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Updated: Oct 15, 2025
Combining Augmented Reality and 3D Printing to Display Patient Models on a Smartphone
Published on: January 2, 2020
A workflow to generate patient-specific three-dimensional augmented reality models from medical imaging data and
Nicole Wake1,2, Andrew B Rosenkrantz3, William C Huang4
1Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY, 10467, USA. nwake@montefiore.org.
Abstract:
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are burgeoning technologies that have the potential to greatly enhance patient care. Visualizing patient-specific three-dimensional (3D) imaging data in these enhanced virtual environments may improve surgeons' understanding of anatomy and surgical pathology, thereby allowing for improved surgical planning, superior intra-operative guidance, and ultimately improved patient care. It is important that radiologists are familiar with these technologies, especially since the number of institutions utilizing VR and AR is increasing. This article gives an overview of AR and VR and describes the workflow required to create anatomical 3D models for use in AR using the Microsoft HoloLens device. Case examples in urologic oncology (prostate cancer and renal cancer) are provided which depict how AR has been used to guide surgery at our institution.
