Healthcare in Metaverse: A Survey on Current Metaverse Applications in Healthcare

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed several limitations of existing healthcare systems. Thus, there is a surge in healthcare innovation and new business models using computer-mediated virtual environments to provide an alternative healthcare system. Today, digital transformation is not limited to virtual communication alone but encompasses digitalizing the network of social connections in the healthcare industry using metaverse technology. The metaverse is a universal and immersive virtual world facilitated by virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). This paper presents the first effort to offer a comprehensive survey that examines the latest metaverse developments in the healthcare industry, which covers seven domains: telemedicine, clinical care, education, mental health, physical fitness, veterinary, and pharmaceuticals. We review metaverse applications and deeply discuss technical issues and available solutions in each domain that can help develop a self-sustaining, persistent, and future-proof solution for medical healthcare systems. Finally, we highlight the challenges that must be tackled before fully embracing the metaverse for the healthcare industry.

Metaverse: the future of medicine in a virtual world

“…(32) Algunas de las aplicaciones más destacadas del entrenamiento quirúrgico son el uso de simulaciones de realidad virtual en el entrenamiento de residentes de cirugía ortopédica en artroplastia (un procedimiento quirúrgico para restaurar la función de una articulación) como el entrenamiento en artroplastia total de cadera, glenoides (parte de la articulación del hombro) exposición en el entrenamiento de artroplastia de hombro y artroscopia de rodilla, la colocación de tornillos pediculares espinales la fijación de fracturas del eje tibial, tallado de fracturas antes de la cirugía y dinámica colocación de tornillos de cadera. (32) Los neurocirujanos de Johns Hopkins han realizado cirugías de realidad aumentada en pacientes vivos, comenzando con una cirugía de fusión espinal para fusionar tres vértebras para aliviar el dolor de espalda crónico e insoportable y la extirpación de un tumor maligno. (33) AccuVein superpone un mapa de las venas del paciente sobre la piel utilizando técnicas de proyección, que pueden ayudar potencialmente a las inyecciones intravenosas.…”

“…Las imágenes específicas del paciente para el candidato a trasplante se crean a partir de sus datos de tomografía y se mapean en su cara usando marcadores, lo que permite a los cirujanos ver el conjunto de datos superpuestos en la cara del paciente como una representación completa en forma de imágenes en 3D. (32) Sin dudas en el ámbito quirúrgico el desarrollo de estas tecnologías amentaría considerablemente la precisión de las intervenciones quirúrgicas a la vez que reducirían considerablemente el tiempo de recuperación del paciente, así como las molestias del postoperatorio. https://doi.org/10.56294/mr20224…”

MAGES 4.0: Accelerating the World’s Transition to VR Training and Democratizing the Authoring of the Medical Metaverse

“…With MAGES we propose an upgrade to the outdated 150-year-old master-apprentice medical training model. Our platform incorporates, in a nutsell, the following novelties: a) 5G edge-cloud remote rendering and physics dissection layer, b) realistic real-time simulation of organic tissues as soft-bodies under 10ms, c) a highly realistic cutting and tearing algorithm, d) neural network assessment for user profiling and, e) a VR recorder to record and replay or debrief the training simulation from any perspective.THE MEDICAL METAVERSE, despite the inflated expectations, is steadily, albeit quietly, being created [15]. Along with it, many technical questions remain, including "who will build the medical metaverse and how?"…”

“…THE MEDICAL METAVERSE, despite the inflated expectations, is steadily, albeit quietly, being created [15]. Along with it, many technical questions remain, including "who will build the medical metaverse and how?"…”

“…The extended pandemic crisis highlighted the need for effective medical training, along with the inadequacy of the 150-year-old surgical training model [14]. Computational medical science aims to accelerate world's transition to VR medical training in the metaverse [15] and empower medical professionals to enhance their proficiency and ultimately improve patient outcomes [S1], [16], [17], [12].…”