Laguna Beach, California-based Ocutrx Technologies, Inc. has announced the latest version of its ORLenz™ headset, which features a stand-alone digital magnifying eye glass (brand named DigiLoupe™).
DigiLoupe is an advanced digital loupe system for spine surgery. Ocutrx incorporated ORLenz into the DigiLoupe AR/XR headset. The company initially developed Ocutrx for demanding ophthalmic applications but has applications for equally demanding spine and neurosurgery applications.
According to the company, traditional loupes are an “ergonomic nightmare.” By contrast, the DigiLoupe AR/XR headset features cameras that tilt and look down during surgeries—instead of forcing the surgeon to look down. It also displays 3D holographic images with up to 10x magnification and cinematic quality resolution.
Ocutrx Global Director of Surgical Applications Simon Prosser, commented to OTW on the development phase: “It was interesting to determine how practical operative needs play such a crucial role in the hardware design and configuration.”
“There are two main goals at play here and both are equal in their value: the first is to improve ergonomics and the second is to transition from an optical to a digital solution.”
“The merits of ergonomics are easy to understand with every surgeon recognizing the toll the unergonomic posture has on their long-term health. Over time, this reduces the number of surgeries they are able to perform and at some point, more often than not, determines when they remove themselves entirely from the OR.”
“The merits of transitioning from an optical to a digital solution are more complex and not immediately recognized by many surgeons. Greater magnification is already a gain. But even more exciting are the benefits of making the ‘unvisible visible’.”
“The capabilities here are almost endless. And with digitalization, the integration of the device becomes a reality that allows surgeons to access real time data and be able to control much more of his working environment.”
Dr. Leonel Hunt, M.D., an attending surgeon at both the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center and Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Center, has recently joined Ocutrx’s International Surgical Steering Committee.
OTW asked Dr. Hunt what he might say to someone who is hesitating about trying this headset with the DigiLoupe. He said, “We are designing this headset to not only give better illumination, magnification, and overall visualization when compared to traditional loupes and headlight, but to also place the surgeon in a better ergonomic position that should cause less issues with neck and back due to improved mechanics.”
“Now if that isn’t convincing enough, there are many features planned with MedTiles application that will have functionality unmatched by any other system to improve our ability to provide the safest and most exceptional care while also creating a platform to communicate and share our experiences in real time.”
“MedTiles will allow us to have imaging, image guidance, records, etc. in full view at the speed of a blink of an eye. I anticipate that this is just the beginning, and the applications will evolve beyond what we think is possible. This is the next generation med tech that I feel will be the future of the surgeon-tech dynamic as we move into the robotic and AI phase of healthcare delivery.”
