Amrita Hospital introduces extended reality ecosystem in healthcare

The integration of this advanced technology in clinical practice marks a major milestone in the healthcare industry of India, according to experts.

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Dr Mahesh Kappanayil, Professor, Paediatric Cardiologist and Lead at 3D Labs, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said, "The implementation of extended reality application at Amrita Hospital is the result of several years of extensive work by our team of researchers."

The technology has already been deployed in the treatment of 150 patients, with excellent outcomes. Extended reality was initially popularized in the gaming industry. It was a big challenge to overcome the complexity of integrating gaming technologies into medicine.

Dr Mahesh Kappanayil added that "By embracing metaverse concepts and utilizing patient data such as CT scans, the XR system allows doctors to understand complex defects, precisely plan difficult surgeries and collaborate with their counterparts from anywhere in the world, leveraging remote connectivity to discuss patient cases and develop treatment plans."

"We are planning to further enhance the capabilities of the XR system by adding immersive teaching tools for medical students, telemedicine operations, and enhanced remote connectivity.”

“Amrita Hospital's Pediatric Cardiac Unit has been at the forefront of utilizing 3D printing and extended reality (AR/VR) technologies for the clinical benefit of patients. These state-of-the-art 3D+ technologies enable doctors to create precise replicas of real or actual heart or any organ, facilitating in-depth study and preparation before actual surgery,'' said Dr Krishnakumar, Professor and Head of Paediatric Cardiology, Amrita Hospital, Kochi.

Amrita Hospital houses India's first "point of care" medical 3D printing and virtual reality laboratory. This advanced facility is one of the few of its kind and is now being utilized by multiple medical specialties to provide precision and personalized medicine to patients.

"We are now able to treat patients who have been rejected by other hospitals due to doctors' constraints to understand the structural complexities of organs and plan the surgeries effectively. The process involves converting a patient's real CT scan into a digital 3D file, allowing doctors to examine each case in three dimensions using 3D printing technology or AR/VR,” said Dr Mahesh Kappanayil.

In 2022, a three-and-a-half-year-old girl from Uganda faced a unique and unprecedented medical situation. Rejected by several hospitals due to the complexity and rarity of her condition, she found hope at Amrita Hospital Kochi.

“The successful outcome brought hope not only to the girl's family but also to the medical community as a whole,” Dr Brijesh P Kottayil, Associate Professor, Department of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Amrita Hospital, Kochi.

Amrita Hospital has been utilizing 3D printing since 2015, empowering surgeons with extensive pre-surgical planning capabilities.

"Sense of fulfillment and happiness are heightened when we are empowered to provide exceptional patient care through the utilization of advanced technologies."

"This not only benefits the patients but also contributes to the growth and development of future doctors, enabling them to acquire a deeper understanding of various medical situations and gain valuable learning experiences," said Dr Prem Nair, Group Medical Director, Amrita Hospitals.

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