How was the definition of Metaverse Medicine determined? In February 2022, I proposed in the Clinical eHealth Journal that Metaverse Medicine is an IoT medicine implemented through AR technology. Later, doctors from Asia, America, and Europe, as well as related computer and information experts, were invited to form a multidisciplinary expert group to further clarify the world’s first definition of Metaverse Medicine and reach a consensus on Metaverse Medicine. The expert group unanimously agreed that the Metaverse is the internet on VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) glasses, which is the next generation mobile computing platform that will soon become popular.
The establishment of the Metaverse Medicine consensus will help improve the level of public health and disease prevention and treatment, and it is conducive to transforming the current manual workshop-style diagnosis and treatment mode into a modern assembly line process that meets international standards. The expert group adopted and analyzed the existing consensus of IoT medicine experts, referred to relevant research results of Metaverse technology, further clarified the definition of Metaverse Medicine, and reached a consensus on Metaverse Medicine. They also suggested further research to revise and publish guidelines. The experts unanimously agreed that the IoT medicine process can be realized through the holographic construction, holographic simulation, virtual and real fusion, and virtual and real linkage technology platforms of the Metaverse. The “cloud” experts in the virtual and real world can interact with the “end” users, including doctors, patients, and even family members, to provide services such as disease prevention, health care, physical examination, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, rehabilitation, chronic disease management, home care, emergency rescue, outpatient and consultation services. Additionally, a secure system is a prerequisite and foundation for the operation of the Metaverse Medicine platform.
The publication of this definition and consensus has caused a great reaction. Generally, it is agreed that the Metaverse is an Internet on VR and AR glasses, which is the next generation of mobile computing platform that will become popular. It is a “three-element digital world” that combines virtual and real worlds and is constructed based on digital technology with “people participating with digital identities.” However, some people think that the proposal of Metaverse Medicine is “inward-looking.” Therefore, it is necessary to further refine and improve the definition of Metaverse Medicine through discussion. To make more people understand Metaverse Medicine, I think that the definition of “Metaverse Medicine is a mixed reality medical network platform that brings the virtual world into the real world and enables multidimensional interaction” is more logical and easier to understand. It can also expand its length and width, better serve the public, and benefit society.
Yes, that’s correct. The application of the metaverse platform to solve medical problems cannot be separated from the existing Internet of Things (IoT) or eHealth technologies. The latter is more representative and refers to the integration of various sensors into medical devices, the integration of the IoT with the existing internet, and the use of its comprehensive sensing, reliable transmission, and intelligent processing technologies to serve medicine. It can be applied in areas such as medical care, health management, and elderly health care, achieving the effect of “cloud connection to famous experts, and end-users enjoying modern medical care.”
However, the IoT medical platform cannot support issues such as “cloud” experts providing full-time and space guidance to “end” doctors in diagnosis and treatment, as well as conducting popular science education and professional lectures. Therefore, an augmented reality (AR) medical platform is needed to integrate virtual and real-time interaction and human-machine fusion with the comprehensive perception, transmission, and intelligent processing of the IoT, thus overcoming the limitations of the IoT medical platform. The current level of technology has already laid a solid foundation for us, such as the application of sensors such as photosensitive devices, gas-sensitive devices, force-sensitive devices, sound-sensitive devices, and radiation-sensitive devices, which help us monitor physiological and pathological changes in the body. Afterward, doctors or patients can practice AR medical treatment in the metaverse with a digital twin avatar and subsequent virtual and real-time interaction. Only by achieving an immersive holographic construction in the metaverse that users cannot distinguish between virtual and real can we attract patients and doctors to enter the metaverse.
We can also apply the concept of AR medical treatment in the metaverse to greatly improve teaching and training effectiveness. For example, we used holographic simulation technology to teach students how to understand smoking-induced lung cancer in the BRM (an AR medical glasses device named after my surname initial “B” and the first letter of RealMax company). This groundbreaking teaching practice has achieved a very impressive effect, and students can immerse themselves in the scene and see the relationship between smoking-induced lung damage and the onset of lung cancer (Figure 1). In addition, we can also use it to train students on how to quickly master various treatment techniques. For example, in tracheal endoscopy surgery, magnetic navigation is a difficult technique to master. If we use holographic simulation technology for teaching and clinical practice, we will undoubtedly achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Figure 1. AR technology displaying black lungs damaged by smoking.
