What You Should Know: 

– Osso VR, the leader in immersive procedural training launches Osso Health, a medical training app designed for Apple Vision Pro.  

– Now available on the App Store, Osso Health leverages the power of Apple Vision Pro to create an optimized learning experience for healthcare professionals and patients alike.

Bringing the Operating Room to Life

Osso Health seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world, transporting users into a realistic surgical environment. This is achieved by utilizing detailed, clinically accurate workflows of common procedures, allowing learners to visualize and interact with these procedures in a way never before possible. The app utilizes detailed, clinically accurate workflows for common procedures, allowing users to virtually walk through each step.

Democratizing Procedural Education

The launch of Osso Health marks a significant milestone in making procedural education more accessible.  Previously, this type of training was often limited to medical schools and simulation labs. 

Now, Osso Health empowers a wider audience:

• Healthcare professionals: Medical students, residents, and practicing physicians can access on-demand, hands-on learning from anywhere.
• Patients: Individuals preparing for surgery can gain valuable insights into the procedures they will undergo, reducing anxiety and promoting informed decision-making.
• Medical Enthusiasts: Anyone interested in medical innovation can explore the intricacies of surgical procedures in a safe and controlled environment.

Immersive Learning with Apple Vision Pro

Osso Health takes full advantage of Apple Vision Pro’s advanced features. The app utilizes a brand-new three-dimensional user interface and input system, controlled entirely by the user’s eyes, hands, and voice. This intuitive approach allows users to explore procedures seamlessly and effectively.

Initial Focus on Orthopedic Procedures

Currently, Osso Health focuses on two common orthopedic procedures: Carpal Tunnel Release and Total Knee Replacement.  Users can walk through these procedures step-by-step using Apple Vision Pro’s spatial computing technology. This allows learners to explore complex medical procedures in a realistic, secure, and contextually relevant setting.

“Osso Health for Apple Vision Pro opens up exciting possibilities for the future of immersive procedural education,” said Justin Barad, MD, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Osso VR. ”Apple Vision Pro unlocks new opportunities to scale spatial computing in healthcare with groundbreaking display quality and virtually lag-free learning experience, helping solve important challenges to education in healthcare.”

What You Should Know: 

– Osso VR, the leader in immersive procedural training, announces a groundbreaking collaboration with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) to develop a state-of-the-art training curriculum for left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures. 

– The strategic partnership marks a significant leap forward in the field of medical education, leveraging virtual reality (VR) technology to enhance interventional cardiologists’ training.

The Focus: Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO)

The co-developed curriculum focuses on LAAO, a critical procedure that reduces stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. Mastering LAAO requires a diverse skillset, including Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE). Osso VR’s immersive platform addresses this by providing:

• Realistic and Engaging VR Simulation: Users can practice LAAO procedures in a risk-free, virtual environment, replicating real-world scenarios with high fidelity.
• Comprehensive Live Imaging: The platform integrates live imaging, mimicking a real patient’s responses, for a truly immersive training experience.
• Refined Instrument Control: Osso VR’s technology allows for precise and realistic manipulation of virtual instruments, ensuring users develop the necessary dexterity for successful procedures.

“ACC’s goal is to improve access to high-quality cardiovascular care. We are thrilled to collaborate with Osso VR to augment traditional interventional training for some of the more complex and cutting-edge procedures in our field,” said Ami Bhatt, MD, FACC, ACC Chief Innovation Officer. “This collaboration is the first step in a broader effort to increase access to consistent interventional cardiovascular care in the U.S. and globally.”

What You Should Know:

– ByteDance, the global tech giant, announced a new partnership with XRHealth, a leading healthcare platform leveraging spatial computing, to offer its employees access to VR therapy benefits.

– By offering convenient, engaging, and effective VR therapy solutions, ByteDance prioritizes the well-being of its workforce, fostering a healthier and happier employee population.

Immersive VR Therapy

Under the partnership, ByteDance employees will gain access to XRHealth’s comprehensive suite of VR therapy programs, encompassing both physical (rehabilitation, physical therapy) and behavioral (anxiety, PTSD, stress relief) conditions. These immersive treatments can be accessed on-demand from the comfort of their homes or at designated ByteDance clinics.

VR Therapy Benefits

XRHealth’s VR therapy programs offer several advantages over traditional methods:

• Increased engagement and adherence: The interactive virtual environment fosters higher engagement and treatment plan adherence, leading to better outcomes.
• Real-time data insights: Clinicians and patients gain access to valuable data insights, enabling continuous monitoring and adjustments for optimal results.
• Accessibility and convenience: Home-based VR therapy removes barriers to care, making it accessible to a wider range of individuals.

“ByteDance aims to provide our employees with meaningful and effective benefits,” says Todd Wells, ByteDance’s Americas benefit leader. “XRHealth’s Virtual Reality Therapy services allow our employees to conveniently access effective tools to improve their physical and mental health from the comfort of their homes. We are excited about the potential for this partnership.”

What You Should Know:

– TRIPP, the award-winning wellness company, announces its arrival on the highly anticipated Apple Vision Pro, redefining the boundaries of personalized well-being experiences.

– The integration with Apple Vision Pro unlocks TRIPP’s most immersive and visually captivating journey yet, seamlessly blending awe-inspiring worldscapes with users’ surroundings through Apple Vision Pro’s groundbreaking spatial computing capabilities.

Reimagining Wellness with Apple Vision Pro

• Enhanced Visuals: TRIPP’s already mesmerizing worldscapes are now rendered in stunning high resolution, amplifying the immersive effect and transporting users to new realms of wonder.
• Spatial Blending: Apple Vision Pro’s unique capabilities seamlessly integrate TRIPP’s content with the user’s physical environment, blurring the lines between reality and digital worlds.
• Personalized Journeys: This innovative technology allows for even more tailored experiences, with elements adapting to the user’s surroundings and preferences.

Beyond Visualization: A Holistic Approach to Well-being

TRIPP’s success goes beyond stunning visuals. It combines:

• Awe-inspiring worldscapes: Designed to evoke feelings of wonder and tranquility.
• Binaural sound frequencies: Precisely crafted soundscapes enhance immersion and guide the user’s experience.
• AI-powered breath detection: Real-time feedback helps users deepen their breathing and manage stress.
• Gamification: Fun and engaging elements motivate users to stay on track with their wellness goals.
• Mindfulness structures: Guided meditations and exercises promote relaxation and focus.

VR Experience Enagement

Unlike many VR experiences, TRIPP’s active users demonstrate remarkable engagement, with 43% returning 2-3 times a week. Additionally, its user base boasts a diverse demographic, with 57% male and 43% female users worldwide, showcasing its ability to cater to various needs and preferences.

“Bringing TRIPP to Apple Vision Pro exemplifies our dedication to pioneering cutting-edge technology for next-generation wellness solutions,” said Nanea Reeves, Founder and CEO at TRIPP. “With Apple Vision Pro, users will not only see a major visual upgrade across all our immersive worldscapes, but it will set the stage for a whole new generation of TRIPP.”

What You Should Know:

– XRHealth, the leading healthcare platform in Spatial Computing, announced today a $6M funding round led by Asabys Partners, with participation from NOVA Prime Fund and XRHealth’s existing investors.

– This milestone follows the successful merger with Amelia Virtual Care, solidifying XRHealth’s position as the largest extended reality (XR) platform encompassing mental, physical, and occupational health.

VR/AR Meets Patient Needs

XRHealth’s platform leverages virtual clinics, immersive VR/AR experiences, and advanced data analytics to empower healthcare providers. Patients receive treatment from the comfort of their homes for a wide range of conditions, including acute and chronic pain, post-stroke rehabilitation, fibromyalgia, anxiety, stress, dementia, and more.

Growth Plans

The funding will support the integration of XRHealth and Amelia Virtual Care, creating a powerhouse platform for immersive healthcare experiences. In addition, the funding will fuel the development of an AI-powered clinician, alleviating the burden on human healthcare professionals and expanding access to care for millions globally.

“This funding empowers us to accelerate the growth of our platform, democratizing healthcare through immersive VR/AR technology and AI. We’re excited to pioneer an AI clinician in Spatial Computing, opening doors to a future where everyone receives quality care, regardless of location,” said Eran Orr, CEO of XRHealth.

What You Should Know:

– AppliedVR, an immersive therapeutics pioneer, conducted a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) on virtual reality (VR) therapy for treating chronic low back pain (CLBP) at home.

– Results of the study were published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health and demonstrated that AppliedVR’s RelieVRx program produced clinically meaningful improvements in adults with CLBP.

– AppliedVR aims to provide a non-pharmacological and non-invasive approach to treating chronic pain, with potential for long-lasting effects.

The RelieVRx Program Study and Results

The study included data from over 1,000 participants, with approximately half undergoing treatment with the RelieVRx program over eight weeks. Participants completing the RelieVRx program experienced an average reduction of 2.0 points in pain intensity on a numerical rating scale from zero to 10, along with a 2.3-point reduction in pain interference.

The RelieVRx program is a self-administered behavioral skills VR program authorized by the FDA for treating CLBP, incorporating principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, diaphragmatic breathing, biofeedback, cognition and emotion regulation, mindfulness, and pain education. Each chapter of interactive VR therapy builds upon the last to induce neuroplasticity, regulating neural regions associated with pain for long-lasting change. In previous clinical research, the RelieVRx program was shown to deliver durable effects up to 24 months after treatment completion.

Impact of Chronic Pain

The study aligns with AppliedVR’s efforts to secure reimbursement through CMS and expand access to its VR therapy for veterans through VA sites. Chronic pain is a significant healthcare concern with substantial economic and societal costs in the United States. Research has suggested that more than 72 million Americans suffer from chronic low back pain, with the condition being a leading cause of disability.”

“Pain is a complex condition that requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach. However, traditional clinical guidelines have over-relied on medications or surgical procedures, which can be costly and ineffective over the long term,” said Dr. Beth Darnall, AppliedVR chief science advisor, who co-authored the study. “This landmark study builds on our previous research at a much larger scale and demonstrates that RelieVRx can be a powerful tool in providers’ tool belts for treating people experiencing chronic low back pain.”

What You Should Know: 

– XRHealth today announced that they are currently deploying hundreds of VR headsets in Israel to treat patients coping with anxiety, stress, and PTSD as a result of the recent Hamas attacks. 

– The distribution of the headsets will span across 30 hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and mental health centers throughout Israel (including three Clalit hospitals).

Assisting Patients Coping with Anxiety, Stress, and PTSD

Just 48-hours after the attacks, XRHealth mobilized to deliver the headsets to Israel to assist with the treatment and recovery of patients. XRHealth provides VR/AR therapy to patients suffering from both mental and physical conditions and can treat patients from the comfort of their home or at a healthcare facility.

The headsets in Israel will feature, XRHealth’s Patient Xperience software, that aims to alleviate the burden on clinicians by providing patients with a user-friendly interface, eliminating the need for the provider’s constant attention. Patient Xperience enables patients to engage in meditation, self-relaxation, stress, and anxiety relief in fifty-three different environments. 

“As soon as we heard about the attacks in Israel, we wanted to make sure that as a company we were positioned to help assist the survivors of the Hamas attacks and the people of Israel through the recovery process,” says Eran Orr, CEO of XRHealth. “Currently we are deploying hundreds of headsets; however, it is clear to us that the need for mental health interventions combined with the shortage of mental health clinicians in the current situation requires even more. Our goal is to deploy 10,000 VR headsets since we believe that VR can be a solution for patient mental health recovery while a provider assists them. We are actively looking for donations to support the deployment of the project in Israel.”

Donate Headsets to Israel

Anyone interested in donating headsets to Israel, please contact XRHealth at info@xr.health.

What You Should Know: 

• TRIPP, a global XR wellness company, announced the completion of TRIPP PsyAssist’s Phase 1 Proof Of Concept (POC) Feasibility Study. 
• The first phase of the breakthrough study shows virtual reality (VR) as an effective tool to help patients prepare for ketamine-assisted therapy

Research Background

The study focuses on investigating the effects of a Virtual Reality (VR) experience before Ketamine dosing and was conducted at the esteemed Kadima Neuropsychiatry Institute in San Diego, with analysis provided by Valis Biosciences. The Journal of Psychopharmacology reports 50% of participants who received ketamine treatment showed significant improvement in their PTSD symptoms. Despite psychedelics gaining ground in mainstream medicine, patients still need help managing pre-session anxiety, onboarding effectively, and integrating their experiences after treatment, whether in a clinic or at home. 

Phase 1 of the TRIPP PsyAssist study aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of guided, meditative imagery delivered in virtual reality on the Pico Neo 3 Pro Eye headset as a pre-treatment program in a real-world clinical context. Participants for the study were recruited from patients who had already consented to receive ketamine treatments for their depression or anxiety at Kadima. The study also assessed participant satisfaction, engagement and usage to determine the feasibility and acceptability of this approach prior to these consciousness-altering experiences. 

Key preliminary findings* from the data gathered include: 

• 80% of users reported wanting to use the system frequently. 
• 100% of users found the various functions in the system well integrated. 
• 90% of users imagine most people would learn to use this system quickly. 
• 100% of users felt very confident using the system. 

What You Should Know:

– TRIPP, the award-winning global XR wellness company, announced an investment and partnership in Equa Health, the company bringing a clinically validated approach to mindfulness training.

– Through the partnership, TRIPP will leverage Equa Health’s mindfulness approach, developed over 15 years with research from Carnegie Mellon University, to launch a series of clinically validated meditations in virtual reality. A combination of science and XR technology, the immersive sessions will work to support the development of the three core mindfulness skills: concentration power, sensory clarity and equanimity. 

Equa Health’s Learning Methodology

Equa Health’s learning methodology was built by Dr. David Creswell, a psychologist and global authority in the science of meditation, and Julianna Raye, a pioneer in mindfulness coaching. Born in Carnegie Mellon University’s Health and Human Performance Lab, Equa Health’s randomized control trials have shown that after just 14 days, participants experience:

– 22% reduction in loneliness.

– 54% reduction in stress biology.

– 21% improvement in well-being in daily life.

TRIPP Recent Milestones

The news follows a landmark year for TRIPP, which included a Series A extension of $11.2M led by BITKRAFT Ventures, with participation from Qualcomm, Amazon Alexa Fund, HTC, Niantic, and existing investor Mayfield, growing the company’s total funding to $26.3M. The company additionally expanded its mindful metaverse through acquisitions of EvolVR and Eden, and grew its executive team with the addition of Caitlin Krause as Chief Wellness Officer. TRIPP also received numerous accolades for its work as a pioneer in XR wellness, recently being named one of TIME’s Best Inventions and one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2022.

What You Should Know:

– Digital health company Sharecare launches Get Active, a new virtual reality program to help employers encourage exercise among their workforces in a fun, approachable, and accessible way.

– In a pilot with its customer Lennar Corporation, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, Sharecare’s Get Active program for Meta Quest 2 yielded strong results for both healthy and high-risk Associates. 

Lennar Pilot Program

In a pilot conducted in late 2022 with Lennar Corporation, Sharecare’s Get Active program generated promising results for their Associates, including those diagnosed with or at the greatest risk of developing diseases such as anxiety and depression, cancer, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders. Among high-risk participants, the pilot with Lennar yielded an engagement rate of 82% and a 280% increase in average weekly exercise minutes per person compared to pre-program. Following the success of the pilot, Lennar is introducing Get Active as a core offering for its eligible Associate population in 2023, including those at risk for or managing a chronic disease.

How GetActive Works

While health plans and self-insured employers actively seek ways to increase member usage across their well-being offerings, most yield low sustained engagement. Sharecare’s Get Active program is designed to engage employees in physical activity by enabling “exercise by accident” through a convenient and gamified movement experience using the Meta Quest 2. Get Active also removes access barriers for those who may be disabled, uncomfortable with public gyms, or prefer in-home workouts, featuring a plethora of virtual activity options for both standing and seated settings – from stretching and ping pong to fighting zombies and basketball.

Availability

Beginning this month, Get Active is available for Sharecare’s employer customers to integrate into their workplace well-being and health benefits platform configurations. For client partners interested in deploying Get Active for their workforce, Sharecare works alongside them to stratify the eligible population for the program. For clients enrolled in Sharecare+, the digital health company’s whole health, payor agnostic advocacy solution, family advocates also will work to enroll eligible members in the program.

After eligible members enroll in Sharecare’s Get Active program, they will receive a Meta Quest 2 VR headset as well as an exercise guide featuring recommended movement-related VR apps to encourage exercise. Participants can use Meta Quest Move to count their activity minutes generated via the headset; and, with their consent, synchronize minutes worked out in VR to the Sharecare app, where the participant’s activity data is used for their personal weekly and monthly movement goals and employer-sponsored rewards programs

What You Should Know:

– AppliedVR, an immersive therapeutics (ITx) pioneer advancing a novel, virtual reality-based approach to medicine, today announced a contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide its FDA-authorized RelieVRx (formerly EaseVRx) solution to select Veterans impacted by chronic lower back pain (CLBP).

– AppliedVR was awarded the contract with the VHA Innovation Ecosystem, a division of the VA that discovers, evaluates, and spreads mission-driven innovations that advance care delivery for Veterans. The two organizations previously collaborated to deliver VR-based solutions that could comfort Veterans in hospice (palliative care) and help improve the quality of life of Veterans experiencing general chronic pain, stress and anxiety in a variety of healthcare settings.

Helping Veterans Living with Chronic Back Pain

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides care to more than 9 million Veterans, making it the largest integrated healthcare system in the U.S., and more than 50 percent of Veterans receiving care at VHA facilities across the country are affected by chronic pain. AppliedVR and the VHA Innovation Ecosystem share a common vision to transform chronic pain care for our nation’s Veterans by enabling more access to non pharmacological, noninvasive treatment options like virtual reality (VR).

Through this effort, healthcare providers at 18 VA facilities will have the ability to prescribe the RelieVRx program to Veterans for use in their homes. RelieVRx is the first and only FDA-authorized in-home immersive VR pain treatment indicated as an adjunctive treatment for CLBP. The eight-week program has been clinically demonstrated to decrease pain severity and pain interference in the lives of people experiencing CLBP. In a recent clinical trial follow-up study, the RelieVRx system also was shown to deliver durable effects six months after treatment.

“Chronic pain is challenging to treat—historically, pharmacological interventions like opioids and NSAIDS, or invasive procedures like injections or surgeries have failed to provide relief for too many patients, leaving them a bleak outlook. Current guidelines call for integrated pain treatment, and immersive therapeutics like RelieVRx provide multidimensional therapy in a single, easy-to-use device. Our evidence-based immersive therapeutics can help Veterans manage their chronic lower back pain by addressing the biopsychosocial aspects of the condition,” said Matthew Stoudt, CEO and co-founder of AppliedVR. “Working with the VHA Innovation Ecosystem represents one of the highest honors for our company, because U.S. Veterans are heroes, and

they deserve the world’s best healthcare that includes the most advanced technology-driven solutions.”

Amazon Launches Amazon Clinic Across 32 States

Amazon launches Amazon Clinic, a virtual care option that will operate across 32 states that offers up-front pricing, and treatment within hours, instead of days—helping customers achieve better health. Welcome to easy-to-use, effective care for common health conditions.

For customers, the cost of consultations will vary by provider and includes ongoing follow-up messages with their clinician for up to two weeks after the initial consultation.  At this time, Amazon Clinic does not accept insurance, but is FSA and HSA eligible. Customers may be able to use their insurance for any prescription medication costs that result from their Amazon Clinic visit.

AWS Launches Imaging, Health Analytics Capabilities

Amazon Web Services (AWS) launches two new capabilities in HealthLake that deliver innovations for medical imaging and analytics:

– Amazon HealthLake Imaging is a new HIPAA-eligible capability that makes it easy to store, access, and analyze medical images at a petabyte scale. This new capability is designed for fast, sub-second medical image retrieval in clinical workflows that can be accessed securely from anywhere (e.g., web, desktop, phone) and with high availability.

– Amazon HealthLake Analytics harnesses multi-modal data, which is highly contextual and complex, is key to making meaningful progress in providing patients with highly personalized and precisely targeted diagnostics and treatments.

General Catalyst Adds 10 New Health System Partners

Healthcare venture capital firm General Catalyst adds 10 new health system partners, bringing the number to 15 in total. This first-of-its-kind strategic ecosystem will encapsulate 10% of the US population across 43 states (as well as the largest academic health system in the UK), with a goal to promote health assurance and deliver accessible, affordable and effective care.

Exo Co-founder and Board Chair, Janusz Bryzek, Ph.D. Passes Away

Exo, a medical imaging software and device company, today announces the death of its Co-Founder and Board Chairman, Janusz Bryzek, Ph.D. Janusz passed away in his home on the morning of November 10, 2022, surrounded by his loving wife and three children. Commonly referred to as the “Father of Sensors” and the “Trillion Sensor Man,” Janusz was a renowned pioneer in the development of micro-mechanical integrated systems (MEMS) technology and a driving force behind innovations that have profoundly reshaped how technology can be used to improve the lives of those around the world.

Verizon and Higi Extend Community Healthcare Access & Services

Verizon and Higi are teaming up to provide digital health solutions and services that will extend care access for communities and help support preventative health, drive literacy, and identify high risk consumers eligible to be managed via home-based monitoring.The partnership will prioritize solution delivery in service of community healthcare stakeholders seeking to scale digital and virtual care delivery offerings.

FDA and MITRE publish updated Medical Device Cybersecurity Regional Incident Preparedness and Response Playbook

The FDA and MITRE published an updated Medical Device Cybersecurity Regional Incident Preparedness and Response Playbook, a resource to help health care organizations prepare for cybersecurity incidents. The playbook focuses on preparedness and response for medical device cybersecurity issues that impact device functions.

Updates to the playbook include:

– Emphasizing the need to have a diverse team participating in cybersecurity preparedness and response exercises – including clinicians, health care technology management professionals, IT, emergency response, and risk management and facilities staff.

– Highlighting considerations for widespread impacts and extended downtimes during cybersecurity incidents which benefit from the use of regional response models and partners.

– Adding a resource appendix making it easier to find tools, references, and other resources to help health care organizations prepare for and respond to medical device cybersecurity incidents (including ransomware).

Penumbra Launches First Hands-Free, Full-Body VR for Rehab

Penumbra, Inc., a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies, today announced the first full-body, non-tethered immersive virtual reality (VR) healthcare offering. The latest REAL® System y-Series is the only platform to use upper and lower body sensors that allow clinicians to track full body movement and progress in real-time. The expansion of the virtual reality-based healthcare platform, REAL System, will be used to address a broad range of physical, cognitive and mental health needs for patients undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy.

Included Health Launches All-Included Care™

 Included Health launches All-Included Care, a new kind of healthcare service that guides and delivers high-quality, in-network care for every health journey, from simple to complex. By combining virtual care and access to in-person care with guidance and advocacy, All-Included Care creates a comprehensive and connected healthcare experience for every healthcare need.

Henry Schein Medical Expands SolutionsHub with Rimidi

Henry Schein Medical today announced the expansion of its Solutions Hub with Rimidi. With this partnership, clinics, medical groups, and health systems served by Henry Schein will have access to Rimidi’s cloud-based software platform, which helps deliver an efficient model of care for patients with chronic conditions.

Turquoise Health Launches Price Transparency Data Solution

Turquoise Health launches Simple Extracts, its first price transparency data product for specialty healthcare businesses. Simple Extracts allows anyone to request and receive precise searches from both the hospital and payer rates data warehouses. The new product eliminates the cost and technical barriers specialty businesses encounter by delivering data to customers directly within the Turquoise Health platform. There they can also store, access, and refresh their extracts whenever needed.

Viz.ai, Illuminate Partner to Improve Care Quality for Aortic Aneurysm Patients

Viz.ai partners with Illuminate, Inc. to enable healthcare providers to make timely, critical decisions for aortic aneurysm patients while improving compliance with pre- and post-surgical surveillance programs. Aortic aneurysms will often cause no obvious symptoms before a life-threatening rupture occurs, so early detection and monitoring are critical. Illuminate’s NLP capability is a complement to Viz.ai’s growing platform, which will now offer healthcare systems a comprehensive solution to detect more suspected aortic aneurysms earlier and ensure that patients have access to the life-saving treatments or surveillance that they need by cross-functional care teams.

Cyclica Awarded $1.8M Grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Discover Non-Hormonal Contraceptive

 Cyclica Inc., a neo-biotech that is exploring the entire protein universe to advance a robust and sustainable drug discovery portfolio, has received a $2.4M CAD ($1.8M USD) grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop new, non-hormonal contraceptives for low-data biological protein targets. The grant enables Cyclica to apply its validated, AI-enabled drug discovery platform towards the discovery of expanded contraceptive options that can give women and girls the ability to better plan their families and their futures.

ConcertAI Names Ronan Brown as its First COO

ConcertAI names Ronan Brown as its first Chief Operations Officer to oversee and enhance day-to-day operations across the company, globally, to assure the quality, performance, and seamless functionality of the company’s solutions as the ConcertAI continues it high growth.

Ascension Partners with Qualtrics for Patient-Centric Care Data

Qualtrics partners with Ascension to provide an increased understanding of patient feedback and experience within the health system. The insights from Qualtrics will uncover patient pain points, allowing Ascension to drive new and improved programs to meet unmatched needs. With eight in 10 patients citing customer service as a decisive factor in healthcare provider loyalty, it’s imperative to understand the range of communities and expectations of those accessing care. Doing so provides patient-centric care, and supports the bottom line of health systems to increase patient retention, and caregiver satisfaction. 

CenExel Creates Clinical Sciences Business Unit

CenExel announces a new Clinical Sciences business unit, composed of early phase and translational medicine scientists, plus the broader network of CenExel therapeutic experts and key opinion leaders (KOLs), providing support to all the CenExel Centers of Excellence as well as standalone consulting services. Clinical Sciences by CenExel (Clinical Sciences) offers a unique opportunity for collaboration with pharmaceutical sponsors, CROs, and vendors, to support study development and conduct within the Sponsor’s clinical development program across the development lifecycle.

What You Should Know:

– Penumbra, Inc., a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies, today announced the first full-body, non-tethered immersive virtual reality (VR) healthcare offering.

– The latest REAL® System y-Series is the only platform to use upper and lower body sensors that allow clinicians to track full body movement and progress in real-time. The expansion of the virtual reality-based healthcare platform, REAL System, will be used to address a broad range of physical, cognitive and mental health needs for patients undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy.

Using Immersive Virtual Reality to Improve Healthcare

Penumbra’s REAL Immersive System is a platform of products that leverages virtual reality to deliver engaging, immersive healthcare designed to promote better health, including furthering functional skills, cognition and stress management. Built on advanced technology with a growing library of VR-based activities and experiences, the REAL Immersive System platform is comprised of two product solutions: REAL y-Series for clinical rehabilitation and REAL i-Series for wellness.

“Two of the largest barriers that physical therapists face in rehabilitation are maintaining patient motivation and engagement,” said Gita Barry, executive vice president and general manager of Penumbra’s Immersive Healthcare business. “Penumbra’s latest REAL y-series is the only hands-free, sensor-based VR platform available that addresses the full body. By enabling patients to visualize their entire body in motion and providing clinicians the ability to personalize each therapy session, we can maximize the key benefits of rehabilitation therapy by fostering high engagement, and ultimately improving patient outcomes quickly.”   

The latest REAL y-Series includes upgraded hardware and sensor technology to address needs spanning a wide range of patients. With the addition of lower body sensors – creating the first full body experience – the technology can support an even wider range of conditions, including orthopedic, adding utility from high acuity to high functioning patients. The REAL System y-Series is currently being used in clinics and hospitals across the country to address upper body impairments caused by stroke and other conditions, core and balance, cognition, functional uses, activities of daily living training (e.g., grocery shopping, self-care) and cognitive stimulation. 

The need for innovative rehabilitation therapy has never been greater. A new survey conducted by YouGov, which includes more than 100 physical therapists in the U.S., confirmed the challenges and need for innovation in the field today:

1. 80% of physical therapists say the field has changed only moderately or not at all over the last decade

2. Nearly 75% say patient compliance is the biggest challenge in physical therapy today, but more than half believe VR can help improve that.

3. Nearly three in four physical therapists (73%) are seeing patients who are affected by COVID symptoms or have long-COVID, yet less than half (46%) say their practice is prepared to deal with the influx.

4. While the majority of physical therapists (65%) would be eager to use technologies like VR in their practice, only 39% believe their hospital and clinic decision-makers are likely to invest in new technologies.

“Penumbra is advancing the latest immersive healthcare technology to help patients get back to their life with as little impairment as quickly as possible. VR in healthcare can be an extraordinary resource in rehabilitation and with our full body immersive innovation, we know we can have a tremendous impact on a broad range of patients,” continued Barry. 

What You Should Know:

– The results of a clinical trial using software from XRHealth, developer and operator of virtual treatment rooms in the metaverse,  published in PLOS ONE demonstrated that virtual reality therapy may serve as an effective adjunct to anesthesia for surgical procedures. The trials were conducted with XRHealth’s immersive virtual reality software.

– The results of the trial showed that the majority of patients (13/17) using the XRHealth VR technology did not need any intravenous sedatives during surgery.

Using Virtual Reality to Improve Patient Experience

XRHealth is revolutionizing healthcare, bringing patient care into the Metaverse. The company operates state-of-the-art therapeutic care Virtual Clinics, utilizing proprietary FDA and CE registered medical Extended Reality (XR) technology (virtual and augmented reality). XRHealth integrates immersive XR technology, licensed clinicians, and advanced data analytics on one platform, providing a comprehensive therapeutic care solution for patients to receive treatment from the comfort of their home. The company offers a variety of patent-pending solutions from rehabilitation services to cognitive assessment and training to pain management.

The clinical trial consisted of 34 patients undergoing hand and wrist surgery. All of the patients were given a peripheral nerve block before surgery.  Patients were randomized to intraoperative immersive virtual reality with intravenous anesthesia only given as needed, or to usual care as directed by the anesthesiologist. The VR therapy software provided an immersive, engaging environment that guided patients through relaxation and pain reduction techniques while undergoing the surgery.

 The results of the trial showed that the majority of patients (13/17) using the XRHealth VR technology did not need any intravenous sedatives during surgery. A postoperative survey demonstrated similarly low levels of pain and anxiety for patients in both control groups.  Other secondary findings demonstrated that patients using the VR technology recovered from anesthesia more quickly and left the recovery room earlier than those in the usual care group.

Anesthesia providers are always trying to balance the primary interests of patient comfort and patient safety.  Our results demonstrate that VR may help provide satisfactory control of pain and anxiety for procedures such as upper extremity surgery with regional anesthesia,” says senior study author Brian O’Gara, MD MPH, Principal Investigator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “This is incredibly valuable in that VR may allow for avoidance of risky sedatives without detracting from the patient experience.  If the use of this technique can also aid perioperative efficiency, it has the potential to be a real game-changer for both patients and providers.”

These findings could lead to a discussion in the medical industry about using non-pharmaceutical interventions during surgical procedures that both enhance the patient experience during surgery and provide a better postoperative recovery.

The BIRD Foundation granted XRHealth and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center $900K to conduct clinical trials investigating whether immersive VR can reduce sedative requirements and improve patient satisfaction during knee replacement surgery, and improve the quality of recovery from bariatric surgery.

What You Should Know:

– Lee Health’s Golisano Children’s Health Center in Naples, FL has deployed a new immersive virtual reality treatment room to improve the chemo experience for kids with cancer. Today, children battling cancer can now receive their chemotherapy while traveling to outer space, going on a deep-sea diving adventure or being immersed inside a video game.

– The opening of the immersive treatment room took place earlier this year and is part of a comprehensive expansion of pediatric health care services at Golisano Children’s Health Center.

Immersive Virtual Reality Treatment Room

The goal of the room is to create a soothing atmosphere to help make the 2-to-6-hour chemotherapy treatments more comfortable for children. Inside the innovative treatment room, the walls are covered by floor-to-ceiling projections to give kids a 270-degree immersive experience while they undergo chemotherapy treatments. Children are able to choose from different backdrops, such as the beach, space or underwater, and then be completely immersed in their surroundings. The virtual experience also includes sounds and interactive elements. For example, in the space setting, kids can hit a button on the screen to interact with the astronaut, including making him dance. In addition to the different experience choices, kids can also use the room to watch movies, play video games or video chat with friends and family while receiving their treatment.

Children like 8 year-old Edwin Garcia who once hated chemo appointments now enjoy going to them.

“It has been like night and day for Edwin. He gets so excited going to his chemotherapy now,” said Keiry Flores, Edwin’s mother. “It’s amazing what this room does and just how life-like it is. I’ll never forget the first time he used the immersion room. They had the beach scene up and it’s like he forgot where he really was. He took off his shirt and settled in for his chemo. I couldn’t believe it!”

Golisano Children’s Hospital partnered with local company d3 Creative Studio in the development and design of the immersion room.