Rush University Medical Center will host a groundbreaking clinical study beginning in July 2025 that integrates Apple Vision Pro technology with artificial intelligence to enhance colonoscopy procedures. The first-of-its-kind human usability study will evaluate how spatial computing can deliver real-time, AI-powered insights to physicians during live colonoscopy procedures.
The innovative system, developed by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V., combines Medtronic's GI Genius AI module with Apple Vision Pro to create an immersive, hands-free experience for gastroenterologists. Physicians wearing the Apple Vision Pro headset will see critical data and AI-generated highlights overlaid within their real-world view, allowing them to access vital information without looking away from the patient or primary endoscopy screen.
Revolutionary AI-Enhanced Visualization
The GI Genius system, distributed exclusively by Medtronic, uses artificial intelligence to help physicians identify potentially cancerous polyps during colonoscopies. The AI module has demonstrated the ability to increase the adenoma detection rate by as much as 14.4%, making it a powerful tool in the fight against colorectal cancer.
Dr. Irving Waxman, James R. Lowenstine Professor and Chief of the Division of Digestive Diseases & Nutrition at Rush, will lead the landmark study. "What Cosmo has built by connecting the GI Genius module with Apple Vision Pro is extraordinary. It has the potential to revolutionize how we practice – by giving us AI-powered insights exactly when and where we need them," Waxman said. "This is not just an incremental improvement – it's a complete reimagining of procedural medicine, and I'm proud that Rush is leading the way."
Building on Previous Innovation
This research builds on Waxman's leadership in implementing GI Genius at Rush, which in 2022 became the first U.S. health system to integrate the Medtronic GI Genius AI. The module uses deep learning to identify polyps in real time during colonoscopy procedures.
The clinical study will be conducted on patients during routine colonoscopies and represents the first time this immersive technology is being introduced into clinical practice. The integration aims to create a more intuitive and powerful workflow for gastroenterologists by seamlessly blending digital content with the physical world.
FDA Approval Pathway
The study results will serve as a key component of Cosmo's planned FDA submission, expected shortly after the trial concludes. If approved, the application would become the first FDA-cleared medical software of its kind on Apple Vision Pro, potentially setting a new standard in procedural medicine.
"By integrating the GI Genius module with Apple Vision Pro, we will be delivering an entirely new experience – intelligent, and intuitive," said Giovanni Di Napoli, CEO of Cosmo. "This is what the future of medicine looks like: real-time AI, embedded naturally into the physician's workflow by blending digital content with the physical world."
The study represents a significant advancement in the application of spatial computing technology to medical procedures, potentially transforming how physicians interact with AI-powered diagnostic tools during critical interventions.
