The original Hewlett Packard was split in the near future, one of which was HP Inc., which was responsible for the pre-home printer and PC business. Now, HP wants to bring its virtual reality technology to doctors to help them improve their diagnostic processes and plan their surgery.
HP's virtual reality device, called Zvr, is not a virtual reality hardware like the Oculus Rift headset, but a 23.6-inch display with four cameras attached to track the user's head movements; The glasses convert the captured image into a three-dimensional image; there is also a stylus for the user to move and manipulate the three-dimensional object image.
Now, by collaborating with medical software startup EchoPixel, HP hopes to bring Zvr to the medical field. EchoPixel, a Mountain View-based startup in California, produces medical 3D visualization software that converts the results of diagnostic scans into 3D models. Subsequently, medical personnel can conduct research on these three-dimensional projections (such as organs) through virtual reality technology.
The product of this hardware and software partnership is intended for disease diagnosis or to assist with surgical planning. Ron Schilling, CEO of EchoPixel, explains that it is common for doctors to sit in front of a computer and observe multiple medical images in an attempt to see exactly what they are in a two-dimensional image. EchoPixel's selling point is that converting these medical images into 3D models helps doctors identify problems that were previously overlooked. For example, 3D imaging can make it easier to identify abnormal tissue growth in an organ.
“The Americans will receive 600 million imaging examinations using medical imaging equipment a year,†Schilling said in an interview. “More than half of the 3D information generated is accepted as a two-dimensional image. Evaluation. But what doctors try to solve is actually a 3D problem."
EchoPixel also said that viewing medical images with virtual reality devices can speed up diagnostics. EchoPixel has conducted clinical research with the medical team at Stanford University. Research shows that its software can reduce diagnostic time by 40%, says Sergio Aguirre, chief technology officer and founder of EchoPixel.
But to bring this product to a doctor, the two companies must first obtain approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In March of this year, EchoPixel's software was approved by the FDA and sold to doctors, but Zvr has not yet been approved. Therefore, HP can only explore the application of the device in medical education (rather than medical diagnosis).
This cooperation will bring a large number of new customers to EchoPixel. The company was founded in 2012 and has raised about $4 million in funding to date. By the end of 2016, the partnership with HP will help its sales quadruple, Schilling said. Hewlett-Packard sells millions of computers and printers to the corporate world, and now its sales staff can include Zvr for medical customers in its portfolio.
For Hewlett-Packard, the deal is part of its "mixed reality" strategy. The strategy aims to "unify the physical world and the digital world," said Reid Oakes, senior director of global medical at Hewlett-Packard. In addition, HP has a technology called Sprout in the field - this desktop computer is equipped with multiple sensors and cameras to capture the work of designers and engineers. "The biggest difficulty is trying to use the wonderful technology to benefit the world," Oaks said.
Anesthesia Medical Co., Ltd. , https://www.medicaldiverse.com