Apple Vision Pro for remote wound care

A new approach to complex wound care with Apple Vision Pro

GHENT, 27 April 2026. Maria Middelares and digital product studio In The Pocket joined forces to develop an innovative digital prototype that puts the power of Apple Vision Pro to work in complex wound care. The project marks a shift towards phygital healthcare, where physical care and digital precision blend seamlessly.

Complex wound care needs a trained eye. Patients often have to travel to the hospital for an evaluation, or specialised nurses head out to the patient's home.

Maria Middelares wanted a way to bring this expertise to the patient faster and more efficiently, whether they are at home, in a residential care centre, or in the hospital. With wound care, time is critical to stop an acute wound from turning chronic. That carries the risk of infection, the need for antibiotic therapy, and higher costs. Timely advice from a distance can help avoid all of this.

The power of spatial computing in care

The answer lies in combining a high-performance 3D scan with Apple Vision Pro. This new technology brings every detail into sharp focus: tissue type, depth, possible clinical signs of infection, moisture level, and the condition of the surrounding skin. These are critical inputs for sound wound care advice. The better the image quality, the better the specialist nurse can assess the wound, and the more reliable the advice.

Primary care providers scan the wound through an easy-to-use app. The images are sent securely and in line with privacy regulations to a central wound care team at the hospital. The team uses Apple Vision Pro to visualise the wound in a virtual space, assess it, and send back a treatment plan straight away.

"Organic innovation matters a lot in our hospital. That is why we like to support innovative projects that grow on the floor and bring together different disciplines: nurses, doctors, engineers, and data analysts." — Peter Dierickx, CTO, AZ Maria Middelares

From idea to proof of concept in two months

What makes this project stand out is not just the technology, but the pace of delivery. Maria Middelares and In The Pocket took on the challenge together: from fresh idea to tested solution in two months.

"We didn't want to get bogged down in theoretical models. By choosing an intensive two-month track, we moved at speed from a fresh idea to a tested solution. This is innovation in its purest form: experiment, validate, and create value straight away for both the care provider and the patient." — Guylian Stevens, Staff CTO (Patient Remote Monitoring), AZ Maria Middelares

Added value for primary care

This kind of digital transformation does more than lower the pressure on specialist teams. It also supports primary care. Through the platform, GPs and home nurses get immediate access to specialist knowledge, with no waiting times.

"Remote wound care advice adds real value for both the patient and the care provider. This solution lets us see the full picture of the wound and give clear, practical feedback right away to the treating nurse. That can be a primary care professional or someone in another remote setting outside the hospital. It keeps strengthening the collaboration between specialist wound care teams in hospitals and primary care."

With this project, Maria Middelares and In The Pocket show that advanced technology, when applied well, does not make care more distant. It makes it more human and more accurate. Until now, XR (mixed reality) in wound care has only been used with patients for pain relief. In this application, the focus shifts to the care provider.

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For press inquires: marketing@inthepocket.com.

About Maria Middelares

In its continuous pursuit of high-quality, innovative expert care, Maria Middelares puts kindness and the patient experience at the centre. We bring care closer to home for our patients, in close consultation with GPs and other care partners in the region. Patients can turn to four care sites for a professional and broad range of services: AZ Maria Middelares in Ghent, AZ Sint-Vincentius in Deinze, and the medical centres in Aalter and Gentbrugge. Maria Middelares is also developing a logistics and facility platform in De Prijkels: www.mariamiddelares.be

About In The Pocket

In The Pocket is a European digital studio that keeps raising the bar, with more than 200 experts across 4 locations. We specialise in AI transformation and in building digital products and platforms. We always combine technical know-how, a passion for product design, and a sharp focus on what works for people and businesses. For over 15 years, we have guided many large organisations through their digital transformation, from Bancontact Company and Barco, to itsme and Engie, to BNP Paribas Fortis and Colruyt Group.

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