ABSTRACT
As the popularity of x-ray-guided, minimally invasive procedures increases, the exposure to ionizing radiation of patient and staff during such interventions further becomes a concern for healthcare providers. Currently, no means exist to intraoperatively depict the 3D propagation and magnitude of radiation fields. Furthermore, several patient-, equipment-, and/or procedure-dependent factors affect the magnitude and spatial distribution of radiation inside the operating room, which makes irradiated areas and the amount of radiation hard to forecast. This leads to reduced awareness and concern of overexposure during a procedure. AR has therefore been introduced as a tool to help reduce radiation exposure. The first systems used AR to enhance surgical guidance and assist in the device positioning to reduce the amount of performed x-ray images. Recent works have attempted to make use of AR to provide direct visual feedback about radiation’s 3D propagation and magnitude, to increase the awareness of personnel to harmful radiation, and reinforce the proper use of protective equipment. We hereby discuss the challenges and benefits of using AR to complement standard radiation protection measures in an effort to improve radiation safety and the acceptance of x-ray guided interventions, with a focus on AR for radiation awareness.
