Medical Screen Operations: How Head-Mounted Displays Transform Action and Perception in Surgical Practice

Abstract

Based on case studies in minimally invasive surgery, this paper investigates how head-mounted displays (HMDs) transform action and perception in the operating theatre. In particular, it discusses the methods and addresses the obstacles that are linked to the attempt to eliminate the divide between vision and visualization by augmenting the surgeon’s field of view with images. First, it analyzes how HMDs change the way images are integrated into the surgical workflow by looking at the modalities of image production, transmission, and reception in HMDs. Second, through an analysis of screen architecture and design, it examines how HMDs affect the locations and situations in which images are used. And third, it discuss the consequences of HMD-based practice as applied to action, perception, and decision-making, with attention to how HMDs challenge the existing techniques and routines of surgical practice and, therefore, necessitate a new type of image and application-based expertise.

Keywords

• head-mounted displays
• minimally-invasive surgery
• augmented reality
• screen operations
• medical imaging
• image guidance
• visual knowledge