) was significantly reduced in the OST-HMD group compared with that in the SUD group. Use of OST-HMD may improve the accuracy and safety of US-guided needle puncture procedures and may reduce practitioner stress during the procedure.

Augmented Reality-Assisted Navigation System for Transforaminal Epidural Injection

Purpose

Multiple studies have attempted to demonstrate the benefits of augmented reality (AR)-assisted navigation systems in surgery. Lumbosacral transforaminal epidural injection is an effective treatment commonly used in patients with radiculopathy due to spinal degenerative pathologies. However, few studies have applied AR-assisted navigation systems to this procedure. The study aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of an AR-assisted navigation system for transforaminal epidural injection.

Patients and Methods

Through a real-time tracking system and a wireless network to the head-mounted display, computed tomography images of the spine and the path of a spinal needle to the target were visualized on a torso phantom with respiration movements installed. From L1/L2 to L5/S1, needle insertions were performed using an AR-assisted system on the left side of the phantom, and the conventional method was performed on the right side.

Results

The procedure duration was approximately three times shorter, and the number of radiographs required was reduced in the experimental group compared to the control group. The distance from the needle tips to the target areas in the plan showed no significant difference between the two groups. (AR group 1.7 ± 2.3mm, control group 3.2 ± 2.8mm, P value 0.067).

Conclusion

An AR-assisted navigation system may be used to reduce the time required for spinal interventions and ensure the safety of patients and physicians in view of radiation exposure. Further studies are essential to apply AR-assisted navigation systems to spine interventions.