Microsoft's Task: Performing a Dozen Augmented Reality Operations Within a Day's Timeframe
In a groundbreaking 24-hour event, Microsoft conducted 12 surgical procedures using augmented reality (AR) technology on February 10. The procedures were carried out at the Avicennes AP-HP Hospital in Bobigny, near Paris, France, using HoloLens 2 headsets.
The event, organized by Microsoft, was a showcase of the potential of AR in healthcare, particularly for surgical collaboration and remote medical expertise. Over 70 healthcare professionals and experts in VR/AR participated in the event, which attracted over 15,000 spectators from 130 countries.
During the 12 AR-assisted surgeries, doctors from various parts of the world collaborated remotely. For each operation, surgeonsfrom France, Morocco, India, Belgium, and other countries provided real-time advice through the hologram-enabled headsets.
The event was spearheaded by French doctor Dr Thomas Grégory, the Head of the orthopaedic and traumatological surgery department at Avicenne hospital. He had previously conducted the world's first AR surgery in 2017.
Augmented reality has demonstrated its potential to revolutionize the field of healthcare. Its immersive nature and real-time visualizations can enhance collaboration among healthcare professionals, providing valuable assistance during complex procedures. In addition, AR technology can potentially improve training for medical professionals, particularly in regions where specialized knowledge is limited.
Recently, a new project combining AR and surgery was unveiled at the UZ Brussels hospital in Brussels. Using HoloLens headsets, doctors can analyze brain tumors more precisely with 3D representations. This development underscores the continued role of AR in the surgical field.
The integration of AR in healthcare is a promising trend, with events like WIRED Health and NextMed Health 2025 emphasizing collaboration and innovation across the sector. As AR technology continues to evolve, its impact on healthcare practices, including surgery, training, and patient care, is expected to increase significantly.
In the realm of science and health-and-wellness, augmented reality (AR) technology demonstrated its potential to revolutionize surgical procedures by enabling remote expertise and collaboration during complex procedures, as seen in the 12 AR-assisted surgeries at Avicennes AP-HP Hospital. furthermore, AR technology, along with advancements in technology, can also play a significant role in the training of medical professionals, particularly in regions with limited specialized knowledge, and potentially improving the precision of diagnoses, such as in the detection and analysis of brain tumors, as showcased in the new project at UZ Brussels hospital.
