Virtual Reality News and Research

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Swedish adds new virtual reality training simulator to help surgeons practice on robotic-assisted system

As one of the first medical centers in the Northwest to perform robotic-assisted surgery, Swedish is home to the fastest growing, most comprehensive and experienced robotic-assisted surgical program in the region. Swedish established the multidisciplinary, robotic-assisted surgical program in 2005 and has since performed more than 3,400 robotic-assisted surgeries -- more than any other program in the region.

12 May 2011

Hangovers affect surgeon's performance

A new study has shown that excessive alcohol consumption, even on the previous day, appears to be associated with changes in some surgical skills performed on virtual reality simulator testing the following day. The study appeared in the April issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

19 Apr 2011

Scientists to discuss innovative technologies at UMDNJ Symposium

Advances in technology have accelerated the effectiveness of scientific and medical research, producing rapid advances that were unthinkable even a decade ago. At its Third Annual Inter-School Technology Symposium, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey will bring together scientists from throughout the University who are at the forefront of this revolution.

11 Apr 2011

Virtual reality games can improve motor function in stroke patients

Virtual reality and other video games can significantly improve motor function in stroke patients, according to research from St. Michael's Hospital.

8 Apr 2011

Study finds high utilization of CTC and Medicare coverage in recent years

Medicare coverage and nationwide utilization of computed tomographic colonography, commonly referred to as virtual colonoscopy, has tripled in recent years, according to a study in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

4 Apr 2011

JobTIPS for individuals with ASD

Do2Learn.com, an innovative, online provider of educational resources for individuals with special needs, is expanding its website to include JobTIPS. JobTIPS offers free "how to" interactive materials for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder and other special needs to help them evaluate, identify, and maintain employment.

1 Apr 2011

SimQuest develops open-incision surgical simulation platform

SimQuest LLC, a leading developer of technology-assisted education and training, has developed the first platform for open-incision surgical simulation, which will enable surgeons to practice open surgical techniques with no risk to patients. The platform will allow surgeons to practice their skills in an environment that allows for errors and provide objective feedback on performance.

23 Mar 2011

STJ inaugurates Advanced Technology Center for physicians in Beijing

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today celebrated the grand opening of the St. Jude Medical Advanced Technology Center Asia Pacific, located in Beijing, China.

22 Mar 2011

Despite absence of Medicare coverage, hospital use of CTC is on the rise: Study

Despite the absence of Medicare coverage, hospital use of computed tomographic colonography, commonly referred to as virtual colonoscopy, is on the rise, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

1 Mar 2011

Swedish neuroscientist demonstrates how brain produces sense of ownership of the body

Leave your body and shake hands with yourself, gain an extra limb or change into a robot for a while. Swedish neuroscientist Henrik Ehrsson has demonstrated that the brain's image of the body is negotiable. Applications stretch from touch-sensitive prostheses to robotics and virtual worlds.

21 Feb 2011

Virtual reality exposure therapy reduces PTSD symptoms in active military service members

An article published in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Traumatic Stress is one of the first to provide evidence of the effectiveness of exposure therapy with active duty military service members suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study shows that virtual reality exposure therapy resulted in significant reductions in PTSD symptoms after an average of seven treatment sessions. Additionally, 62 % of patients reported clinically meaningful, reliable change in PTSD symptoms.

17 Feb 2011

Nine new Research Units to be established by DFG

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is to establish nine new Research Units. This decision was taken by the DFG's Senate at its February session in Bonn. The new groups are intended to provide researchers with the opportunity to address current and urgent issues in their fields and to develop new research strategies.

14 Feb 2011

Researchers develop reality-based video game therapies to help stroke patients

The Journal of the American Medical Society featured the research of NJIT Associate Professor Sergei Adamovich, a biomedical engineer. Adamovich and his research partners, physical therapists Alma Merians, PhD, PT, and Eugene Tunik, PhD, PT, at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, have developed innovative robotic and virtual reality-based video game therapies to help stroke patients regain use of hands and arms.

8 Feb 2011

'Vision-based hand gesture recognition' technology in future operation theatres

Surgeons of the future might use a system that recognizes hand gestures as commands to control a robotic scrub nurse or tell a computer to display medical images of the patient during an operation.

4 Feb 2011

As recording technology rapidly improves, neurons give up their secrets cell by cell

Scientists at The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), designated the "#1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America" by U.S. News & World Report since 1991, report that, thanks to improvements in technology and data analysis, our understanding of the functional principles that guide the development and operation of the brain could improve drastically in the next few years.

27 Jan 2011

CAMH scientists receive NARSAD's Young Investigator grant awards for brain and behavior research

Seven scientists at Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health have been awarded Young Investigator grant awards by the U.S.-based NARSAD: The Brain and Behavior Research Fund.

12 Jan 2011

Virtual technology to train social workers to help address mental health needs of veterans

Real-life application of revolutionary virtual technology to train and teach in the classroom will be the focus of the University of Southern California's display and presentations at the Consumers Electronics Show (CES) Jan. 6-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

22 Dec 2010

Conference focuses on new molecular, mechanical solutions to improve surgeries

A two-day conference at the University of Chicago Medical Center is designed to offer surgeons a peek at the profession's future by focusing on new molecular and mechanical solutions to three age-old problems: preventing the breakdown of anastomoses (the surgically created connections between blood vessels), improving tissue healing after surgery and developing new tools to test and sharpen surgical skills.

4 Dec 2010

Children cannot accurately judge speed of vehicles travelling faster than 20 mph, reveals study

To coincide with Road Safety Week (22-28 November) new research is published today (23 November) revealing primary school children cannot accurately judge the speed of vehicles travelling faster than 20mph.

23 Nov 2010

Gore sponsors EVEResT Lunch Symposium

W. L. Gore & Associates is sponsoring the EVEResT (European Virtual Reality Endovascular Research Team) Lunch Symposium taking place on Friday, Nov. 19 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at the VEITHsymposium in the Gramercy A room, second floor. The symposium will detail the evidence for simulation in medical training and in other fields. Companies will demonstrate how new simulation technologies are designed to enhance performance in endovascular procedures.

20 Nov 2010