Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

The priority of modern dentistry is to keep patients’ teeth for as long as possible. Tooth extraction is a procedure performed as a last resort when conservative methods and endodontic surgery procedures have not brought the expected results. As a consequence, the number of patients in dental offices, who require first and repeated endodontic treatment, is increasing. Thus, the development of new technologies in the medical industry, including microscopy, computer tomography (CT), as well as diode and neodymium-YAG-erbium lasers, enables dentists to increase the percentage of successful treatments. Moreover, mixed reality (MR) is a very new technology, in which the 3D view can help plan or simulate various types of tasks before they will be carried out in real life. In dentistry, 3D holography can be applied to display CT data to plan endodontic treatment. The most important element in effective root canal treatment is the precise imaging of the root canal. The CT scans allow dentists to view the anatomy of the patient’s tooth with much higher precision and understanding than using 2D radiography (RTG-radiographic photo) pictures. Recently, the development of new 3D technologies allows dentists to obtain even more data from existing CT scans. In this paper, the CT scan data were applied to generate patient teeth in 3D and simulate the view of the root canal’s anatomy in MR devices, i.e., Microsoft HoloLens 2. Using DICOM RAW data from the CT exam, we generated a 3D model of the jaw with a tooth. In the next step, the crown of the tooth was removed in a similar way to how a dentist would do this using a dental handpiece. Furthermore, all root canals were cleaned of everything inside. This way we achieved empty tunnels, namely root canals. Finally, we added appropriate lighting, similar to the type of lighting that dentists use. The proposed approach enables to display of the root canals in the same way as during the endodontic procedure using a microscope. It allows for the visualization of the root canal and changing its direction, in which dimensional accuracy is crucial. It turns out that mixed reality can be considered a complementary method to the traditional approach, which reduces the amount of time for the root canal treatment procedure by up to 72.25%, depending on the complexity of the case, and increases its effectiveness. Thus, the mixed reality-based system can be considered an effective tool for planning dental treatment.

3D holography,root canal treatment,tooth,augmented reality,mixed reality

The dynamic COVID-19 pandemic has destabilized education and forced academic centers to explore non-traditional teaching modalities. A key challenge this creates is in reconciling the fact that hands-on time in lab settings has been shown to increase student understanding and peak their interests. Traditional visualization methods are already limited and topics such as 3D molecular structures remain difficult to understand. This is where advances in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), including remote meetings, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Extended Reality (XR, so-called Metaverse) offer vast potential to revolutionize the education landscape. Specifically, how MR merges real and virtual life in a uniquely promising way and offers opportunities for entirely new educational applications. In this paper, we briefly overview and report our initial experience using MR to teach medical and pharmacy students. We also explore the future usefulness of MR in pharmacy education. MR mimics real-world experiences both in distance education and traditional laboratory classes. We also propose ICT-based systems designed to run on the Microsoft HoloLens2 MR goggles and can be successfully applied in medical and pharmacy coursework. The models were developed and implemented in Autodesk Maya and exported to Unity. Our findings demonstrate that MR-based solutions can be an excellent alternative to traditional classes, notably in medicine, anatomy, organic chemistry, and biochemistry (especially 3D molecular structures), in both remote and traditional in-person teaching modalities. MR therefore has the potential to become an integral part of medical education in both remote learning and in-person study

information and communication technologies, immersive technologies, information and communication technologies in education, immersive technologies in education, Mixed Reality, 3D human–computer interaction, advanced medical education, pharmacy, Metaverse

Background: The Augmented Reality (AR) blends digital information with the real world. Thanks to cameras, sensors, and displays it can supplement the physical world with holographic images. Nowadays, the applications of AR range from navigated surgery to vehicle navigation. Development: The purpose of this feasibility study was to develop an AR holographic system implementing Vertucci’s classification of dental root morphology to facilitate the study of tooth anatomy. It was tailored to run on the AR HoloLens 2 (Microsoft) glasses. The 3D tooth models were created in Autodesk Maya and exported to Unity software. The holograms of dental roots can be projected in a natural setting of the dental office. The application allowed to display 3D objects in such a way that they could be rotated, zoomed in/out, and penetrated. The advantage of the proposed approach was that students could learn a 3D internal anatomy of the teeth without environmental visual restrictions. Conclusions: It is feasible to visualize internal dental root anatomy with AR holographic system. AR holograms seem to be attractive adjunct for learning of root anatomy.

mixed reality, augmented reality, holography, tooth, dental root, root canal, visualization

Background: General data protection regulation (GDPR) provides rules according to which data should be managed and processed in a secure and appropriate way for patient requirements and security. Currently, everyone in Europe is covered by GDPR. Thus, the medical practice also requires access to patient data in a safe and secure way. Methods: Holographic technology allows users to see everything visible ona computer screen in a new and less restricted way, i. e. without the limitations of traditional computers and screens. Results: In this study, a three-dimensional holographic doctors' assistant is designed and implemented in a way that meets the GDPR requirements. The HoloView application, which is tailored to run on Microsoft HoloLens, is proposed toallow display and access to personal data and so-called sensitive information of all individual patients without the risk that it will be presented to unauthorized persons. Conclusions: To enhance the user experience and remain consistent with GSPR, a holographic desk is proposed that allows displaying patient data and sensitive information only in front of the doctor's eyes using mixed reality glasses. Last but not least, it boasts of a reduction in infection risk for the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, affording medical care to be carried out by as few doctors as possible.

augmented reality, mixed reality, pandemic

Immersive technologies, like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) have undergone technical evolutions over the last few decades. Their rapid development and dynamic changes enable their effective applications in medicine, in fields like imaging, preprocedural planning, treatment, operations planning, medical students training, and active support during therapeutic and rehabilitation procedures. Within this paper, a comprehensive analysis of VR/AR/MR application in the medical industry and education is presented. We overview and discuss our previous experience with AR/MR and 3D visual environment and MR-based imaging systems in cardiology and interventional cardiology. Our research shows that using immersive technologies users can not only visualize the heart and its structure but also obtain quantitative feedback on their location. The MR-based imaging system proposed offers better visualization to interventionists and potentially helps users understand complex operational cases. The results obtained suggest that technology using VR/AR/MR can be successfully used in the teaching process of future doctors, both in aspects related to anatomy and clinical classes. Moreover, the system proposed provides a unique opportunity to break the boundaries, interact in the learning process, and exchange experiences inside the medical community.

augmented reality, improving the education process, interaction, intraprocedural visualization, mixed reality, preprocedural planning, teaching

Early pancreatic cancer diagnosis and therapy drastically increase the chances of survival. Tumor visualization using CT scan images is an important part of these processes. In this paper, we apply Mixed Reality (MR) and Artificial Intelligence, in particular, Machine Learning (ML) to prepare image-guided 3D models of pancreatic cancer in a population of oncology patients. Object detection was based on the convolution neural network, i.e. the You Only Look Once (YOLO) version 7 algorithm, while the semantic segmentation has been done with the 3D-UNET algorithm. Next, the 3D holographic visualization of this model as an interactive, MR object was performed using the Microsoft HoloLens2. The results indicated that the proposed MR and ML-based approach can precisely segment the pancreas along with suspected lesions, thus providing a reliable tool for diagnostics and surgical planning, especially when considering organ reconstruction during pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Extended Reality, Mixed Reality, Augmented Reality, Head-Mounted Displays, Artificial Intelligence, Image-guided surgery

Apart fromoperating tables andmodern surgical instruments, themodern operating rooms are equipped with displays and video surveillance systems. The three-dimensional operating room allows users to watch medics perform surgery from different, individually chosen, points of view. For the first time, it is possible to reproduce/repeat the course of the operations and change the perspective or position, fromwhich it is observed. Here, we proposed a solution based on Microsoft HoloLens and Azure Kinect DK devices as remote support to patient management. The operating room is transferred to the digital form in real-time using Augmented Reality based technologies. Users can move around the digital place like a ghost in real space. The approach proposed allows users to see observe surgery from any point of view they want without disturbing the surgeon's workflow. They can change their positions, angle, and place of observation. All environmental restrictions disappear. The presented solution gives trainees a convenient opportunity to learn. It may make a significant contribution to improving the surgeontraining, patients' outcomes, and may allow virtual medical consultations during the surgery between specialists without them leaving their workplace.

3D operating room, augmented reality, HoloLens