INNOVATION SPOTLIGHT
Transforming the medical diagnostic experience with EchoPixel
Despite being one of the most complex fields in the world , the healthcare industry shares one unifying goal : improving patient outcomes . That means helping folks get better , faster , with as little disruption to their daily lives as possible . It ’ s a lofty , often elusive aspiration . Innovations in medicine are powered by this goal , and they lead to such impactful technologies as the brain scan and the pacemaker .
Every day , healthcare professionals and companies are exploring uncharted territory , but you ’ d be surprised by how difficult it can be to push new innovations through . The majority of medical imaging , for example , still requires that doctors imagine what a patient ’ s insides look like , as they mentally piece together hundreds , sometimes thousands of 2D images taken from MR and CT scans . It is a taxing , tedious process — and it ’ s far from perfect .
HP has partnered with EchoPixel to pioneer a potential solution to this problem , using EchoPixel ’ s cutting edge virtual reality imaging and HP ’ s leading virtual reality technology . Virtual reality is hugely popular
Actual CTA Chest Trachea image
20 Innovation Journal · Issue 4 · Fall 2016
Doctors can now get a 3-D holographic look at your insides
at the moment , especially in entertainment . But EchoPixel — a startup based in Silicon Valley — saw beyond these applications , and adapted the technology for a totally new purpose : medical imaging .
“ I haven ’ t seen a game changer like this in a long time .”
— Dr . Judy Yee , MD Vice Chair of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging , UCSF
EchoPixel ’ s technology turns standard medical scans ( think : CT or MRIs of your brain , heart , or colon ) into lifelike , interactive virtual reality scenes . When viewed , the images appear to float in midair , in full 3D form . It feels a bit like Star Wars , but the potential impact for medical professionals is enormous .
EchoPixel found an ideal partner in HP , a leader in hardware and Blended Reality , with one of the most advanced virtual reality display technologies on the market . By combining EchoPixel ’ s technology with HP ’ s
Zvr Interactive Virtual Reality Display and workstation , the two companies now offer a complete system that is positioned to revolutionize patient care .
Using the True 3D and HP Zvr system , doctors can actually practice . They can cut , turn , and dissect images as if they were real human tissue . The technology can be used to help plan surgeries , identify internal conditions , and better understand patient anatomy . Dr . Judy Yee , MD , Vice Chair of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at UCSF , proclaimed that she hadn ’ t seen a game changer like this in a long time . Another surgeon specializing in image-guided surgery told us that “ half the time I am guessing ” when navigating 3D anatomy using 2D images .
EchoPixel has partnered with HP to accelerate the adoption of this technology in clinical and research settings worldwide . HP ’ s established relationships open up a significant distribution channel , allowing EchoPixel to reach even more sites where they partner with medical professionals to conduct clinical trials and research . Now it ’ s being tested in everything from aneurysm treatment , to heart surgery , to medical education and research . By coming together , HP and EchoPixel have brought us one step closer to a world where communication is easier , diagnoses are more accurate , and , most importantly , patients are healthier . •