Neurosurgery is one of the most complex and difficult specialisations that surgeons can take. With this particular area, having accurate information on what needs to be operated on. A new augmented reality (AR) system called GLOW allows surgeons to get a better view.
In vascular neurosurgery, it is often necessary to use a highlighting agent such as Indocyanine Green, a fluorescent substance that allows the vascular blood flow to be seen using a near-infrared camera. However, this means surgeons must divide their time between the camera view and the view through a normal optical microscope. The AR GLOW system allows the highlighted blood flow view to be combined with the optical image.
“For the past decade Leica Microsystems has been pioneering new fluorescence imaging technologies in partnership with surgeons to advance surgical practices,” says Markus Lusser, President of Leica Microsystems. “GLOW800 and future modalities based on the GLOW AR platform will allow surgeons to perform life-changing neurosurgical interventions with the confidence that they have the best possible visual information right in the field of view.”
“Leica Microsystems is a company that works closely with neurosurgeons to bring new technologies to the market that really respond to our needs,” says Cleopatra Charalampaki, Professor of Neurosurgery, Cologne Medical Center, Germany. “GLOW800 AR is an exciting new approach which provides a totally new view during vascular neurosurgery. I have excellent spatial orientation and I am impressed with the crisp delineation of vessels. I believe GLOW800 AR fluorescence will have a significant impact on surgical outcomes in the future.”
The GLOW AR system has not yet been cleared for medical use, but visitors to the Congress of Neurological Surgeons will be able to see demonstrations of the technology.
VRFocus will continue to report on new developments in VR and AR.