A South Korea-based start-up has launched a pair of extended reality wearable displays designed for surgeons.
Revealing the news, MediThinQ said it has also secured “significant deals” with $30bn-revenue medical devices giant Medtronic, which will exclusively distribute its products in the US and Japan.
Healthcare tech incubator VentureBlick has also backed it.
Mr Seungjoon Im, Founder & CEO of MediThinQ, said: “We are proud of the groundbreaking technology we’ve cultivated over the past six years, which sets a new standard in the market.
“It’s even more rewarding to see our innovations making their way into operating theatres worldwide.
“We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our partners who have joined us on this transformative journey, and to VentureBlick for orchestrating these pivotal moments and connecting the dots behind the scenes.”
MediThinQ said its augmented reality glasses display critical information to surgeons, avoiding the need to divert their eyes from patients.
Alongside this, the firm announced a multimillion-dollar investment from Singapore-based medical devices manufacturer JLK Technology.
MediThinQ’s said its two flagship products – Scopeye and MetaSCOPE – hold regulatory approval in markets including the US, Europe, Japan, and South Korea.
The company also teased future product launches, including a line targeting the Chinese market and applications for its technology beyond the medical industry.
XR in Surgery
XR Today has previously reported on other examples of extended reality being used in operating theatres.
In November, Hamad General Hospital (HMC) in Qatar achieved a milestone by conducting the country’s first spinal surgery using augmented reality (AR)-based solutions.
The surgery, reported by national news outlet The Peninsula, involved the successful removal of a cancerous tumour from a patient’s spine. This was made possible through the use of the “Augmented Reality with Electronic Navigation” tool from NextAR Spinal, marking a significant advancement in neurosurgery for Qatar and the wider Middle East region.
Dr. Sirajeddin Belkhair, Head of Neurosurgery at HMC, highlighted the effectiveness of the AR technology in guiding surgical teams during the operation. Through electronic glasses worn by the surgeon, CT scans or MRI images of the patient could be overlaid, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the procedure.
The patient, aged 60, had previously suffered a spinal cord injury but successfully underwent surgery to remove the tumour, followed by spinal stabilisation.
The NextAR Spinal solution, owned by Medacta International, utilises Bluetooth connectivity to overlay CT and MRI scans onto the patient’s body, providing surgeons with a clearer visualisation for precise operations.
This advanced technology, powered by a battery and featuring a tracking system with light-emitting diodes, has the potential to revolutionise spinal surgery by empowering doctors with enhanced tools for improved patient outcomes.
