Jonathan Wilhoite Blog: New Technology: Using Virtual Reality To Prepare Patients

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

New Technology: Using Virtual Reality To Prepare Patients

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Yes, you heard it right. The world’s first head transplant is going to take place sometime next year. The Italian neurosurgeon, Sergio Canavero, spearheads this project. It may sound like a sci-fi movie but the neurosurgeon is determined to turn it into reality.

He recently revealed that his team is going to help patients ease into the “new world” using the VR technology. It will help facilitate a smooth transition for the patients.

World’s First Head Transplant Will Use Virtual Reality To Prepare Patients

DrCanavero hopes to pull off this head transplant procedure by the end of 2017, in a project known as HEAVEN (Head Anastomosis Venture). His team aim to attach the severed head of a live man to the body of brain-dead donor during a 36-hour surgical operation that will involve the complex reconnection of a severed spinal cord and jugular vein. Read more…

The doctor strongly believes that the advances in attaching spinal cords that are surgically severed has the potential to support the success of the full human head transplants. His patient, 30-year-old Valery Spiridonov, is a muscular atrophy patient. The preparation involves getting inside a VR machine in order to make him feel familiar with the new body.

There are members of the scientific community who are not in line with the doctor’s project as well as the timeline of twelve months. However, that’s not going to stop the venture. The doctor has his own set of supporters as well.

World’s First Human Head Transplant Patient Uses Virtual Reality to Prepare for His Operation

But Canavero also has his supporters: Dr. Ren Xiaoping of Harbin Medical University has signed on to help Canavero with the 36-hour operation. Both doctors are widely popular for their willingness to take extreme medical risks. Read more…

Inquisitr says that the head transplant patients is going to go through the VR “therapy” to ensure that they will be ready for the life with a new body. The surgeon is going to conduct a challenging procedure. He plans to use newly-developed tools to perform the operation. There is a new type of surgical knife as well as the VR Technology involved.

The surgical blade was designed by FaridAmirouche, a professor of mechanical engineering and bioengineering at the University of Illinois. The blade that was created was characterized to be extremely accurate.

Head Transplant Patients Will Use Virtual Reality To Prepare For Life With A New Body

Inventum Bioengineering Technologies created the new virtual reality system that will help Spiridonov prepare for his life with a new body before he undergoes the surgery. Having his head transplanted onto someone else’s body is expected to have a severe psychological impact on Spiridonov, and the virtual reality system is intended to minimize the effects as much as possible. Read more…

This may sound surreal for some but it is quite an innovation if it’s going to happen. Imagine the possibilities of walking again! That is one of the major motivations for this project. However, the ethical repercussions that some of the experts point out, are also important things to consider.

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