Twenty-four years after performing the first robotically assisted gastric bypass surgery, renowned surgeon Santiago Horgan is pioneering a new technology that he believes could revolutionize operating rooms: the Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset.
Over the past month, Horgan and his team at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), have completed more than 20 minimally invasive surgeries using the headsets. Although Apple released the Vision Pro to the public in February, the product has struggled commercially. However, professionals in fields like architecture and medicine are investigating its potential to address specific challenges.
Horgan, who directs UCSD’s Center for the Future of Surgery, emphasizes the headset’s potential to enhance surgical efficiency and reduce the risk of injury. “This is the same level of revolution, but it will impact more lives because of the access to it,” he stated, comparing it to his earlier surgical breakthrough.
In laparoscopic surgery, surgeons use a small camera inserted through a tiny incision, projecting the view onto a monitor. This setup often forces doctors to divert their attention from the surgical field to the screen, complicating the delicate coordination required during procedures. “I’m usually turning around and stopping the operation to see a CT scan or looking at the monitor for the heart rate,” Horgan explained.
A 2022 study found that many surgeons experience discomfort during minimal-access surgeries, with some considering early retirement due to frequent pain. Horgan believes that the Vision Pro could allow surgeons to visualize the surgical area and essential patient data without having to look away.
Previously, Horgan experimented with other headsets, such as Google Glass and Microsoft HoloLens, but found them lacking in resolution. However, after testing the Vision Pro prior to its launch, he was impressed. Following approval from the university’s institutional review board, Horgan led the first surgery using the device in September, successfully treating a paraesophageal hernia. “We are all blown away: It was better than we even expected,” he remarked.
Since then, the minimally invasive surgery department at UCSD has conducted over 20 procedures using the Apple Vision Pro, including surgeries for acid reflux and obesity. All surgical staff, including doctors, assistants, and nurses, wear the headsets during operations, with no patients opting out of the trial.
Christopher Longhurst, chief clinical and innovation officer at UC San Diego Health, highlighted the cost-effectiveness of the Vision Pro in a healthcare setting. Priced at $3,499, the headset is considerably cheaper than traditional operating room monitors, which can range from $20,000 to $30,000. “So $3,500 for a headset is like budget dust in the healthcare setting,” Longhurst noted, indicating that the technology could be particularly beneficial for smaller community hospitals.
However, the FDA has yet to approve the Apple Vision Pro for widespread medical use, leaving the future of its application in surgical settings uncertain.