Feasibility Study of Using Augmented Mirrors for Alignment Task during Orthopaedic Procedures in Mixed Reality

Area of Science:

• Medical simulation
• Augmented reality (AR)
• Human-computer interaction

Background:

• Accurate depth perception is critical for precision medical tasks in egocentric AR.
• Augmented Mirrors (AMs) offer non-egocentric viewpoints to improve spatial awareness.
• The practical application of AMs in medical AR has not been extensively evaluated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of Augmented Mirrors (AMs) in an AR-assisted medical simulation.
• To assess the impact of AMs on user performance and cognitive load during simulated procedures.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study was conducted with five participants performing simulated epidural injections in an AR environment.
• Participants completed tasks both with and without the assistance of Augmented Mirrors (AMs).
• Performance metrics included alignment accuracy and subjective measures of mental effort.

Main Results:

• The use of AMs significantly reduced the mental effort required by participants.
• Alignment accuracy during the simulated procedure was improved when using AMs.
• Participants demonstrated enhanced spatial understanding with the aid of AMs.

Conclusions:

• Augmented Mirrors show promise as a tool to enhance AR-based medical procedures.
• AMs can improve accuracy and reduce cognitive load in complex AR tasks.
• Further research with medical professionals is warranted to validate these findings.