SARANATHAN COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND BUSINESS

SYSTEMS

CBM356-MEDICAL INFORMATICS

PREPARED BY
S.SENTHIL ME.,(PhD).
 UNIT V- RECENT TRENDS IN MEDICAL
INFORMATICS

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
Virtual reality applications in medicine

Virtual endoscopy

Computer-assisted surgery

Surgical simulation

Telemedicine

Tele surgery

Computer-assisted patient education and health

Medical education and healthcare information

computer assisted instruction in medicine.

Virtual reality applications in medicine

• Education and Training:

• VR enables medical students and residents to practice procedures
in a safe, controlled virtual environment.
• This includes simulations of surgeries, emergency response,
anatomy exploration, and diagnostic tasks.

• A student can practice a complex heart surgery or endoscopy

multiple times in VR to improve precision and confidence before
performing on actual patients.
Contd..
• Surgical Planning and Simulation
• Surgeons can use VR to visualize patient-specific anatomy, such as a 3D
rendering of the heart, brain, or any complex area based on MRI or CT scans.

• Neurosurgeons often use VR to plan tumor removal surgeries by virtually

“walking through” a patient’s brain, identifying areas to avoid and mapping
out the safest, most effective surgical pathway.
contd..
• Pain Management
• VR helps distract patients from pain by immersing them in
relaxing, engaging environments, which can reduce the need for
painkillers.
• It can be used in managing acute pain, such as during wound care,
or chronic pain, such as arthritis.

• Burn patients experiencing intense pain during dressing changes

might use VR to immerse themselves in calming landscapes,
reducing their perceived pain levels.
Contd.
• Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
• VR can guide patients through rehabilitation exercises by tracking movements
and providing real-time feedback.
• Virtual environments make exercises more engaging, which can increase
motivation.

• A stroke patient relearning motor skills can practice reaching, grabbing, or

walking in a VR environment, with tasks tailored to their recovery goals.
Contd..
• Patient Education
• VR allows patients to explore 3D models of their own anatomy or
general medical models to better understand procedures, diagnoses,
and treatment options.

• A patient about to undergo heart surgery can explore a VR model of

the procedure, understanding what will happen step-by-step, which
might ease pre-surgery anxiety.
Contd.
• Mental Health Therapy
• VR is used in exposure therapy for mental health disorders by
exposing patients to controlled environments, such as heights,
social settings, or specific phobia triggers, in a safe space.

• A patient with PTSD from a car accident can be gradually exposed

to VR environments that resemble traffic situations, helping them
desensitize to the stimuli and manage their responses in real life.
Virtual endoscopy
• Virtual endoscopy is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses
computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to
create a 3D visualization of the interior structures of the body.
• It serves as an alternative to traditional endoscopy, where a physical
scope is inserted into the body. Virtual endoscopy allows for
visualization of areas like the colon, bronchi, and blood vessels
without requiring direct insertion.
Contd.
• Colonography (Virtual Colonoscopy)
• Use: Virtual colonoscopy is used to detect abnormalities such as
polyps or tumors within the colon. It is particularly helpful for patients
at risk of colon cancer.

• Bronchoscopy (Virtual Bronchoscopy)

• Use: This is applied to view the bronchial tubes and lungs, allowing for
the diagnosis of conditions like lung cancer, bronchitis, or other
pulmonary issues.
Contd.
• Angiography (Virtual Angiography)
• Use: Virtual angiography visualizes blood vessels and detects issues
like blockages, aneurysms, or other vascular diseases.

• Cystoscopy (Virtual Cystoscopy)

• Use: Used to visualize the bladder and urinary tract for potential
issues such as tumors, stones, or other abnormalities.
Computer-assisted surgery
• CAS is the use of computers to manipulate (Digital Imaging
and Communications in Medicine) data for planning,
performing surgery.

• CAS can be broken down into three basic steps,

• presurgical planning

• Intraoperative

• postoperative applications.
benefits of presurgical planning
• Improved diagnostic accuracy

• Virtual simulation of the surgical procedure

General workflow
Surgical simulation
• Surgical simulation (with or without computers) avoids the use of
patients for skills practice

• provides relevant technical training for trainees before they operate

on humans.
Methods
• MEDLINE

• EMBASE

• the Cochrane Library

Contd.
• refine surgical skills in a risk-free, controlled environment

• Tools:

• Virtual reality :

• Simulates real-life surgery scenarios through immersive 3D environments

• Trainees can able to practice complex procedures repeatedly without

risking patient safety.
• Augmented reality:

• AR overlays digital information, useful in understanding anatomy

Contd.
• Haptic Feedback Systems:
• These systems use force feedback to simulate the sensation of
touch.
• Artificial Intelligence:
• AI can track performance metrics during simulations, such as
time taken, accuracy, force applied, and movement patterns.
Contd..
• 3D-Printed Anatomical Models: With 3D printing, anatomical models specific to a
patient can be created.

• Simulation Labs and Mannequins: Some training centers use mannequins with sensors
to provide feedback on procedural performance.
Benefits of Surgical Simulation:

• Enhanced Skill Acquisition: Allows practice without the risk of harming patients.

• Improved Patient Outcomes: By reducing human error through practice.

• Cost Efficiency: Reduces the need for cadavers or live surgeries for training.

• Tailored Training: Enables personalized learning based on skill level and specialization.
Telemedicine
• Telemedicine refers to the practice of delivering healthcare services
remotely through the use of technology.
• It enables patients and healthcare providers to communicate and
exchange information using tools like video conferencing, mobile
apps, and online portals.
Contd..
• Remote Consultations: Patients can consult doctors without visiting a
clinic.

• Diagnostics and Monitoring: Devices such as wearables help track

health metrics.

• Prescription Services: Digital prescriptions can be provided.

• Access to Specialists: Bridges the gap for patients in remote areas.

 Telesurgery

• A cutting-edge medical procedure

• surgeons perform operations on patients in distant locations using

robotic systems

• high-speed communication technologies.

Contd..
• Robotic Systems: Advanced surgical robots controlled by surgeons

from remote locations.

• Real-time Communication: seamless interaction between the

surgeon and robotic equipment.

• Advanced Imaging: 3D imaging for precision.

Application
Access to Specialists: surgeons to operate on patients in rural areas.

Military and Space: Used in remote environments like battlefields

Education and Training: Assists in the demonstration of surgeries.

Computer-Assisted Patient
Education and Health
• Early-stage simple text-based computer systems were used.
• CAPEH uses digital tools to educate patients about health, diseases,
treatments, and self-care.

• Characteristics:
• Accessibility,

• personalization,

• interactivity,

• the use of multimedia (videos, animations, interactive graphics).

 Types
•Patient Portals:
•Secure online websites where patients can access their health records,
lab results, and educational resources.
•Examples: MyChart, FollowMyHealth.
•Mobile Health Applications (mHealth):
•Smartphone apps that provide health information, reminders for
medication, exercise, or lifestyle tracking.
•Examples: MyFitnessPal, Medisafe for medication tracking.
Contd..
•Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR):
•Use immersive VR or AR experiences to explain complex medical procedures or
health conditions.
•Particularly helpful in patient education for surgery or chronic disease
management.
•Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring:
•Video consultations and remote health monitoring tools allow patients to receive real-
time feedback and information from healthcare providers.
•Wearable Devices:
•Devices like Fitbit or Apple Watch that monitor vital signs and provide health data,
often with connected apps for insights and tips.
Benefits

• Accessibility -Patients can access information anytime, anywhere.

• Personalization-Content can be personalized based on medical history

• Cost-Effectiveness-Reduces the need for in-person education sessions

Challenges
• Digital Literacy and Accessibility Issue-Not all patients have internet

access

• Privacy and Security-patient data is secure

• Content Quality-Information must be accurate, up-to-date

• Integration with HC providers- patient education requires integration

with HC providers
Future Trends

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Advanced Analytics

• More Integration with Wearables

• Expansion of VR/AR in Education

 Medical Education and Healthcare
Information
• A process of training healthcare professionals, including doctors,

nurses, and allied health workers.

• A collection, storage, analysis, and dissemination of data to improve

patient care and medical decision-making.

Importance of Medical
Education
• Ensures quality patient care through competent professionals.

• Promotes evidence-based practices.

• Keeps healthcare professionals updated on:

• Emerging diseases.

• New treatment modalities and technologies.

Trends in Medical Education
• Use of Technology

• Problem-Based Learning (PBL)

• Competency-Based Education

• Telemedicine Integration

• Interprofessional Education (IPE)

Types:

• Electronic Health Records (EHR).

• Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS).

Emerging Trends in Healthcare
Information
• Big Data Analytics:
• Predictive analysis for disease outbreaks.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI):

• Assisting in diagnostics and personalized medicine.

• Patient Empowerment:
• Online health resources.

• Global Health Information Networks:

• Sharing knowledge across borders.
contd..
• Benefits:

• Improved data accuracy and accessibility.

• Facilitates patient-centric care.

• Challenges:

• Data security and privacy issues.

• Training healthcare providers to use advanced systems.

 Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)
in Medicine
• CAI to the use of computers to
• Deliver educational content in the medical field.

• CAI includes
• simulation tools

• e-learning platforms

• interactive software for medical education.

Importance
• self-paced learning for medical professionals.

• understanding of complex medical concepts using visualizations.

• Provides consistent, standardized training content globally.

• Reduces the dependency on physical resources like cadavers or lab

space.
Applications of CAI in Medicine
• Interactive Simulations

• E-learning Platforms

• Decision Support Training

• Evaluation and Assessment Tools