A Plausibility Study of Using Augmented Reality in the Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Operations

The field of augmented reality (AR) has undergone substantial growth, finding diverse applications in the medical industry. This paper delves into various techniques employed in medical surgeries, scrutinizing factors such as cost, implementation, and accessibility. The focus of this exploration is on AR-based solutions, with a particular emphasis on addressing challenges and proposing an innovative solution for ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP) operations. The proposed solution introduces a novel flow in the pre-surgery phase, aiming to substantially reduce setup time and operation duration by creating 3D models of the skull and ventricles. Experiments are conducted where the models are visualized on a 3D-printed skull through an AR device, specifically the Microsoft HoloLens 2. The paper then conducts an in-depth analysis of this proposed solution, discussing its feasibility, advantages, limitations, and future implications.