Breaking Boundaries: How AR/VR Ultrasound Technology Is Transforming Medical Imaging

Published on March 9,20 A Vision Realized

For decades, medical imaging has followed the same fundamental workflow: a clinician manipulates a probe while viewing images on a stationary monitor, creating an inherent disconnect between hand movements and visual feedback. Today, we're proud to announce that this paradigm has been shattered with our successful integration of the Soloscan Q7 wireless ultrasound probe with Meta Quest 3 headsets.

After extensive research, development, and testing, we can confidently state that AR/VR ultrasound isn't just a futuristic concept—it's a present reality that exceeds expectations in both performance and practical application.

Technical Breakthrough

The technical challenges of combining wireless ultrasound with virtual reality have been significant. Latency, image quality, and practical usability have all presented obstacles that previous attempts failed to overcome. Our solution addresses each of these challenges:

Optimized Performance

Our technical solution addresses the key challenges of combining ultrasound with virtual reality:

Near-Zero Latency Visualization

When connected wirelessly, our proprietary transmission protocols have achieved near-zero latency between probe movement and image rendering. When using the direct USB-C connection to the Meta Quest 3, the system delivers truly zero-latency performance. In both configurations, clinicians experience natural and immediate visual feedback during examinations, with no perceptible delay that would impact diagnostic accuracy or user experience.

Groundbreaking Mobility with Direct Connection

The Soloscan Q7 probe's direct USB-C connection to the Meta Quest 3 represents a fundamental breakthrough in ultrasound mobility. This innovative connection method:

• Liberates Wi-Fi for Internet Access: Unlike other wireless ultrasound systems that monopolize Wi-Fi connectivity, our direct connection frees the Quest 3's Wi-Fi capabilities for simultaneous internet access. This enables real-time consultation of online resources, access to hospital information systems, and telemedicine integration during active scanning.
• Enables Unprecedented Clinical Mobility: The lightweight, flexible USB-C cable connection maintains full system functionality while allowing clinicians to move freely throughout a hospital or clinic. Doctors can transition between patient rooms, emergency departments, or different wards without interrupting their workflow or reconfiguring equipment.
• Eliminates Connectivity Barriers: Healthcare environments often have Wi-Fi dead zones or restricted wireless access in certain areas. The direct connection ensures consistent, zero-latency performance regardless of wireless infrastructure limitations.
• Enhances Security Compliance: In facilities with strict wireless security protocols, the direct connection provides a simple solution that maintains full system functionality while adhering to institutional security requirements.

This dual connectivity approach—with options for both wireless and direct connection—provides unprecedented flexibility that adapts to any clinical environment while maintaining the system's core benefits of mobility and ease of use.

Immersive Interface

The Meta Quest 3's advanced display capabilities deliver ultrasound imagery with unprecedented depth and clarity. Our custom software provides an intuitive interface that can be navigated through a combination of voice commands and gesture controls, freeing one hand for operating the display while the other hand maintains control of the probe with essential functions like freeze image, gain adjustment, and depth control integrated directly into the probe interface.

Breaking Free: Mobile Ultrasound Reimagined

In today's mobile-first healthcare environment, clinicians need technology that moves with them. Our AR/VR ultrasound system doesn't just improve image visualization—it fundamentally transforms how and where ultrasound can be performed.

True Hospital-Wide Mobility

The direct USB-C connection between the Soloscan Q7 probe and Meta Quest 3 creates a truly mobile ultrasound solution that goes beyond traditional constraints:

• Room-to-Room Scanning: Clinicians can move seamlessly between patient rooms without disconnecting or reconfiguring equipment
• Multi-Department Coverage: A single system can serve emergency, inpatient, and consultation needs as the clinician moves throughout the facility
• Point-of-Care Flexibility: Bring advanced ultrasound capabilities directly to patients regardless of their location within a healthcare facility
• Ward Rounds Enhancement: Integrate real-time ultrasound assessment into regular patient rounds without scheduling separate imaging sessions

While the probe can be used wirelessly, the USB-C connection option eliminates concerns about wireless coverage or battery life during extended mobile use. The lightweight cable doesn't restrict movement during examinations, and the entire system can be quickly disconnected and reconnected when moving between patients.

Practical Operation

Understanding how clinicians interact with the AR/VR ultrasound system is essential to appreciating its revolutionary design:

Intuitive Two-Handed Workflow

The operator wears the Meta Quest 3 headset, which provides an immersive view of the ultrasound imagery in virtual space. The scanning workflow is intuitive and efficient:

1. Dominant Hand Operation: The operator holds the Soloscan Q7 probe in their dominant hand, positioning it on the patient just as they would with a traditional ultrasound system. The probe includes integrated controls for:
   • Freezing/unfreezing images
   • Adjusting gain settings
   • Controlling depth parameters
   • Capturing still images
2. Non-Dominant Hand Interface: The operator's free hand interacts with the virtual control panel visible only in the AR environment. Using natural gestures within the Quest's tracking field, they can:
   • Navigate through menus and settings
   • Select different imaging modes
   • Make measurements and annotations
   • Manipulate 3D renderings
   • Control playback of saved loops
3. Supplementary Voice Controls: For situations where both hands are occupied or sterility is a concern, key functions can be activated through voice commands, such as:
   • Freezing/unfreezing the image
   • Saving images to the patient record
   • Switching between preset configurations
   • Activating specific measurements or annotations

The headset's passthrough capability allows the operator to maintain awareness of the physical environment, including the patient and probe position, while simultaneously viewing the ultrasound data and virtual interface.

Transforming Patient Care

While the technical achievements are impressive, the real breakthrough lies in how this technology transforms the experience for both practitioners and patients.

Enhanced Clinical Workflow

Our clinical testing has demonstrated significant improvements in workflow efficiency. The AR/VR ultrasound system allows clinicians to view images in the immersive environment while maintaining direct contact with their patients. Users can control the system with one hand while the other hand manages the probe with its integrated controls for freeze, gain, and depth adjustment. This enables annotation of findings, dictation of notes, and adjustment of settings without stepping away from the bedside or interrupting the examination.

The system integrates seamlessly with existing DICOM infrastructure, allowing images to be immediately saved, categorized, and shared with the broader care team. The integrated controls on the probe combined with voice commands enable clinicians to capture still images, record video sequences, and make measurements while maintaining optimal probe positioning with one hand and using their free hand to interact with the AR interface when needed.

Revolutionary Patient Experience

Perhaps most profoundly, the system transforms the patient experience—especially for expectant parents.

Initial feedback from our testing indicates that patients—particularly expectant parents—experience a deeper emotional connection when viewing ultrasound imagery in immersive 3D. Many report that the spatial understanding offered by AR/VR creates a more intuitive and meaningful experience compared to traditional monitor-based viewing. Rather than trying to interpret flat images on a screen, patients can perceive their baby's development with natural depth perception and perspective.

The system allows for simultaneous viewing through multiple headsets, enabling partners or family members to share in this intimate experience when appropriate.

Expanding Access to Care

Beyond the immediate clinical benefits, this technology has profound implications for expanding access to quality care:

Remote Healthcare with Internet Connectivity

In rural and underserved areas, the portability and flexible connectivity options of the system make high-quality ultrasound accessible in settings where traditional cart-based systems would be impractical. The direct USB-C connection ensures reliable ultrasound operation while simultaneously allowing internet connectivity for:

• Real-time consultation with specialists via video conferencing
• Immediate sharing of images with remote experts
• Access to electronic health records and clinical decision support tools
• Participation in telemedicine networks while performing scans

The ability to maintain both ultrasound functionality and internet access simultaneously is particularly valuable in remote settings where healthcare professionals often need to fulfill multiple roles. The entire system—probe, headset, and portable computing unit—fits in a standard carrying case, making it ideal for mobile clinics and rural outreach.

Telemedicine Enhancement

The system's network capabilities allow for remote guidance, with experienced sonographers able to virtually "join" an examination and provide real-time instruction to less experienced operators. This has the potential to dramatically expand the reach of specialized expertise.

Medical Education

Medical schools participating in pilot programs report that students learn scanning techniques more quickly and develop spatial understanding more effectively when training with AR/VR ultrasound compared to traditional methods.

Looking Forward

As we move from clinical testing to broader deployment, we're already exploring additional applications across medical specialties:

• Emergency Medicine: Rapid trauma assessment with hands-free documentation
• Interventional Procedures: Needle guidance with enhanced visualization
• Vascular Studies: Dynamic flow assessment with 3D spatial mapping
• Musculoskeletal Examinations: Improved correlation between patient symptoms and anatomical findings

The Future Is Now

What began as a theoretical possibility has become a clinical reality. By reimagining the fundamental interaction between clinician, technology, and patient, AR/VR ultrasound represents not just an improvement to existing workflows but a complete reconceptualization of medical imaging.

The days of clinicians hunched over monitors, constantly shifting their gaze between patient and screen, are coming to an end. In their place, we're witnessing the emergence of a more intuitive, immersive, and human-centered approach to medical imaging—one that benefits providers and patients alike.

As we move forward with commercial deployment in the coming months, we invite healthcare facilities interested in early adoption to contact our team for demonstration opportunities. Together, we're not just changing how we see inside the human body—we're transforming the entire experience of providing and receiving care.

For more information about AR/VR ultrasound technology or to schedule a demonstration, please contact our team at manager@medica91.com