Applications and advances of immersive technology in cardiology
Hamed Keramati, Xueqing Lu, Matt Cabanag, Liao Wu, Virag Kushwaha, Susann Beier
Abstract
• Although virtual and augmented reality are being used in cardiology, numerous technical limitations limit their use. • Augmented reality is dominant in education. • Virtual and augmented reality images have helped surgeons to investigate complex anatomies accurately. • Long-term effect of using immersive technologies in cardiology is still unknown. • Applicability is mostly assessed using questionnaires. • More advanced and life-like haptic feedback systems are required to increase the similarities between real-world surgeries and immersive virtual experiences. Different forms of immersive technology, such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), are getting increasingly invested in medicine. Advances in head-mounted display technology, processing, and rendering power have demonstrated the increasing utility of immersive technology in medicine and the healthcare environment. There are a growing number of publications on using immersive technology in cardiology. We reviewed the articles published within the last decade that reported case studies or research that uses or investigates the application of immersive technology in the broad field of cardiology - from education to preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance. We summarized the advantages and disadvantages of using AR and VR for various application categories. Our review highlights the need for a robust assessment of the effectiveness of the methods and discusses the technical limitations that hinder the complete integration of AR and VR in cardiology, including cost-effectiveness and regulatory compliance. Despite the limitations and gaps that have inhibited us from benefiting from immersive technologies' full potential in cardiology settings to date, its promising, impactful future for standard cardiovascular care is undoubted.