Corewell Health Is Using Virtual Reality to Revolutionize Brain Surgery and Save Lives
Virtual reality is no longer just for gaming enthusiasts. In a remarkable advancement that blends cutting-edge technology with life-saving medical procedures, Corewell Health in Michigan has pioneered the use of virtual reality to transform how brain surgeries are planned, practiced, and performed.
This innovative approach is changing patient outcomes and setting new standards for neurosurgical procedures across the country. The integration of immersive technology into high-stakes medical procedures represents a paradigm shift in how surgeons approach complex brain operations, offering unprecedented visualization capabilities that benefit both medical professionals and their patients.
The Revolutionary XR Visualization Platform Transforming Neurosurgery
At Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, neurosurgeons are employing Surgical Theater's XR visualization platform to revolutionize brain surgery procedures. This groundbreaking technology converts conventional 2D images from MRI and CT scans into immersive, interactive 3D models that surgeons can explore before ever entering the operating room. The system effectively creates a virtual replica of the patient's brain, allowing for detailed exploration of the neural anatomy with unprecedented precision.
Corewell Health holds the distinction of being the first and only health system in Michigan to implement Surgical Theater's eXperiential Reality platform for neurosurgical cases. This pioneering position places the hospital at the forefront of medical innovation, demonstrating how emerging technologies can dramatically improve surgical outcomes when implemented thoughtfully within established medical protocols.
From 2D to 3D: A Quantum Leap in Surgical Visualization
Traditional surgical planning has long relied on 2D black-and-white images that require surgeons to use their imagination, knowledge, and experience to mentally construct a three-dimensional understanding of the brain's intricate structures. Dr. Fernando Diaz, Chair of Neurological Surgery at Corewell Health, describes the limitations of the previous approach: "Before this cutting-edge technology, we'd reference black-and-white 2D images of the brain, using our imagination, knowledge and decades of surgical experience to map out the procedure in our heads".
The transition to three-dimensional visualization represents more than an incremental improvement, it's a fundamental transformation in how surgeons interact with and understand patient anatomy. The 360° 3D images provide comprehensive spatial awareness that simply wasn't possible with conventional imaging techniques. This enhanced visualization allows surgeons to identify critical structures and plan optimal surgical approaches with greater confidence and precision.
Enhanced Surgical Planning and Precision: The Surgeon's Perspective
For neurosurgeons, the ability to virtually "practice" a surgery before making the first incision represents an invaluable advantage. Dr. Diaz explains that the VR technology often changes their whole approach: "Now, we're able to put on a headset and explore often, changing our whole approach and where we plan to make the first incision. This new perspective allows for pinpoint accuracy during surgery, which minimizes complications".
Navigating Neural Pathways with Unprecedented Clarity
One of the most significant advantages of the VR visualization system is the ability to see abnormalities in relation to critical neural pathways that would otherwise be invisible during surgery. Dr. Cesar Serrano, a pediatric neurosurgeon and director of epilepsy surgery at Corewell Health Children's, explains how the technology reveals these crucial relationships: "The lesion is away from important motor tracts, like the blue tract that you see behind is the motor tract of the patient".
This visualization capability allows surgeons to:
- Plan surgical corridors that avoid damaging essential neural pathways
- Anticipate anatomical challenges before encountering them in surgery
- Reduce the risk of post-operative neurological deficits
- Maximize the removal of abnormal tissue while preserving healthy structures
During the actual surgical procedure, the technology extends its utility through augmented reality integration. By superimposing the virtual 3D model onto the patient's actual brain using a surgical microscope, surgeons gain what amounts to "X-ray vision". As Dr. Serrano notes, "We can use this technology to be more precise, to have reconstruction of important motor tracts or eloquent tracts in the brain, and avoid any lesion with those".
Transforming the Patient Experience: Beyond Medical Benefits
While the surgical advantages are clear, the technology also offers significant benefits for patients and their families. The VR platform creates a unique opportunity for patients to literally see inside their own brains and understand their condition in ways that were previously impossible.
Empowering Patients Through Visual Understanding
Dr. Serrano describes the technology as "a revolutionary tool that allows us to visually show our patients and families the intricacies of what we will be doing in surgery". This visual explanation helps patients develop a deeper understanding of their surgical plan, allowing them to make truly informed medical decisions and feel more comfortable going into surgery.
The psychological impact of this understanding shouldn't be underestimated. When patients can visualize what's happening inside their bodies and comprehend the surgical approach, it can significantly reduce anxiety and build trust in the medical team. This improved patient-doctor communication represents a fundamental shift in healthcare delivery moving from an explanation-based approach to an experience-based one.
Real Impact: Halyn's Story
The true value of any medical technology lies in its ability to improve patients' lives. Five-year-old Halyn Fromer's story provides a powerful illustration of how VR-assisted neurosurgery is making real differences in patient outcomes.
Halyn was born with tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic disorder that caused tumors on her brain, heart, and kidneys. The brain tumors triggered epileptic seizures that significantly impacted her quality of life. After receiving treatment in Ohio, Halyn's parents learned about the advanced VR technology available at Corewell Health and made the decision to relocate to Michigan to access this cutting-edge care.
Halyn's father, Alan Fromer, described the VR visualization experience as "literally like a video game". Her mother, Heather Fromer, elaborated on how the technology provided unprecedented insight into her daughter's condition: "It's a 3D image of the inside of her brain, and it's so amazing because you can see that terrible tuber and you can see where Dr. Serrano was able to place those lasers around the tuber so that he could laser around the entire piece and help her that way, and you could see it light up red where the seizures were coming from".
The results speak for themselves. Following surgery using this VR-assisted approach, Halyn experienced three weeks without seizures, a remarkable achievement after five years of regular seizure activity. Her mother's words capture the profound impact: "We are on week three of no seizures. We have had three weeks of no seizures in five years, so it's amazing".
Broader Implications for Healthcare Delivery
The implementation of VR technology at Corewell Health represents more than just an improvement in surgical technique, it reflects a broader trend toward using immersive technologies to address healthcare challenges.
1. Bridging Geographic Healthcare Gaps
As populations shift and more people move to rural areas, access to specialized healthcare becomes increasingly challenging. Virtual reality technologies offer potential solutions by making specialist expertise more accessible regardless of geographic location. While the current implementation at Corewell Health focuses primarily on surgical planning and execution, the underlying technology platform demonstrates how virtual solutions can bridge physical distances in healthcare delivery.
2. Cost-Effectiveness and Standardization
Beyond the immediate surgical applications, VR adoption in healthcare settings is increasingly driven by economic considerations. Hospital systems are recognizing the potential for VR to deliver cost savings while standardizing training and protocols across multiple locations4. As hospital mergers continue to reshape the healthcare landscape, technologies that enable centralized expertise to be leveraged across distributed facilities will become increasingly valuable.
The Future of VR in Neurosurgery: What's Next?
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025 and beyond, several trends suggest that VR technologies in neurosurgery will continue to evolve and expand:
1. AI-Enhanced Surgical Guidance
The integration of artificial intelligence with VR visualization represents the next frontier. AI algorithms could help identify optimal surgical approaches, flag potential risks during planning, and even provide real-time guidance during procedures. These AI-driven enhancements will make VR training and surgical applications more intuitive and natural.
2. Expanded Applications Beyond Epilepsy
While Dr. Serrano initially focused on epilepsy cases, the success of the technology has prompted expanded use across a broader range of neurosurgical procedures. As he notes, "I started out mainly using the surgical theater with my epilepsy surgeries, but I've become so confident in its application that I now use it with most of my non-epilepsy cases as well". This expansion suggests that VR visualization will likely become the standard of care for an increasingly wide range of neurosurgical interventions.
3. Remote Surgical Collaboration
As VR technology matures, the potential for remote collaboration among surgeons will increase. Specialists from different institutions could potentially join the virtual environment to consult on complex cases, bringing diverse expertise to bear without the need for physical travel. This collaborative approach could be particularly valuable for rare conditions requiring multidisciplinary expertise.
Insights for Healthcare Entrepreneurs and Technology Investors
Watching the healthcare technology space, Corewell Health's implementation of VR technology offers several valuable insights:
- Focus on Practical Applications: The success of Surgical Theater stems from addressing a specific, high-value clinical need rather than implementing technology for its own sake.
- Build on Existing Clinical Workflows: The technology enhances rather than replaces established surgical practices, making adoption more straightforward for clinicians.
- Demonstrate Measurable Outcomes: The clear improvements in surgical precision and patient outcomes provide compelling evidence for the technology's value.
- Consider the Full Stakeholder Ecosystem: The technology delivers benefits across multiple stakeholders, surgeons, patients, families, and hospital systems increasing its adoption potential.
- Start Specialized, Then Expand: Beginning with epilepsy cases allowed for focused implementation before expanding to broader applications.
Conclusion
The implementation of virtual reality technology at Corewell Health represents a significant milestone in the evolution of neurosurgery. By creating immersive, interactive visualizations of patient anatomy, the technology empowers surgeons to plan more precisely, operate more confidently, and achieve better outcomes.
For patients like Halyn Fromer, the impact is tangible and life-changing. For the healthcare system as a whole, it demonstrates how thoughtful integration of emerging technologies can transform medical practice. As VR technology continues to evolve and integrate with other advances like artificial intelligence, we can expect further innovations that will continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in neurosurgical care.
The journey from conventional 2D imaging to immersive 3D visualization illustrates a broader principle in healthcare innovation: technologies that enhance human capabilities rather than attempting to replace them often yield the most significant and sustainable improvements in patient care. As we look to the future of neurosurgery and healthcare more broadly, this principle will likely continue to guide the most successful implementations of virtual reality and other emerging technologies.
