Apple Vision Pro Speeds Up Surgery by Almost 20%

[VisceralRealist]

Apple absolutely thought of medical professionals using it. So many keep missing the fact that it was released as a "Pro" device intentionally, because Apple was targeting these exact types of users. That consumers find this very expensive technology too expensive has only muddied its reputation. It was always intended for professional usage, such as this. And a 30-40 minute usage window is well within the neck-weight threshold.

I mean, most of the marketing was about consuming content and taking “spatial” photos and videos of your loved ones. It was most certainly marketed at consumers.

 

[mctrees02]

When I'm having critical surgery, I always like it done "as fast as possible".

/s

So you're saying you want to be under anesthesia for as long as possible?

 

[turbineseaplane]

I mean, most of the marketing was about consuming content and taking “spatial” photos and videos of your loved ones. It was most certainly marketed at consumers.

The ret-conning of "what Apple intended for Vision Pro" will continue unabated until somebody finds a narrative that sticks with what it's actually useful and being used for (not much).

 

[turbineseaplane]

So you're saying you want to be under anesthesia for as long as possible?

No, I didn't say that, but I appreciate the effort at a retort anyhow, even if it totally missed the mark.
👏

 

[jlc1978]

Seem to be going down the same route Microsoft did with HoloLens

Once they realise there isn’t much of a market for these devices they then push into specialist markets, sales fall further, then development on new models stalls, the product becomes outmoded and then they give up.

I would not underestimate the potential for use in specialized markets, which could support R&D useful for mass market items. In addition, tightly integrating it with other Apple products could add marginal revenue. It just depends on Apple's willingness to go into those markets, and coming in with viable less expensive tool is a compelling idea.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I would not underestimate the potential for use in specialized markets, which could support R&D useful for mass market items. In addition, tightly integrating it with other Apple products could add marginal revenue. It just depends on Apple's willingness to go into those markets, and coming in with viable less expensive tool is a compelling idea.

I agree there is probably a business here, but it sure is significantly different from any of the existing core businesses Apple is into.

 

[ipedro]

I'm curious about the process of sterilization after a surgery. Vision Pro isn't waterproof. The interior is fairly sealed but the exterior would need to be cleaned. Blood and other fluids will almost certainly make it up to their face which is why they wear goggles during surgery. How are Vision Pros cleaned?

 

[swester]

You know, I wouldn't normally think of speed alone as the most important variable in surgery...I sure hope this is accounting for the speed of successful surgery.

 

[jlc1978]

I agree there is probably a business here, but it sure is significantly different from any of the existing core businesses Apple is into.

I agree, and it probably hinges on how pale views those business opportunities a growth opportunities. They are not as far afield as a car, and Apple already is in some, such as healthcare so at least has an idea of the regulatory landscape. With their money, they can hire or buy whatever they need if teh decided to go in that direction.

 

[ifxf]

I rather have quality over speed with any medical procedure.

 

[robertmorris2]

Surgeons who wore an Apple Vision Pro as their primary display during a tear duct procedure finished operations 19% faster than surgeons using a traditional monitor, according to a peer-reviewed study by UC San Diego.

The study, published in the journal AJO International (via iPhone in Canada), looked at 32 endoscopic surgeries to clear blocked tear ducts. In half the cases, surgeons wore Vision Pro headsets that streamed the endoscopic video feed directly into their field of view instead of looking at a monitor across the room, letting them keep a natural forward-facing posture throughout.

Average operative time came in at 34.4 minutes with the Vision Pro, compared to 42.7 minutes with the traditional monitor. Every case in both groups succeeded with no complications, and all five surgeons involved said they preferred operating with the headset, reporting lower physical and mental workload.

The researchers also found the Vision Pro was cheaper and far smaller than the monitor setup it replaced, though they caution the study is small and preliminary, and call for larger trials to confirm the results.

Article Link: Apple Vision Pro Speeds Up Surgery by Almost 20%

Comments here on the cost.
I worked in the OR for 50 years.
Technolgy came and went with every advance in technique and medical knowledge.
Medical equiptment has always been very expensive.
If this headset can replace monitors and required support equiptment then it could well save costs on hardware and time.
Time not only for the procedure but also setup and teardown time.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Comments here on the cost.
I worked in the OR for 50 years.
Technolgy came and went with every advance in technique and medical knowledge.
Medical equiptment has always been very expensive.
If this headset can replace monitors and required support equiptment then it could well save costs on hardware and time.
Time not only for the procedure but also setup and teardown time.

Naturally this will reduce costs for the patient, right?

It won't just add to the margins for the care provider and/or the insurance company, right?

Right?

😳 😬

 

[Johnny London]

Apple could absolutely eat into the profits of the medical equipment industry - it’s still significantly cheaper at the same quality, if not better

 

[RedWeasel]

Apple could absolutely eat into the profits of the medical equipment industry - it’s still significantly cheaper at the same quality, if not better

Macs are just very uncommon in that field, as far as I can tell.

 

[baryon]

This is great but if consumers don't want to buy it then Apple is going to discontinue it just like the Mac Pro. Then a medical company will step in, make a worse version of the product and sell it for 30 times the price knowing that hospitals will buy it anyway.

 

[axantas]

I rather have quality over speed with any medical procedure.

What about more quality due to technical assistance AND speed?

 

[ghanwani]

Sounds like a PR stunt.

 

[subjonas]

No, but if surgeries can be faster and equally good with quality, faster is better. More time under anesthesia can be a problem for people. Surgeons can end up fatigued.

Faster could also mean that more patients are seen, which reduces wait time for procedures.

Exactly. Faster benefits everyone in this case. Less opportunity for the all encompassing complications which is a leading cause of death. I think some people may be confusing faster with rushed, but the important distinction here is that the time being cut away is the cumbersome type that actually gets in the way of care, which leaves more time and energy and focus for actual care.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Sounds like a PR stunt.

Correct. There's almost a formula to this type of article (not just about AVP, but many products looking for some kind of traction) and it's very much a PR strategy.

It's a bit akin to the "iPhone XYZ used to film a real movie!"

 

[turbineseaplane]

Exactly. Faster benefits everyone in this case. Less opportunity for complications which are all too common. I think some people may be confusing faster with rushed, but the important distinction here is that the time being cut away is the cumbersome type that actually gets in the way of good care, which leaves more time and energy and focus for actual care.

You're assuming "actual care" quality is the focus of those who make the financial decisions in healthcare.
In the US at least, it's a very muddy picture there.

All the "gains" on something like this could very easily just be absorbed into "better margins" .. you know, like Apple themselves like to do.

 

[longofest]

It feels like a Quest 3 could do the same thing at 1/5 the cost though.

 

[Mr_Ed]

This is great but if consumers don't want to buy it then Apple is going to discontinue it just like the Mac Pro. Then a medical company will step in, make a worse version of the product and sell it for 30 times the price knowing that hospitals will buy it anyway.

Yeah, at the end of the day they happened to use AVP in this study but the main advantage mentioned is ergonomic (natural forward looking vs straining neck to look at external monitor) and could be accomplished by any HMD.

 

[theorist9]

In other news, surgeons using an older version of the Meta headset inadvertently removed their patient's legs.

 

[turbineseaplane]

In other news, surgeons using an older version of the Meta headset inadvertently removed their pateient's legs.

Legs not needed in the Metaverse

-Mark Z ✌️

 

[Johnny London]

Naturally this will reduce costs for the patient, right?

It won't just add to the margins for the care provider and/or the insurance company, right?

Right?

😳 😬

That’s never the main goal. It’s precision, setup, comfort, competitive curiosity. Takes time for market pressure to push prices down, which eventually happens -that is, unless you let politicians, and their idealism, get involved.