St. Cloud, Minn.-based CentraCare has performed the world's first structural heart procedure using 4D hologram technology, the health system said June 23.
The procedure, a Watchman implant on a patient with atrial fibrillation, involved the use of 4D hologram technology developed by EchoPixel. The approach combines the company's pre-planning True3D software with its intra-operative holographic therapy guidance software, allowing the cardiology team to interact with a patient's organs and tissues as if they were physical objects.
Jacob Dutcher, MD, interventional cardiologist and director of the structural heart program at CentraCare Heart & Vascular Center led the procedure and helped develop the holographic therapy guidance technology.
The 4D capabilities reduce procedure time, improve accuracy and reduce the risk of complications, according to a news release.