The movie tagline says that in space no one can hear you scream, but what if they could hear you scream and were unable to help because they had no medical training? It could be a tad annoying, especially if it was just the two of you heading off on an unending journey into deep space. Don’t fear. Augmented reality (AR) is coming to the rescue. The European Space Agency (ESA) has developed a wearable AR prototype called Computer Assisted Medical Diagnosis and Surgery System, CAMDASS, that allows a medically untrained user to diagnose and treat an ill or injured patient.
HeadsetCurrently it only works with ultrasound examinations, but this is just the beginning for this technology. Working on the basis that the further we go into the reaches of the cosmos, the less likely the astronauts on the spaceship will be able to contact earth for assistance, this device will enable any crew member—no matter how insignificant their medical knowledge—to diagnose problems and potentially perform surgery, using guidance from CAMDASS.CAMDASS uses a stereo head-mounted display and an ultrasound tool tracked via an infrared camera. The patient is tracked using markers placed at the site of interest.An ultrasound device is linked with CAMDASS and the system allows the patient's body to be 'registered' to the camera and the display calibrated to each wearer's vision.3D augmented reality cue cards are then displayed in the headset to guide the wearer. These are provided by matching points on a 'virtual human' and the registered patient. This guides the wearer to position and move the ultrasound probe.Reference ultrasound images give users an indication of what they should be seeing, and speech recognition allows hands-free control.Augmented reality viewThe system was tested with medical students in Brussels and they managed to perform procedures without help from anyone else. The technology has other implications here on earth too. “Once it reaches maturity, the system might also be used as part of a telemedicine system to provide remote medical assistance via satellite,” notes Arnaud Runge, a biomedical engineer overseeing the project for ESA.[via Physorg.com]Photo credits: ESA/Space Applications Service NV
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