At Stanford Health Care, we’re harnessing technology to progress the level of care we provide to every patient that walks in our doors. Whether that’s using virtual reality to simulate an intricate procedure before brain surgery, or finding new ways to help patients with nerve damage, the work we do has the power to affect everyone, no matter what state of health you’re in. 

Visualizing complex operations

Stanford neurosurgeons are using a new virtual reality surgical simulation to visualize and map out complex surgical approaches before they go into the operating room. Stanford’s Neurological Simulation and Virtual Reality Center combines leading-edge flight simulation technology with advanced imaging techniques to create a detailed virtual reality reconstruction of a patient’s unique anatomy.

Neurosurgeons can, like pilots, “fly through” their patients’ anatomy and simulate complex operations in virtual reality before making an incision. In addition to helping surgeons prepare, this technology is also being used to educate patients and families about their treatment options. Patients wearing virtual reality goggles can physically walk together with their surgeon down a planned surgical path to understand the safety and benefits of the chosen surgical approach.