University Hospital Leipzig partnered with Apple to hold its first workshop on spatial computing for neurosurgeons in November 2024. The course offered insights into and hands-on practice with this latest technology.

Spatial computing is an emerging technology which allows the digital and physical world to interact with one another. In healthcare fields such as neurosurgery it aims to help physicians mitigate risks and improve patient outcomes. University Hospital Leipzig and research group LEGEND (LEipzig NeurosurGical 3D REsearch aNd Development Center) held their first workshop to introduce neurosurgeons to this innovation. Supported by Apple and MedTech Cluster biosaxony e. V., the half-day course offered theoretical knowledge and practice sessions on Apple’s VisionPro.

Participants learned on 3D printed patients models about what role spatial computing technology can play before and during complex operations such as brain surgery. Augmented reality (AR), for example, simultaneously lets surgeons see a digital 3D image of a patient’s brain structures superimposed on the actual operating field. This gives neurosurgeons a detailed and real-time view of the brain’s anatomy, helping them visualize and plan how best to perform brain biopsy or tumor resection.

During the hands-on part of the workshop, attendees were able to experience the eye and hand tracking capabilities of the VisionPro, among other things. For example, the device can respond to a surgeon’s gaze and/or gestures by bringing up relevant data or adjusting visualizations. This allows surgeons to interact with digital information hands-free, keeping the operating room’s sterile environment intact at all times. The device can also implement sound cues to reduce distractions and keep teams focused. Participants thus went home with a better understanding of how spatial computing can assist neurosurgeons in planning operations and navigating the surgical field.