That would certainly diminish the chances of complication; or better yet, boost survival rates if it’s a tricky procedure like triple bypass surgery. This has become a reality in the medical field thanks to Israeli start-up RealView, Ltd. The innovative medical device company designed the world’s first 3D medical holography display and interface system. Their proprietary technology projects hyper-realistic 3D holographic images “floating in the air”. The difference maker: The projected 3D image appears in free space, allowing the user to interact with it on an entirely new level and in real-time.

RealView’s Image Intimacy system is revolutionizing digital holography. From poor, non-colorful image quality to compromised viewing angles; technology has yet to catch up to the vision. That is, until now. RealView’s holograms are a cut above in every way imaginable. With their high-resolution and quality, a user can literally touch the holograms and manipulate them in real-time. As described on RealView’s website, “the interaction with the image is as intuitive as grabbing an apple or painting a statue as the image is optically real and within touching reach.” We’ve all seen holography in action mostly in futuristic movies like Minority Report or Total Recall, but can this technology be used in operating rooms? The answer is yes and especially in cardiology.

Targeted specifically for interventional cardiology, RealView’s enhanced 3D imaging technology supports minimally invasive procedures. Since the images are digital, they can be rotated or manipulated by a Cardiologist as he or she sees fit. This provides a Cardiologist, for the first time, a “unique capability of working very intimately and accurately the 3D information.” The floating image allows the medical professional to probe, morph, reposition, adjust, etc. without the limitations of 2D system like a laptop or x-ray machine.

RealView invented the concept of “image intimacy,” and speaking on behalf of patients and doctors alike, I’m sure the non-scientific name is greatly appreciated. So what makes RealView’s “image intimacy” device revolutionary? For one, it’s ultra-realistic and according to field tests, “provides the freedom for unbounded interaction,” and at the same time, empowers its users. RealView illustrates their systems capabilities with four action-packed bullets highlighted on their website.

Assuming that the user is a medical professional, the system can make:

• “In air” markings of specific points of interest; allowing users to mark a location, define a path or tag a specific anatomical landmark in mid-air.
• “In air” quantification within the image; enabling the measurement of true distances and more precise volume quantification.
• “In air” device – image interaction; providing the ability to literally place a physical device inside the hologram, such as a stent in a patient’s specific anatomy.
• Real-time spatial plane definition; allowing the user to freely crop/sculpt the hologram to define the desired plane.

From measuring the length of a baby in its third trimester to determining the exact location of a stent, RealView’s imaging system is complimentary to all available technologies that generate 3D content (3D-CT, 3D Rotational Angiography, 3D-Ultrasound, etc.).

RealView’s proprietary 3D user interface capabilities, whether it’s in the form of true visualization (ultra-realism) or eyewear-free interaction, can only be described as groundbreaking. The benefits of holography are limitless. RealView, in highlighting these benefits, encapsulates the boundless innovation of its Image Intimacy system: “In reality, objects are in free space and for different areas on the object, the eyes will accommodate differently, will converge differently, and will have a slightly different point of view.” In the spirit of aiding medical professionals with their complex diagnoses, RealView’s proprietary Image Intimacy technology is visionary and is positioned to make an immediate impact on all of our lives.