Visualization trends: Applications in the operating room

Recent advances in visualization technology are being driven by two important trends: (1) continued increases in speed and function of hardware devices and (2) increasingly parallel, distributed, cooperative systems. The incorporation of fast, powerful devices into cooperative systems enables a complex interplay of sensors, displays, and computational components that can create a seamless, perceptually rich and flexible environment. Although these trends have fueled a number of advances in visualization research, the unique requirements of laparoscopy make direct, effective use of visualization technology as it is applied in other contexts extremely challenging. This article discusses promising new capabilities in visualization technology. The costs and trade-offs create new challenges, which are addressed in some visualization applications, but must be carefully assessed in the context of the laparoscopic environment. Incorporating new visualization technology in a way that captures its benefits and meets stringent laparoscopic requirements will very likely precipitate an enormous surge forward in the capabilities of the surgical team and in the quality of patient care.