VR roundup: FDA clears new device for pain, Stanford says immersive therapeutics can help seniors

Virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) technologies are increasingly being used in healthcare, with the US FDA granting approval to Smileyscope’s VR system to reduce pain and anxiety in patients. Smileyscope uses positive virtual stimuli for drug-free pain relief during medical procedures, such as needle injections. Stanford University researchers also found that VR has considerable benefits in geriatric care, improving patient-caregiver relationships and patient moods. VR has also been successfully used to train people in administering Naloxone, a drug used to counteract opiate overdoses.