Stereoscopic head-mounted display incorporated into microsurgical procedures: technical note

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Previous evaluations of video technologies for electronic imaging in microneurosurgery and endoscopic procedures.
• Development of stereoscopic camera systems for surgical visualization and recording.
• Need for advanced visualization tools to support surgical teams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel prototype head-mounted display (HMD) for surgical use.
• To evaluate the HMD's capabilities, including stereoscopic visualization, picture-in-picture, voice control, and stereoscopic recording.
• To assess the HMD's impact on surgical procedures and team performance.

Main Methods:

• Design of a stereoscopic HMD with 640 x 480 pixel resolution and 24-bit image display.
• The HMD weighs 900 g and interfaces with common video display formats.
• Prospective multicenter trial evaluating the HMD in open microsurgical and endoscopic procedures.

Main Results:

• No equipment failures or complications reported in initial trials.
• Users reported significant benefits in visualization and accepted the equipment well.
• The HMD is comfortable, reliable, and provides excellent field of view and 3D perception.

Conclusions:

• Stereoscopic HMD use may improve efficiency and safety in endoscopic and open microsurgical procedures.
• Enhanced positioning, dexterity, and operative field accessibility confirmed.
• Potential applications include surgical training, multimodal information display, and operative rehearsals.