Cromwell Hospital has become the first hospital in the UK and Europe to use the Apple Vision Pro, a spatial computing device, as a surgical logistics and organizational tool.
Introduced to the hospital by eXeX, a leader in artificial intelligence and spatial computing for surgical organization and workflow optimization, surgeons Mr. Fady Sedra and Mr. Syed Aftab, part of the Complex Spine group who operate out of Cromwell Hospital, used the technology to successfully perform two microsurgical spine procedures.
Cromwell Hospital and eXeX partnered in 2023 to introduce AI and Spatial Computing technology to the hospital’s operating theatres to help optimize surgical procedures such as equipment setup, inventory control, and resource allocation optimization. eXeX’s software offers nurses and technicians holographic and touch-free access to the surgical setup and the procedural guides from within the sterile field of the operating theatre, granting them access to data and visualization that was previously never available. The platform has significantly increased the efficiency of surgical delivery, with equipment and workflow accuracy, improving patient outcomes.
Mr Syed Aftab, Consultant Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon, said, “Working with eXeX to use the Apple Vision Pro has made a huge difference to the way we deliver care to our patients. The software is seamless and has improved efficiency within the Complex Spine team. It’s a real privilege to be the first team in the UK and Europe to use this software within surgery, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this technology advances and the impact it can have across hospitals in the UK.”
Kate Bovell, the Chief Operating Officer at Cromwell Hospital, said, “At Cromwell Hospital, we are committed to innovation and improving how healthcare is delivered to benefit all patients, whether it is through harnessing robotic or AI technology or using the latest, evidence-based approaches to deliver care. eXeX stands at the forefront of surgical technological advancements, and its philosophy for patient outcomes is inspiring. We are delighted to be working with them.”
The surgeries completed by Mr. Sedra and Aftab using the Apple Vision Pro serve as a testament to the adaptability and versatility of the eXeX software platform, which is currently commercially deployed via headsets such as the Microsoft HoloLens. The successful proof of concept with the Apple Vision Pro is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to developing hardware-agnostic solutions and will explore its ongoing use.
