The Medical Center at Bowling Green First in Kentucky to Use Mixed Reality 3D Hologram Technology During Shoulder Arthroplasty
The Medical Center at Bowling Green became the first in Kentucky to offer shoulder arthroplasty with the assistance of a new mixed reality technology platform, Stryker’s Blueprint Mixed RealityTM. Med Center Health Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine surgeon Chaitu Malempati, D.O. performed the procedure on July 26, 2022 at the Medical Center at Bowling Green, one of only 33 sites in the nation offering the technology to patients during this limited release period.
Blueprint Mixed Reality is the latest software solution from Stryker Trauma & Extremities that allows shoulder arthroplasty surgeons to reference and interact with a holographic representation of their pre-operative Blueprint plan, in real-time, intra-operatively. In the future, the technology will have the potential for a more precise and personalized shoulder replacement compared to traditional surgical options.
“The Blueprint Mixed Reality technology allows me to tailor shoulder joint replacement procedures to the unique needs and anatomy of my patients, which in the future will offer the potential to perform a more precise and personalized shoulder replacement compared to traditional surgical options,” said Malempati, “It is my goal to be up-to-date on the newest technology and surgical advancements that can help my patients achieve optimal outcomes. To bring this technology to our state is significant in improving results in shoulder arthroplasty.”
Where virtual reality immerses the viewer into a completely virtual world, mixed reality overlays 3D holographic images with real-life, allowing the two to interact. The 3D hologram technology enables a surgeon to maintain a direct view of the surgical site and simultaneously visualize and manipulate a holographic representation of the patient’s native anatomy and pre-operative plan. By using hand gestures and voice commands, the surgeon can interact with a robust data set to optimize the position of the 3D holographic models. This allows the surgeon to replicate the pre-operative plan as closely as possible given the availability of information while operating.
The Blueprint Mixed Reality System is comprised of a Microsoft HoloLensTM 2* virtual lens headset, Blueprint Mixed Reality software and a peripheral display that allows the surgical team to see what the surgeon sees intra-operatively.
More information about Blueprint can be found at shoulderblueprint.com.