Portable Projection Mapping for Surgical Guidance

Surgeons often rely on medical images displayed on monitors away from the operating field or through head-mounted devices. Looking between the patient and a separate display can interrupt the surgical workflow, while wearable displays may limit comfort, visibility, or communication among team members.

The Portable Projection Mapping Device, or PPMD, is a handheld system designed to project medical information directly onto a patient’s body. It combines a laser projector with infrared cameras that track three-dimensional surfaces and help align, or register, projected information with medical images such as CT scans.

Because the information appears directly in the surgical field, multiple members of the clinical team can view it simultaneously without wearing a headset. The system is being investigated for procedures that require precise spatial guidance, including neuroplastic surgery. Our research focuses on maintaining accurate alignment as the device and surgical environment change, while developing a portable system that can integrate safely and efficiently into clinical workflows.