Cromwell Hospital pioneers Apple Vision Pro tool in UK surgery

Cromwell Hospital has become the first hospital in the UK and Europe to use the Apple Vision Pro – a spatial computing device – as a surgical logistics and organisational tool.

The tool was introduced to the hospital by eXeX, a leader in AI and spatial computing for surgical organisation and workflow optimisation. Two surgeons from the Complex Spine group, who operate out of Cromwell Hospital, successfully used the technology to carry out two microsurgical spine procedures.

One of the surgeons, consultant orthopaedic spinal surgeon, Mr Syed Aftab, said: “The software is seamless and has improved efficiency within the Complex Spine team. It’s a real privilege to be the first team in the UK and Europe to use this software within surgery, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this technology advances and the impact it can have across hospitals in the UK.”

Cromwell Hospital and eXeX first partnered in 2023, to bring AI and spatial computing technology to the hospital’s operating theatres. This was designed to optimise surgical procedures, such as equipment setup, inventory control and resource allocation optimisation.

The eXeX software gives nurses and technicians holographic and touch-free access to the surgical setup and the procedural guides from within the sterile field of the operating theatre. They can access data and visualisation that has been previously been unavailable, thanks to the technology. Since being introduced to the Cromwell Hospital, it has been able to significantly increase the efficiency of surgical delivery, through equipment and workflow accuracy, which is improving patient outcomes.

Kate Bovell, chief operating officer at Cromwell Hospital, said: “At Cromwell Hospital, we are committed to innovation and improving how healthcare is delivered to benefit all patients, whether it is through harnessing robotic or AI technology, or using the latest, evidence-based approaches to deliver care. eXeX stands at the forefront of surgical technological advancements, and its philosophy for patient outcomes is inspiring. We are delighted to be working with them.”

The successful proof of concept with the Apple Vision Pro is part of eXeX’s ongoing commitment to developing hardware-agnostic solutions.

Last month saw Cedars-Sinai announce the launch of another spatial computing tool available on the Apple Vision Pro. Xaia is an AI-enabled psychotherapy companion to help people with anxiety, addiction, depression and pain management.