Lenovo, a leading global technology company, is pioneering VR (virtual reality) applications in U.S. hospitals to help children manage pain and reduce the need for general anesthesia during treatments.
In June 2018, the French startup Healthy Mind launched a VR initiative to alleviate various pains through immersive experiences. Patients could choose contemplative or interactive modes, including playing music, painting, solving puzzles, or taking guided virtual tours to promote relaxation.
On November 9, 2019, Lenovo announced in a press release the expansion of VR in select U.S. hospitals via its Starlight Virtual Reality project. Featured in the film This is Life, now screening at the Denver Film Festival, the initiative focuses on easing pain for young patients.
Developed in partnership with the Starlight Children's Foundation, the project has been active for over a year at a Colorado hospital. Young patients use Lenovo's Mirage Solo VR headsets daily to play engaging video games, significantly improving their hospital experience, according to on-site physicians.
Pediatrician Joe Albeitz explains that the human brain has a finite attention capacity. Deep VR immersion effectively diverts focus from pain signals, often eliminating the need for general anesthesia in procedures that typically require it.
Dr. Albeitz also sees broader potential: for long-term patients, VR offers an escape from the hospital environment and aids reintegration into daily life through virtual attendance at school or family gatherings.
Watch Lenovo's video on the Starlight Virtual Reality project:
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