Market Trends of Mixed Reality In Healthcare Industry
The Surgery and Surgery Simulation Segment is Expected to Hold Significant Market Share During the Forecast Period
Mixed reality (MR) technology introduces a new dimension to medical images by transforming 2D CT and MRI scans into interactive 3D holographic simulations. This advancement aids surgeons in making smarter and safer surgical plans. The growing use of mixed reality technologies in surgical procedures highlights significant clinical benefits in surgical planning.
The increasing adoption of mixed reality technologies in surgical procedures is expected to increase the demand for this technology and drive the market during the forecast period. For instance, in March 2024, PolarisAR, a developer of mixed reality surgical guidance technology, reported the first total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using its STELLAR Knee mixed reality surgical guidance system. The procedure was performed at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York. The mixed-reality system acts as a spatial computer, creating continuous data exchange between the surgeon and the software to help enhance surgical decision-making while simplifying operating room workflow.
Similarly, in January 2024, Stryker, a medical technology company, reported the first shoulder arthroplasty surgeries using Blueprint Mixed Reality (MR) guidance. This surgery is performed by Dr. Joaquin Sanchez-Sotel, a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Dr. George Athwal at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, Canada. Hence, the increasing adoption of mixed reality technologies in surgical procedures is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.
Also, the high clinical advantages of mixed reality are expected to increase the adoption of this technology and drive the market. For example, an article published in JMIR Serious Games in January 2023 stated that two studies on congenital cardiac surgery showed a significant decrease in the time needed for surgical planning and intraoperative preparation when using mixed reality for planning instead of two-dimensional imaging. Hence, the increasing adoption of mixed reality due to its clinical advantage in planning complex surgeries is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.
Hence, the increasing adoption of mixed reality technologies in surgical procedures and the growing clinical advantages of mixed reality in planning surgeries are expected to drive segment growth during the forecast period.
North America is Expected to Hold the Significant Market Share During the Forecast Period
The mixed reality in the healthcare market in North America is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of digital solutions in hospitals, advanced healthcare infrastructure, and increasing strategic activities by the key players.
The growing digitalization of the healthcare industry in the United States increases the utilization of mixed reality technologies, which will ultimately drive the market during the forecast period. For instance, in October 2023, Surgical Theater, a healthcare technology company, reported that Stanford Medicine performed the first spine surgery utilizing surgical theater augmented reality technology. The augmented reality spine surgery used Surgical Theater SyncAR Spine, which integrates the Microsoft HoloLens headsets. Hence, the increasing utilization of mixed reality technologies is expected to drive the market during the forecast period.
Also, the increasing strategic activities, such as collaborations to increase access to mixed reality technologies, are expected to drive the market during the forecast period. For instance, in September 2022, Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc., a medical technology company, reported the exclusive, multi-year co-marketing agreement with Surgical Planning Associates Inc. to commercialize HipInsight, the US Food and Drug Administration cleared mixed reality navigation system for total hip replacement. Hence, such strategic initiatives increase the accessibility of mixed reality technologies across North America and will drive the market during the forecast period.
Hence, the growing investment in the digitalization of the healthcare sector, increasing adoption of mixed reality solutions in surgical procedures, and growing strategic activities are expected to drive the market during the forecast period.