Cromwell Hospital has become the first hospital in the UK and Europe to use Apple Vision Pro, a mixed reality headset, as a logistics and organisational tool.
Introduced to the hospital by eXeX, a leader in artificial intelligence and spatial computing for surgery organisation and workflow optimisation, surgeons Mr Fady Sedra and Mr Syed Aftab, part of the Complex Spine group who operate out of Cromwell Hospital, used the technology to successfully perform two microsurgical spine procedures.
Cromwell Hospital and eXeX partnered in 2023 to introduce AI technology to the hospital’s operating theatres to help optimise surgical procedures such as equipment setup, inventory control and resource allocation optimisation. Surgical technicians can then view and interact with those profiles via mixed reality and within the sterile field of the OR, granting them access to data and visualisation that was previously never available.
eXeX’s software with the Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset offers nurses and technicians holographic and touch-free access to the surgical setup and the procedural guides from within the sterile field of the operating room, something which has significantly increase efficiency of surgical delivery, with equipment and workflow accuracy, improving patient outcomes.
Mr Syed Aftab, Consultant Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon said: “Working with eXeX to use the Apple Vision Pro has made a huge difference to the way we deliver care to our patients. The software is seamless and has improved efficiency within the Complex Spine team. It’s a real privilege to be the first team in the UK and Europe to use this software within surgery and I’m looking forward to seeing how this technology advances and the impact it can have across hospitals in the UK.”
Kate Bovell, Chief Operating Officer at Cromwell Hospital, said: “At Cromwell Hospital, we are committed to innovation and improving how healthcare is delivered to benefit all patients, whether it is through harnessing robotic or AI technology, or using the latest, evidence-base approaches to deliver care. eXeX stands at the forefront of surgical technological advancements, and their philosophy for patient outcomes is inspiring. We are delighted to be working with them.”