Tech

In development a virtual reality application for cancer treatment

The virtual reality It is that area of ​​computing that has emerged as an eternal promise that never stops exploding in commercial terms (at least in the mass market). However, its potential allows it to have utility even well beyond its domestic and entertainment uses, which is why some cancer charities, the University of Cambridge and some video game designers have decided to join forces so that the virtual reality can contribute to the fight against cancer.

The use of virtual reality in cancer treatment may allow doctors to explore different digital versions of a patient’s tumor instead of relying on a graph and/or x-ray. Own Harris, a video game designer from the University of Cambridge and a person involved in the project, has said that “it’s much easier to notice differences, notice features and notice quirks when you’re actually in a thing than when you’re looking at a spreadsheet or a photograph, you can see how a certain type of cell might be next to a blood vessel or a duct of the breast and that could be important for the future prognosis of a patient”.

virtual reality in medicine

Tumors are displayed as a matrix of colored dots within the virtual reality program, and we say colors in the plural because there are many different types of cancer cells, and this also allows doctors to differentiate them from other types of tissue present in the area being studied. observing. In this way, clinicians will have additional perspective and the ability to interact with the model to make more accurate diagnoses and recommend the best treatment.

Funding for the program came from two leading cancer charities, UK Cancer Research and the US-based National Cancer Institute through its Cancer Grand Challenges joint funding platform.

The use of virtual reality for medical purposes is not something new in itself, but rather an approach that has been applied for years and in other areas such as orthodontics (dentists). In the case at hand, it would allow doctors to have a more precise diagnosis to know more precisely what is the best treatment or how to approach an operation.

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