Latest news with #MagicLeap
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Scots dad living in agony with 'debilitating' back pain has pioneering surgery
Gerry Carrigan, 54, had been living in agony after spending decades playing in goals. A Scots dad who was left with debilitating back pain after years of playing in goals has received pioneering surgery that has "changed his life". Gerry Carrigan, 54, had been living in agony for years due to his spinal nerves being compressed by a bulging disc. The dad-of-three, from East Kilbride was relying on crutches and struggled with basic tasks in everyday life. Before he began experiencing the pain in his legs and back he had been an active footballer, playing in goals right up until his 40s. Gerry said: 'Before the pain started years ago, I was active playing football every week with friends. In all honesty, it was likely the goalkeeping into my late 40s that took its toll on my back. "I should have given that up sooner, but I did enjoy playing sport. The pain completely debilitated what I could do. Then, following this surgery, I was up and walking in the ward the same night, albeit, still on crutches. The impact this will make on my life is incredible.' After two spinal disc surgeries failed to provide lasting relief, Gerry became one of the first patients in Scotland to undergo a revolutionary procedure using MR technology - allowing surgeons to 'see inside' his body without major incisions. The procedure was performed at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow by neurosurgeons and complex spine surgeons, Mr Mohamed Abdelsadg and Mr Calan Mathieson. The MR technology system used during the surgery, known as Magic Leap, overlays detailed spinal images directly onto the patient's body via MR goggles, enabling surgeons to operate with unprecedented precision through small incisions. Using Magic Leap, Gerry underwent a minimally invasive spinal procedure. Surgeons placed screws into the bones above and below the damaged disc and connected them with rods to stabilise the area. They then removed the worn disc and inserted a cage implant to hold the space open, fuse the disc, and prevent future disc bulges. The entire procedure was done through just five small stab incisions in his back, and Gerry was able to go home within 24 hours. The result of Gerry's operation dropped his leg pain dramatically. He said: 'It was amazing that the pain subsided instantly. We've got a busy household with three autistic boys, so there's really not time for either my wife, Gemma, or myself to be out of action. 'Even though I'll likely always have restrictive back pain which still means I'll need the crutches to keep up my mobility outdoors, I'm incredibly grateful to the INS team for giving me a huge part of life back by taking almost all of my leg pain away.' The neurosurgery team recently won the Regional Services Award at the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Excellence Awards for their pioneering work on Gerry. Mr Abdelsadg said: 'This technology is transforming how we approach complex spinal surgeries. It allows us to be more accurate, less invasive, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for our patients.'
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Award-winning neurosurgical team transforms Scots patient's life with cutting-edge 'Mixed Reality' spinal surgery
Gerry Carrigan became one of the first patients in Scotland to undergo a revolutionary procedure using MR technology, allowing surgeons to 'see inside' his body without major incisions. A Scots patient has been given a new lease of life following a pioneering spinal surgery using cutting-edge Mixed Reality (MR) technology. Gerry Carrigan, 54, had been living with debilitating back and leg pain for years, due to spinal nerves being compressed by a bulging disc. He was relying on crutches and struggling with everyday life. After two spinal disc surgeries failed to provide lasting relief, the East Kilbride dad became one of the first patients in Scotland to undergo a revolutionary procedure using MR technology, allowing surgeons to 'see inside' his body without major incisions. Glasgow's Institute for Neurological Sciences (INS) is the first centre in the UK, and only the third in the world, to use MR technology in spinal surgery - placing the institute at the forefront of global surgical innovation. The system, known as Magic Leap, overlays detailed spinal images directly onto the patient's body via MR goggles, enabling surgeons to operate with unprecedented precision through small incisions. Using Magic Leap, Gerry underwent a minimally-invasive spine procedure. Surgeons placed screws into the bones above and below the damaged disc and connected them with rods to stabilise the area. They then removed the worn disc and inserted a cage implant to hold the space open, fuse the disc, and prevent future disc bulges. The entire procedure was done through just five small stab incisions in his back, and Gerry was able to go home within 24 hours. Gerry's leg pain dropped from as high as nine out of ten to as low as two. 'It was amazing that the pain subsided instantly,' he said. 'Before the pain started years ago, I was active playing football every week with friends. In all honesty, it was likely the goalkeeping into my late 40s that took its toll on my back. I should have given that up sooner, but I did enjoy playing sport. The pain completely debilitated what I could do. 'Then, following this surgery, I was up and walking in the ward the same night, albeit, still on crutches. The impact this will make on my life is incredible.' The procedure was performed at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital by a team led by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde consultant neurosurgeons and complex spine surgeons, Mr Mohamed Abdelsadg and Mr Calan Mathieson. The team recently won the Regional Services Award at the NHSGGC Excellence Awards for their pioneering work. This minimally-invasive approach significantly reduces tissue damage, shortens recovery times and improves surgical outcomes. The technology, developed in collaboration with Brainlab, is part of a trial using Spine Mixed Reality Navigation, which fuses real-time X-rays with external imaging to guide the surgeon in 3D. Mr Abdelsadg said: 'This technology is transforming how we approach complex spinal surgeries. It allows us to be more accurate, less invasive, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for our patients.' The INS team was praised for their 'remarkable dedication to advancing patient care by embracing cutting-edge technologies.' For Gerry, the results speak for themselves. He said: 'We've got a busy household with three autistic boys, so there's really not time for either my wife, Gemma, or myself to be out of action. 'Even though I'll likely always have restrictive back pain which still means I'll need the crutches to keep up my mobility outdoors, I'm incredibly grateful to the INS team for giving me a huge part of life back by taking almost all of my leg pain away.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook?
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Scots patient among first to undergo revolutionary spinal procedure
After two spinal disc surgeries failed to provide lasting relief, he became one of the first patients in Scotland to undergo a revolutionary procedure using MR technology, allowing surgeons to 'see inside' his body without major incisions. INS is the first centre in the UK, and only the third in the world, to use MR technology in spinal surgery. The system, known as Magic Leap, overlays detailed spinal images directly onto the patient's body via MR goggles, enabling surgeons to operate with unprecedented precision through small incisions. NHS campaign launched in Glasgow to maintain 'hospital flow' Using Magic Leap, Mr Carrigan underwent a minimally invasive spine procedure. Surgeons placed screws into the bones above and below the damaged disc and connected them with rods to stabilise the area. They then removed the worn disc and inserted a cage implant to hold the space open, fuse the disc, and prevent future disc bulges. The entire procedure was done through just five small stab incisions in his back, and Gerry was able to go home within 24 hours. Mr Carrigan's leg pain dropped from as high as nine out of ten to as low as two. 'It was amazing that the pain subsided instantly,' he said. 'Before the pain started years ago, I was active playing football every week with friends. In all honesty, it was likely the goalkeeping into my late 40s that took its toll on my back. I should have given that up sooner, but I did enjoy playing sport. The pain completely debilitated what I could do. Gerry Carrigan, 54, had been living with debilitating back and leg pain for years (Image: NHSGGC) 'Then, following this surgery, I was up and walking in the ward the same night, albeit, still on crutches. The impact this will make on my life is incredible.' The procedure was performed at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital by a team led by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Consultant Neurosurgeons and Complex Spine Surgeons, Mr Mohamed Abdelsadg and Mr Calan Mathieson. The team recently won the Regional Services Award at the NHSGGC Excellence Awards for their pioneering work. This minimally invasive approach significantly reduces tissue damage, shortens recovery times, and improves surgical outcomes. The technology, developed in collaboration with Brainlab, is part of a trial using Spine Mixed Reality Navigation, which fuses real-time X-rays with external imaging to guide the surgeon in 3D. Mr Abdelsadg said: 'This technology is transforming how we approach complex spinal surgeries. It allows us to be more accurate, less invasive, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for our patients.' The INS team was praised for their 'remarkable dedication to advancing patient care by embracing cutting-edge technologies.' For Mr Carrigan, the results speak for themselves. He said: 'We've got a busy household with three autistic boys, so there's really not time for either my wife, Gemma, or myself to be out of action. 'Even though I'll likely always have restrictive back pain which still means I'll need the crutches to keep up my mobility outdoors, I'm incredibly grateful to the INS team for giving me a huge part of life back by taking almost all of my leg pain away.'
International Business Times
20-06-2025
- International Business Times
Meet the Futurist Re-Engineering Tech Intimacy for the 2030s and Rewriting the Code of Love in a Lonely Age
In the middle of a recent TED conference futurist Cathy Hackl captivated audiences with an experiment that explored the blurry intersection of human emotion and artificial intelligence. Known for her pioneering work at Magic Leap, where she helped launch the virtual human Mica and introduced C-level executives to embodied AI for the first time, Hackl has long been at the forefront of human-computer interaction. Her latest experiments take that vision even further, probing how we might use AI not just to assist us, but to understand and evolve our most human experiences: connection, heartbreak, and love. Her TED journey began with a matchmaking experiment using AI, an unconventional but compelling approach that earned her an invitation to the main stage. But Hackl isn't done. In her next experiment, she'll spend a week "dating" four different AIs, allowing them to compete for her attention and even advise her on who to choose and how to end things. It's part social study, part tech demo, and part emotional audit. Recently, she also turned to AI vibe-coding tools to help navigate the emotional fallout of a breakup, effectively gamifying grief and reframing romantic recovery. All of this is in service of a bigger idea: The Tech Intimacy Scale, Hackl's soon-to-launch framework designed to help people measure and improve their digital relationships. As we shift from the attention economy to what she calls the "intimacy economy," Hackl believes that the future of tech is not about replacing human connection, but enhancing it. From low-intimacy interactions like swiping on dating apps to high-intimacy tools like immersive storytelling in augmented and virtual reality, the scale assesses not just how we use technology, but how it makes us feel. Her goal is not to vilify technology, but to encourage a more thoughtful, emotionally intelligent design and use of it. Just as Brené Brown brought the language of vulnerability and shame to the forefront of emotional literacy, Hackl is crafting a new vocabulary to measure and guide intimacy in digital environments. Brown's groundbreaking work helped people see the power of vulnerability in forging trust and belonging, Hackl takes this further by exploring how technology can either amplify or diminish those vulnerable moments. Similarly, Scott Galloway has repeatedly emphasized how macroeconomic and demographic shifts have eroded traditional relationship structures, especially among young men. In his books and interviews, Galloway points to declining male participation in romantic relationships as both a symptom and cause of broader social detachment. Hackl's ideas provide a complementary lens, while Galloway diagnoses the problem, Hackl begins to architect solutions, imagining digital ecosystems that foster emotional intelligence and nuanced human interaction through immersive tech, gamification, and AI-powered connection tools. Derek Thompson, writing in The Atlantic, has expertly unpacked the "loneliness epidemic" and its correlation to technology, noting how social platforms create an illusion of community while often leaving users feeling more isolated. Hackl acknowledges this dissonance and instead seeks to reverse the trend by advocating for intentional, emotionally aware technology that prioritizes genuine connection. Where Thompson cautions about technology's unintended consequences, Hackl outlines a roadmap for repurposing those same tools to rebuild social capital and emotional resonance. Mel Robbins, known for her practical advice and behavioral triggers like the "5 Second Rule," focuses on motivating individuals to take action in their personal and professional lives. Hackl's approach similarly invites users to be proactive, but in their digital relationships, urging individuals not to passively consume connection through endless swipes, but to "play more," engage authentically, and use immersive storytelling to build emotional presence. Robbins encourages behavior change in daily life; Hackl extends that to the virtual spaces where people increasingly spend their time. What makes Hackl's work particularly timely is that it doesn't exist in a vacuum. She is both reflecting on and contributing to a wider movement toward intentional living, vulnerability, and connection. Hackl is building a framework that acknowledges our loneliness crisis without resigning to it. Instead, she invites creators, developers, and users to take part in a more emotionally intelligent technological future one that, like the work of Brown, Galloway, Thompson, and Robbins, reminds us that connection is both a need and a skill, whether offline or on. Technology isn't the enemy of intimacy. When used with awareness and intention, it can be its greatest ally.
Axios
10-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Tariffs loom as the elephant in the room at TED
The annual TED conference is designed to help business and cultural leaders think long-term, but that's proving tough this year with the global economy in turmoil. State of play: TED talks are planned months in advance and tend to avoid the news of the day. But a turbulent economy is making it hard for attendees to stay off their constantly buzzing devices. "In the last hour, I learned that there's a 90-day pause [on the tariffs]," Serve Robotics CEO Ali Kashari told Axios during a break between sessions on Wednesday. "Then I learned that China is an exception. Then I learned that, no, actually it's 10% on everybody still. And I actually don't know if any of these are true, right?" Ross Rosenberg, CEO of mixed reality company Magic Leap, said he has been trying to calm frightened employees from afar while also trying to absorb TED's long-term focus. "It's distracting," he said, noting that part of what lets him normally focus on the future is feeling secure about the current moment — a feeling distinctly lacking this year. "I feel very unmoored in the present," he added. The big picture: Economic uncertainty for attendees comes amid a time of considerable change for the venerable tech and culture conference. After a decade in Vancouver, organizers have announced next year will be its last in the Canadian city, with the 2027 conference headed to an unspecified city in California. Meanwhile, longtime organizer Chris Anderson has said he plans to step down. TED has retained a banker to see which organization, business or institution is best suited to run the conference going forward. More than 60 entities have expressed interest so far, organizers said. Inside the room: The tension was palpable, particularly on Monday, the first day of the conference. "There's a lot of 'Why am I at TED when the world is exploding?,'" one attendee told Axios. "That's the vibe." At dinners around Vancouver on Tuesday, many attendees tried to shrug off the worries. At a wine tasting, one person saw the news of 104 percent tariffs on China and lifted a glass and said, "Oh well." The mood lifted Wednesday as Trump announced plans for a 90-day pause. While not resolved, the move allowed many to focus more on the conference and less on the texts and Slack threads. Between the lines: Institutional investor Lise Buyer said in many ways this year flips the usual script. "Usually the climate talks are the downers," said Buyer, a former Wall Street analyst and longtime TED attendee. "This time, the real depressing talks are happening outside the theater." Many attendees said the talks are a welcome distraction from the present chaos, especially since there is little to be done. "Honestly, the only thing you can do is wait and see," Kashari said. His company already assembles its robots in the U.S. and moved as much of its supply chain as it could out of China. But he knows that rising global tariffs will bite. "This is still gonna impact," he said.
