Gaming VR Headset Used To Treat Balance Disorders

Officials from virtual imaging developer eMagin have announced a partnership with medical hardware developer Medicaa to integrate eMagin's Z800 3DVisor into Medicaa's Balance Rehabilitation Unit for treating patients with balance disorders, vertigo or instability. Approved earlier this month by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Medicaa's Balance Rehabilitation Unit uses the Z800 3DVisor to selectively stimulate the neural processes involved in the vestibular compensation mechanisms. The device enables the physician to assess the extent of the problem and treat it. According to a statement released announcing the Balance Rehabilitation Unit, the device allows a doctor a assess a patient by analyzing reactions to a series of sensory stimulus. Because the device identifies specific stimuli that affect a particular weakness, the physician can tailor a rehabilitation program with specific perceptual cues for each patient and measure the responses. eMagin’s Z800 3DVisor is designed for use in PC gaming, training and simulation, and other applications, and features 3D stereovision and headtracking capabilities. The headset offers full 360-degree viewing, enabling users to look around and move in the virtual world much like they do in the real world, while an integrated audio system adds to the immersive experience. “Our Z800 3DVisor continues to demonstrate its utility beyond gaming and entertainment,” said Susan Jones, executive vice president, eMagin Corporation. “New markets for immersive and near-immersive visual stimuli continue to emerge in medical, industrial and commercial applications.”