Holograms are not just science fiction anymore. They are real three-dimensional (3D) images that can be seen without any special equipment, thanks to holography, a technique that records and reconstructs the light scattered from an object. Holographic technology has many applications, but one of the most promising and exciting ones is healthcare.
Holograms can help doctors deliver better care in different ways, such as surgery, tumour localization, medical training and remote therapy. Here are some examples of how holographic technology is helping doctors improve their skills and outcomes:
- Surgery: Holograms can provide surgeons with a 3D map of the patient’s anatomy, allowing them to plan and perform complex procedures with more precision and confidence. For instance, holograms can help surgeons navigate around certain tissue structures and avoid unnecessary damage. Holograms can also be used to observe the status of organs or bones in real-time, which can be useful for monitoring fractures or infections.
- Tumour localization: Holograms can help doctors locate tumours more accurately and safely, especially when they are deep inside the body or near vital organs. For example, holograms can help doctors visualize the exact position and shape of a brain tumour before operating on it. Holograms can also be used to guide radiation therapy or chemotherapy, ensuring that only the cancerous cells are targeted and minimizing side effects.
- Medical training: Holograms can enhance medical education by providing students with realistic 3D models of human anatomy and physiology. Students can interact with holograms using gestures or voice commands, which can improve their spatial awareness and understanding of complex concepts. Holograms can also simulate various scenarios or conditions that students may encounter in practice, such as trauma or cardiac arrest.
- Remote therapy: Holograms can enable doctors to provide treatment or consultation to patients far away or unable to travel. For example, holograms can help doctors communicate with patients who have mental health issues or chronic diseases, using 3D avatars that mimic their facial expressions and body language. Holograms can also help patients cope with pain or anxiety by creating immersive environments that distract them from their discomfort.
Holographic technology has many benefits for healthcare still it also faces some challenges. One of them is cost. The simplest holographic technologies are out-of-reach for common medical centres, requiring expensive equipment and software. Another challenge is quality. Experts have become very good at reading 2D images and manipulating 3D representations on a flat screen, so holograms may not add a huge advantage in some applications. Moreover, holograms may not be very photorealistic or stable yet, which could affect their accuracy or usability.
However, these challenges are not insurmountable. Researchers are working hard to improve holographic technology using artificial intelligence (AI), which could make it faster, cheaper and more realistic. For example, researchers at MIT have developed an AI system that can generate 3D holograms in real-time from 2D images, which could enable anyone with a smartphone to create and view holograms.
Holographic technology is still evolving, but it has already shown great potential for healthcare. By providing doctors with a complete vocabulary of a disease or malfunction without having to explain it with words—and thus avoiding misunderstandings—holographic technology could change communication and collaboration in medicine. This could lead to better diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various health problems, as well as improved patient satisfaction and well-being.
