Medivis
SurgicalAR
Augmented reality for surgery.
Define innovation
Innovation is the process of creating, developing, and implementing new ideas, methods,
products, or services that improve upon existing solutions or introduce entirely new ways
of doing things. It can occur in various fields, including technology, business, science, and
the arts, and is driven by the need for efficiency, problem-solving, and progress.
Innovation can be incremental (small, continuous improvements), disruptive (radically
changing industries), or breakthrough (introducing entirely new concepts).
Medivis is an innovative company that uses augmented reality (AR) and
artificial intelligence (AI) to transform medical imaging and surgical
navigation. Their SurgicalAR platform gives surgeons the ability to view
3D anatomical structures in real-time, helping them make more precise
What is the decisions and plan surgeries with greater accuracy. They also offer
AnatomyX, an interactive tool that helps medical students and
innovation?
professionals learn anatomy in a more hands-on way. By combining AR,
AI, and cutting-edge imaging technology, Medivis is improving both how
surgeries are performed and how medical education is delivered,
leading to better patient outcomes and more efficient training.
When was it first introduced and by whom?
• Medivis was founded in 2017 by Dr. Ben Hwang and Dr. D.J. Lee. The company was
created with the aim of transforming the medical field through the use of augmented
reality and artificial intelligence, focusing on improving surgical precision and medical
education.
What needs does the PSE meet?
• Improved Surgical Precision: Surgeons can visualize 3D anatomical structures in real-time using
SurgicalAR, enhancing their ability to perform complex surgeries with greater accuracy and reducing
the risk of errors.
• Enhanced Medical Education: AnatomyX addresses the need for more interactive, engaging, and
effective ways to learn human anatomy. By using AR to visualize anatomical structures in 3D, it offers
a deeper understanding compared to traditional methods like textbooks or 2D images.
• Reduction of Reliance on Traditional Imaging: It reduces the dependency on 2D images, such as X-
rays and CT scans, which can sometimes be difficult to interpret. AR provides a clearer, more dynamic
way to view the body’s internal structures.
• Improving Patient Outcomes: By offering better visualization and more accurate surgery, Medivis
ultimately meets the need for improving patient outcomes, minimizing complications, and speeding up
recovery times.
• Efficient Surgical Planning: The platform helps with pre-surgical planning by giving surgeons a
detailed, accurate view of a patient's anatomy before the procedure, allowing for better preparation
and decision-making.
Is it a new PSE or a development of an existing
one?
Medivis was developed from existing technologies in augmented reality (AR), artificial
intelligence (AI), and medical imaging. It builds on 3D medical visualisation, where
models are created from CT and MRI scans, and integrates AR to allow surgeons to
interact with these models in real-time during surgery. Additionally, AI, which has been
used to analyse medical images, is combined to provide automated, real-time guidance
during procedures. By merging these technologies, Medivis enhances surgical precision
and medical education, offering a more interactive and efficient way to visualise and
learn human anatomy.
How has the PSE changed since it was first
introduced?
• Improved AR Integration: Initially, Medivis focused on basic AR visualisation of anatomical structures.
Over time, the platform has enhanced its real-time interactivity, allowing surgeons to make more
precise adjustments and plan surgeries with greater accuracy by seamlessly overlaying 3D models
onto the patient's body during surgery.
• Expanded AI Capabilities: The AI component has grown from offering simple image analysis to now
providing automated, real-time guidance for surgeries, helping surgeons make more informed
decisions during procedures. This has greatly enhanced its ability to predict potential challenges and
guide surgeons through complex cases.
• Broader Medical Education Impact: The AnatomyX platform has evolved to provide even more
interactive and engaging learning experiences for medical students and professionals, offering
detailed 3D visualisations and simulations that allow for a deeper understanding of human anatomy
than traditional 2D methods.
• Increased Adoption in Clinical Settings: The platform has expanded its use beyond research settings
and is increasingly being adopted in operating rooms and medical schools, improving the efficiency of
surgeries and medical training.
What factors have impacted on its development - timing,
available and emerging technologies, historical and cultural,
political, economic and legal factors, marketing strategies?
• Timing and Available Technologies: Advances in AR and AI enabled Medivis to create SurgicalAR,
offering real-time 3D visualisation from CT and MRI scans for precise surgical planning.
• Historical and Cultural Factors: The shift towards minimally invasive surgeries and more interactive
learning led to Medivis’ AnatomyX, an AR tool for engaging medical education with 3D anatomy
models.
• Political and Legal Factors: Medivis complied with healthcare regulations like FDA approval and
benefited from political support for digital health innovations, encouraging investment.
• Economic Factors: Medivis’ ability to reduce surgical errors and recovery time led to cost savings,
making it appealing to healthcare providers seeking long-term efficiency.
• Marketing Strategies: Medivis targeted medical institutions and medical schools, securing
partnerships with Johns Hopkins and NYU, boosting credibility and adoption.
• Emerging Technologies: Medivis incorporated AI for predictive insights and cloud computing for real-
time access and collaboration, enhancing its capabilities in surgery and education.
How has the innovation benefited the individual
(use specific examples of users)?
Benefits to individuals Negative impacts to individuals
Surgeons: SurgicalAR improves precision Surgeons' Dependence on Technology:
during surgeries, as seen with Dr. Patrick Surgeons may become too reliant on the
Byrne using it for brain surgeries to enhance technology, affecting adaptability in
accuracy and reduce errors. unexpected situations.
Medical Students: AnatomyX provides Access and Equity: High costs may limit
interactive 3D models, improving learning for access, creating healthcare disparities
Johns Hopkins students by offering a more between wealthy and low-resource settings.
immersive experience.
Privacy Concerns: Storing sensitive medical
Patients: Better surgical planning leads to data on the cloud raises risks regarding
shorter recovery times and fewer patient privacy and data security.
complications, benefiting patients
undergoing surgeries like spinal procedures.
How has the innovation impacted on society?
• Improved Healthcare Outcomes: Medivis enhances surgical precision, leading to
better patient outcomes, fewer complications, and faster recovery.
• Advancing Medical Education: AnatomyX offers interactive 3D models, improving
students' understanding of anatomy and better preparing them for medical practice.
• Increased Access to Technology: While still costly, Medivis makes advanced surgical
and educational tools more accessible to healthcare providers, especially in developed
regions.
• Promotion of Digital Health: Medivis promotes AI and AR in healthcare, driving further
investment and shaping the future of digital health technologies.
Conduct a life cycle analysis on this innovation (i.e. the
materials and resources that go into producing it).
MATERIAL LIFE CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
1. Raw Materials & Resources: Medivis uses AR
• Energy Use: High energy consumption
headsets (e.g., Microsoft HoloLens), servers, and
computing infrastructure requiring metals, rare earth during production and use, especially in
elements, and energy for development.
cloud services and device power.
2. Manufacturing & Production: Producing AR devices
and servers involves electronics manufacturing with • E-waste: Hardware creates e-waste that
plastics, metals, and semiconductors, generating e-
waste and energy consumption. requires recycling to avoid environmental
3. Use Phase: Medivis’ platform consumes electricity for harm.
AR devices and cloud servers, with energy use
depending on the region’s energy mix. • Raw Material Sourcing: The extraction of
4. End of Life: Devices like AR headsets and servers materials for components has
contribute to e-waste, requiring proper recycling, and
software discontinuation involves data deletion and environmental costs, such as mining
energy for decommissioning.
waste.
What do you see as the future for this
innovation?
Wider Adoption in Healthcare: Medivis’ AR and AI technology could become standard in
surgeries, improving precision and accessibility as AR hardware and AI continue to advance.
Integration with Other Technologies: Future updates may integrate with 5G for real-time
data sharing or robotic surgery for more accurate procedures.
Global Expansion: As costs decrease, Medivis could expand to low-resource regions,
improving healthcare access, potentially through partnerships with global health
organizations.
Enhanced Education & Training: Medivis’ platform could evolve into immersive VR or mixed
reality training, allowing students to perform virtual surgeries and interact with patients.
Personalized Medicine: The platform could integrate genomic or patient-specific data,
offering more personalized surgical approaches.
Exam style question
In recent years, there has been an increase in the incorporation of AI and AR in medicine
and medical technologies. answer the following:
• Analyse the potential benefits and negative impacts these innovations could have on
individuals and society.
• Discuss the future of similar innovations, considering emerging technologies and global
expansion.
