Vuzix M400 Case Studies in the Healthcare Industry

More companies than ever before are taking advantage of Extended Reality (XR). As a result of this, sectors including healthcare, construction, manufacturing, retail and education are all reaping the rewards of their investments. Extended reality encompasses Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality making it ideal for a huge range of different fields and industries. 

At Expand Reality, we specialise in creating the perfect partnership between business and hardware device, so you can harness the extended reality (XR) tech that delivers the best return on investment. We stock a whole range of the leading enterprise-ready brands including Magic Leap, RealWear, Meta, Vuzix and Microsoft HoloLens which can be found here. 

Today, however, we want to shine the spotlight on one of the industry's best-known innovators: Vuzix

With more than 25 years of experience in developing wearable technology, Vuzix has earned an enviable position in the world of enterprise XR. Its products are not just cutting-edge gadgets – they're ruggedised, industry-ready devices that are driving real change at the frontline. 

Don’t just take our word for it! Let's take a look at some real-life case studies that show the true potential of Vuzix devices in action...

Vuzix for Healthcare

The access to instant, see-what-I-see information between medical staff can be the critical factor for a good outcome for patients. So, it should come as little surprise that Vuzix devices are enjoying a swift uptake in the world of healthcare.

The Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses can be applied to almost any healthcare service – including surgery, training and telemedicine. They're HIPAA-compliant, IP67 rated and are designed to work with medical personal protective equipment and IEC60601-1-2:2014 certified medical electrical equipment.

Case Study: Chi Mei Medical Center

The Chi Mei Medical Center in Southern Taiwan runs as an umbrella system. Along with the main hospital in Tainan City, the centre operates two smaller, regional hospitals. With 2,493 beds, 39 medical departments and 6,100 employees, Chi Mei Medical Center is the largest healthcare system in its region. 

The centre is no stranger to the latest technologies. It already carries out robotic surgeries, houses state-of-the-art angiography and radiotherapy systems and uses next-generation genetic sequencers and big-data analytic tools for drug development.

It is no surprise, then, to see Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses adorning the uniforms of staff. Chi Mei Medical Center takes full advantage of the Vuzix M400 and has equipped several departments with the device. 

With Vuzix, Chi Mei Medical Center is making it possible for treatment to start before a patient even arrives at the hospital. Doctors, surgeons and paramedics are all equipped with Vuzix M400 specs. This means medics in the field can use see-what-I-see technology to communicate efficiently with experts at the hospital. These experts can visually assess the emergency, pilot the appropriate treatment on scene and prepare the necessary equipment for the patient's arrival. 

In the emergency room, staff use the Vuzix M400 smart glasses to help triage the constant flow of people. Staff need to collect information about each patient, assess them and prioritise the sickest. Vuzix's heads-up and hands-free device is increasing the speed and efficiency of data collection and enabling experts from different areas of the hospital to access this information instantly. They can then remotely begin care for the sickest patients without delay.

The majority of Chi Mei Medical Center’s most critically ill patients will find themselves in the centre's intensive care unit, where changes to their health usually require immediate action. Staff equipped with Vuzix M400 glasses can ensure the patient's assigned physician is notified of any changes, wherever they are in the hospital. The doctors are shown real-time data – like blood pressure and heart rate – and can make visual assessments and remotely direct the staff on hand. 

In the operating room, surgeons are using the Vuzix M400 starter kit to collaborate with whole teams of experts on tricky operations. Procedures can be securely streamed, from start to finish, in full HD with advanced brightness adjustment and zoom capabilities for the clearest images. Thanks to this technology, surgeons can consult with specialists no matter where they're stationed – all without interrupting their flow or compromising their work. 

When asked about the use of Vuzix M400 on a recent procedure, Chi Mei Medical Center’s Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery, Dr Bor-Chih Cheng, commented:

"The glasses are lightweight, easy to use and allow us to use our hands to treat patients while communicating with each other. They are a terrific tool for providing care and collaboration. We couldn't be happier with any piece of technology."

Vuzix for Field Service 

Vuzix is also helping to transform the field service industry. With operations scaling up and travel becoming more costly than ever, field service professionals are turning to Vuzix for help with tasks like auditing, servicing and maintenance. 

The Vuzix M4000 Smart Glasses use smart waveguide technology to overlay critical information without compromising a user's situational awareness. Equipped with this tech – and the ability to remotely access AI databases and specialists – any worker in the field can become an expert. 

It is estimated that 25% of all service calls require follow-up work. This is largely due to a lack of training, support and necessary information.

With the Vuzix M400 starter kit, workers can:

• Gain technical support remotely
  
  
• Improve compliance with protocols
  
  
• Remotely access expert information
  
  
• Reduce downtime due to repairs
  
  
• Reliably document operations
  
  
• Improve first-time resolution rates
  
  
  
  

Case Study: CH Four Biogas

A leading producer of alternative energy solutions, CH Four Biogas, began using Vuzix after researching alternative servicing methods due to the pandemic's travel restrictions. 

The company found that adopting Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses saved money on travel expenses – an estimated $70,000 during the lockdown period. Not only that, but it was also able to upscale its work and take on more projects due to increased workload efficiency.

"We're able to better utilise our engineering staff. This means we can take on more work since we can support more projects simultaneously"  said CH Four's Vice President of Engineering, Dave Lapointe. 

CH Four now keeps a pair of the Vuzix M400 Smart Glasses at various remote locations. Senior engineers can virtually check in on multiple sites, hundreds of miles away from each other, all in one day. 

As well as keeping projects on schedule, the smart glasses see-what-I-see technology means that detailed and precise information can be transferred instantly. This allows for remote inspections and troubleshooting to be undertaken efficiently. 

Audio and visual data is documented by on-site technicians and shared securely with off-site staff – and vice versa. This easy sharing of information means everyone stays informed and up-to-date on the particulars of a project, increasing productivity and improving overall end products. 

Expand Reality is a UK-based retailer of enterprise XR devices.