GigXR, University of Cambridge and CUH NHS Foundation announce release of Mixed Reality holographic patient simulation scenarios

In Mixed Reality News

June 27, 2022 – GigXR, Inc., a global provider of holographic healthcare training, has today announced the release of a new mixed reality (MR) application called HoloScenarios. According to the company, the first module, created in partnership with the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust, will provide hyper-realistic holographic scenarios for common respiratory conditions and emergencies. 

HoloScenarios provides a realistic simulation of the entire patient care journey, from assessment and diagnosis to appropriate intervention and escalation of care. Instructors can place holographic patients and medical equipment into any training environment for users to see both their real-world physical space and the digital overlay of the holograms at same time, providing users with true-to-life and safe-to-fail immersive learning that can be accessed, delivered and shared with learners anywhere in the world. 

“Mixed reality is increasingly recognized as a useful method of simulator training. As institutions scale procurement, the demand for platforms that offer utility and ease of mixed reality learning management is rapidly expanding,” said Arun Gupta, Director of Postgraduate Education, Cambridge University Health Partnership. “GigXR has already enabled instructors to better prepare learners with medically accurate simulation for observation and assessment. With HoloScenarios, we’re helping to evolve education from a mentorship-based model to one where students around the world can have equal access to top-flight expertise for mastering invention-based clinical skills.” 

Delivered by the Gig Immersive Learning Platform, HoloScenarios centralizes and streamlines access to mixed reality learning, and includes asthma, anaphylaxis, pulmonary embolism and pneumonia scenarios, the development of which have been informed by subject matter experts at University of Cambridge and doctors at Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust.

The platform allows instructors to adjust the level of difficulty for each scenario to meet individual training requirements or environments. For example, if a patient with asthma is given the correct medication, learners can see a marked improvement in the patient’s condition as the intervention takes effect, or they can see a deterioration in the patient’s condition if no intervention is given or they choose an incorrect treatment. 

“The NHS has always been at the forefront of medical innovation,” added Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director. “This unique development by teams in Cambridge – to use life-like holographic patients in medical training – could enhance the learning experience of our next generation of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, by creating new environments to practice medicine in real time, while improving access to training worldwide.” 

The University of Cambridge has also initiated research in tandem with the ongoing development and release of more scenarios and modules for HoloScenarios. According to GigXR, the research is exploring benchmarks and criteria for evaluating learner and patient outcomes using mixed reality, as well as evaluating the products and resulting efficiencies for the institution. 

“Our research is aimed at uncovering the data to support and accelerate mass market adoption of mixed reality training while informing ongoing development,” said Riikka Hofmann, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. “We hope that it will help guide institutions in implementing mixed reality into their curricula, in the same way institutions evaluate conventional resources, such as textbooks, manikins, models or computer software, and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.” 

HoloScenarios’ first respiratory module is available for purchase starting today with implementation starting this fall. GigXR stated that scenarios for Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Neurology are currently in development with partners and will be available starting later this year. For more information on GigXR and its Gig Immersive Learning Platform, please visit the company’s website.

Image credit: GigXR

About the author

Sam Sprigg

Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.