Benefits of Virtual Reality
Benefits of Virtual Reality
Benefits of Virtual Reality
Elizabeth Miller
Dec. 8, 2020
Introduction
Jack’s brain. Wearing gloves that control the probe entering Jack’s brain, Allison
uses a computer screen with video feed from the probe and the motion of her hands
to successfully perform the delicate procedure. Star Trek is also full of futuristic
medical procedures. The episode “Latent Image” of Star Trek: Voyager opens with
the holographic doctor taking holo-images of the crew. This allows him to view a
3D image of the person’s body in order to better examine them all the way to
“subatomic” level. Because these shows are science fiction, these medical
procedures seem like something for the distant future of the medical field.
However, advances in virtual reality have made both of these procedures closer to
reality.
the medical field has found it to be a benefit. As early as 1997, Zajtchuk & Satava
improve patient care in the form of advanced educational tools and therapeutic
training and disaster planning, virtual prototyping, and psychiatric therapy and
mental health (Zajtchuk & Satava, 1997). Even though virtual reality has found a
home in each of these areas, it’s surprising that nearly two and half decades later
virtual reality is not more commonplace in medical procedures, training facilities,
and medical equipment design. What are the reasons that virtual reality has not
grown beyond the predictions Zajtchuk & Satava made in 1997? Where has virtual
reality seen success in the medical field? This paper will discuss the growth of
virtual reality in the medical field along with some of the limitations and future
Over the years, virtual reality has been integrated into medical training,
procedure. Triage Trainer and the VR training system for robotic catheter surgery
Triage Trainer
efficiently and effectively in order to save and preserve as many lives as possible.
determine which casualties need to be removed from the scene, which need
immediate attention, and which can have treatment delayed (Knight, 2013).
Although this process is fairly straight-forward and those in training typically learn
Enter the virtual reality training tool called “Triage Trainer.” In the
simulation, the first responder is placed in the scene of a disaster, such as a bomb
exploding in the street. Then, he/she “is required to follow the ALSG triage sieve
protocol to tag each casualty with the appropriate priority” (Knight, 2013). The
trainee is not learning something new but rather, practicing a skill not often used.
Users who trained on this simulation found it to be beneficial and internalized the
triage sieve process faster than those solely using the cards. However, Knight
(2013) points out that in order for Triage Trainer to be a useful training tool, it
Knight also points out that his study of Triage Trainer was a very small sample
incision to place the robotic catheter in the body (Wang et al., 2018). X-ray
guidance is required in order to accurately place the catheter with such a small
teleoperation system has been developed to allow the surgeons to view the
placement of the catheter from a safe distance. However, this leads to another
problem; surgeons have to rely on haptic force providers to determine the insertion
resistance since they cannot directly feel it. As a result, it is very difficult for new
training system with these tools allows students and new surgeons to practice the
the user with different visual signs to lead to safe catheterization (Wang et al.,
2018). Combined with tactile sensation, novices learn to be better alert and avoid
but realistic replica to use in practice. Wang et al. (2018) found that novice
surgeons who practiced with VR training system gained and maintained skills
faster than those using animals or mentorship. Once again, it is key to note that a
very small sample size of novice surgeons was used to test this VR process.
Summary
rare events that require their best performance. Other virtual reality training tools
anatomy can be taught virtually (Zajtchuk & Satava, 1997; Crawford, 2018).
However, the majority of the studies on the effectiveness of these tools include
small sample sizes that can’t be generalized to the larger medical field (Wang et
Virtual Prototyping
Microsoft HoloLens “integrates 3-D medical images with the physical elements of
the user’s surrounding environment” (Crawford, 2018). The HoloLens allows the
images to interactive; many users with same device can view the image at the same
time. In addition, viewers can walk around the holographic image and interact with
it, including opening cross-sections and removing pieces. This is beneficial for
“looking for details which they can use to improve a surgical procedure or
for best efficiency. The holo-imager from Star Trek: Voyager is a reality.
uses virtual reality on his phone to test products (Jontz, 2017). With VR on his
phone, he can become “an 80-year-old diabetic patient with compromised motor
skills and even poorer eyesight” attempting to use an insulin injector (Jontz, 2017).
Virtual prototyping allows him to empathize with different users of his equipment
and ensures he develops tools most users can utilize with success.
therapy (Hodges, 2001). As the price tag for virtual reality decreases, clinicians are
beginning to use virtual reality to provide cyber therapy. Patients can be immersed
in a realistic situation in the safety and privacy of the therapist’s office. It also
arrow hovering in mid-air” (Hodges, 2001), allowing the therapist to provide cues
PTSD, phobic patients overcoming their fears, burn victims remaining distracted
point out some limitations in who can participate in VR-based therapy; unstable
veterans were not included in the studies due to concerns about adverse reactions
blood pressure and those suffering from delusional psychosis have not used VR-
based therapy.
mental health crisis, including an increase in mental disorders and PTSD. They
note that virtual therapy will become essential to address this need, particularly
VR-based therapy. Virtual reality “can help patients cope with pain and overcome
anxiety and depression…[and] can also be used to assess and treat a wide variety
2020). Despite all the benefits virtual reality-based therapy can provide during and
after COVID-19, Aqlan & Yang also state that more research is still needed to find
Conclusion
Virtual reality has grown as a tool in the medical field according to the
predictions made by Zajtchuk & Satava (1997). Article after article explain the
medical field, there are not multiple large sample studies on the effectiveness of
attesting to its effectiveness is the small but numerous accounts of its successful
use. Harders et al. (2008) cite this as a reason that VR has not been widely
accepted across all areas of the medical field in addition to not being proven as
reality equipment has not decreased enough that insurance will necessarily pay for
its purchase and use. Fortunately, the growth of virtual reality on the cell phone
will hopefully displace that cost. In addition, if Aqlan & Yang (2020) are correct,
COVID-19 will move virtual reality from a novel tool into a more commonplace
tool in the medical and psychiatric field as medical experts look for ways to treat
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Hodges, M. (2001). Cyber Therapy: Virtual reality shows real promise in treating
Jontz, S. (2017). The virtue of virtual reality for medical devices. AFCEA: Signal
medical-devices
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Wang, G. G. (2003). Definition and review of virtual prototyping. ASME. Journal
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Wang, Y., Guo, S., Li, Y., Tamiya, T., & Song, Y. (2018). Design and evaluation
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-017-1666-2