Osso VR, a San Francisco-based virtual reality (VR) company, has developed a new VR training simulation focused on left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures. The simulation is designed to offer clinicians a new way to practice LAAO procedures in a “repeatable, risk-free virtual environment.”
The new technology is part of Osso VR’s ongoing relationship with the American College of Cardiology (ACC). LAAO was chosen due to the variety of tasks and skills required to perform a successful procedure. Transesophageal echocardiography, for instance, plays a key role in LAAO.
The VR-powered LAAO simulations will be on display at ACC.24, the ACC’s upcoming annual meeting at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The three-day event, which runs April 6-8, 2024, is scheduled to include a long list of late-breaking studies in addition to educational sessions, hands-on demonstrations, keynote lectures and more.
Image courtesy of Osso VR.
“ACC’s goal is to improve access to high-quality cardiovascular care,” Ami Bhatt, MD, ACC chief innovation officer, said in a prepared statement. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Osso VR to augment traditional interventional training for some of the more complex and cutting-edge procedures in our field. This collaboration is the first step in a broader effort to increase access to consistent interventional cardiovascular care in the U.S. and globally.”
“We're honored to introduce our cardiology module in collaboration with the ACC,” Justin Barad, MD, founder and chief strategy officer at Osso VR, said in the same statement. “The ACC has transformed the way cardiovascular care is being delivered—with innovation and technology being a cornerstone of this success. The alignment of our institutions’ missions is strong, and with the vision of organizations like the ACC, we are progressively seeing immersive training become the standard for provider education globally.”
Osso VR first announced its partnership with the ACC back in November 2022.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.