The Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Technology Promotion drives corporate technology projects executed by research institutions such as ITRI, III, and the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Industries Promotion Office. These projects aim to develop crucial industry technologies, continuously infusing Taiwan's technological innovation. The outcomes of these corporate research institutions are conveyed to businesses and the public through the "Unlocking Technology Treasures" exhibition, which has been held since 2014, fostering collaborations. This year, the Institute for Information Industry (III) has contributed seven technology exhibits to the event. Notable innovations include MR Smart Glasses for orthopedic surgery, Edubot intelligent interactive services, and AI conversational platforms with natural language understanding.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs' technology projects focus on patent output to safeguard technological advantages. Nearly 2,000 patent applications and grants are achieved annually. In 2016, these projects facilitated investments from companies totaling over NT$548 billion, reaching a new high in recent years. With a solid technological foundation, this year's "Unlocking Technology Treasures" exhibition is themed "Power of the Crowd," delineating areas like smart environments, manufacturing, healthcare, and innovative lifestyles, envisioning the future of technology.
A powerful tool for orthopedic surgery, smart medical glasses superimpose 3D virtual images through MR mixed reality
In the past, during surgical procedures requiring observation of bone structure, realignment, or safety confirmation, doctors relied on large amounts of X-ray images to ensure surgical accuracy. This increased exposure to radiation and consumed more time. To improve medical quality, the Institute for Information Industry (III), supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs' technology projects, collaborated with SURGLASSES to design smart glasses that overlay MR (mixed reality) annotated information. These glasses assist orthopedic surgeons at Changhua Show Chwan Hospital in precisely locating incision points during surgery, enhancing surgical efficiency and accuracy. The technology has already been successfully applied in over 100 clinical trial cases.
To overlay 3D X-ray imaging onto the glasses, a GPS-like positioning technology is used, along with calibration of the user's gaze and determination of the relative distance between the doctor and the patient. Before surgery, patients must have metal tags applied to their bodies and undergo MRI scans to establish bone models from the tomographic data. With the positioning of metal tags, the 3D bone model is presented in the smart glasses worn by the doctor during surgery, ensuring alignment between the surgical field and the field of view. This eliminates the need to constantly look up at X-ray images on screens, reducing errors during surgery and significantly shortening surgical time by over 30%.
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