The North American Spine Society (NASS) 2018 event that took place in September seemed quite similar to the ones I’ve attended during previous years. The overwhelming focus (on the expo floor anyway) was on technologies and solutions involved in spinal fusion procedures. From metal, plastic, and hybrid implants to biologic-based fillers, the company booths showcased mostly familiar technologies with the few exceptions of a new innovation or product release.
Fortunately, if you really work the aisles, you can find some newer offerings from companies that separate themselves from the pack. Attending for all three days certainly presents that opportunity. And this year, the reward for the effort was locating vendors highlighting the growing field of virtual reality (VR). Better still, VR enables completely untrained laymen like myself (at least in the surgical sense) the opportunity to try out a technology without worry. In fact, given my propensity for video games since I was a child, I may have even held an advantage over some of the surgical professionals who also attended the event. Well…maybe not. But it still provided for an exciting experience.
The first company I visited was ImmersiveTouch to sample the experience provided through the company’s ImmersiveView system. According to its website, the firm focuses on “improving patient safety and satisfaction by using cutting edge technology to enhance the surgeon’s work flow efficiency and patient outcomes.”