Rush University Medical Center will host a groundbreaking clinical study using virtual reality to aid physicians during colonoscopies.
In July, Rush will begin integrating Apple Vision Pro technology with GI Genius, allowing physicians to have AI-generated insight on their scopes available directly within their field of view, without needing to look away from their operative screen.
The study will evaluate the real-time use of this technology, designed by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. specifically for Apple Vision Pro. This immersive, hands-free experience is being introduced into clinical practice for the first time and is expected to set the foundation for a new standard in procedural medicine. The GI Genius system uses artificial intelligence to increase the adenoma detection rate of colorectal polyps by as much as 14.4%.
The clinical study — which will be conducted on patients during routine colonoscopies — 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.
'Future of medicine'
Irving Waxman, MD, James R. Lowenstine Professor and chief of the Rush Division of Digestive Diseases & Nutrition, will lead the study.
“We are thrilled to be the first in the world to bring this technology into the endoscopy suite,” Waxman said. “What Cosmo has built by connecting GI Genius with Apple Vision Pro is extraordinary. It has the potential to revolutionize how we practice — by giving us AI-powered insights into exactly when and where we need them. 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.”
This research will build 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. This module uses deep learning to identify polyps in real time.
“By integrating GI Genius into Apple Vision Pro, we are delivering an entirely new experience — immersive, 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. We’re proud to be at the forefront of this transformation — and excited about what’s possible when world-class technology and medical innovation come together.”
This innovative new research sets Rush apart as a leader among the country’s best institutions. U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center among the best in the nation for gastroenterology and GI surgery.
