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igitalisation is transforming how information is shared and communicated in the medical fields. The global market for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in healthcare was estimated at $1.5bn in 2022, and is expected to hit $13bn by 2032. AR enables users to overlay digital content in headsets or microscopes – then directly interact with data virtually and in real time. These technologies are unsurprisingly enhancing diagnostics, and the ability of surgeons to see digital content like CT scans during procedures, both of which can de-risk complex surgeries and improve outcomes.


Augmented reality is gaining ground in healthcare – but OEMs are discovering it’s equally useful on the manufacturing shop floor. From mitigating human error to enhancing training delivery, should we expect these technologies to dominate medical factories over the years ahead? Lauren Hurrell talks to Dr John Ahmet Erkoyuncu, a professor in digital engineering at Cranfield University, and Dr Kavin Andi, a consultant maxillofacial head and neck surgeon at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, to discuss the unique learnings gleaned from AR in healthcare – and its potential impact in transforming medical manufacturing.


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Not that operating theatres are the only places to be transformed by these new technologies. At the cusp of Industry 4.0, after all, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are now adopting AR on the factory shop floor too, transforming accuracy and efficiency as AR takes process standardisation to new heights. For Dr John Ahmet Erkoyuncu, a professor in digital engineering at Cranfield University, the potential of AR in healthcare and manufacturing is “huge” – but comes with persistent challenges. That includes design and data accessibility, technical issues with tracking, and the need for


60 Medical Device Developments / www.nsmedicaldevices.com


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