The Johnson & Johnson Institute launched a virtual reality training program to help orthopedic surgeons and nurses learn and practice common surgical techniques, Medgadget reports.
Medgadget interviewed Johnson & Johnson Virtual Reality and WW Professional Education's David Badri.
Here are six takeaways about the program:
1. The program is intended help improve surgical techniques and patient outcomes. With VR, surgeons can "practice at their own pace and as often as they want until they master a procedure," Mr. Badri said.
2. The program includes training modules for total knee replacement, total hip replacement with direct anterior approach and hip fracture treatment with a proximal femoral nail.
3. The training modules include instruments and implants designed to simulate real-world experiences, as well as accurate anatomy and biomechanics.
4. The technology can be used anywhere with electricity and a room big enough to allow for safe movement. The hardware is small enough to fit into a suitcase.
5. It's not intended to replace real instruments and specimen labs, which Mr. Badri called "the gold standard in surgical education." However, he said it would be an "outstanding achievement" if the technology can reduce the number of specimens needed.
6. Johnson & Johnson developed the technology in collaboration with Pixelmolkerei.