TS-002723 — Laser treatments are common in dermatology and other fields. Thermal energy from the treatment can cause discomfort and pain which has resulted in the use of virtual reality as a distraction. However, there are limited options for pediatric patients. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital developed a laser safe face shield designed to fit younger children needing laser treatments. The face shield decreases their pain sensation and anxiety through providing access to virtual reality simulations while simultaneously protecting the patient’s eyes.

TS-000621 — Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of acquired disability in U.S. children and adolescents. Impairment of executive functions post-TBI has broad and profound implications for everyday life of pediatric patients, and the development of effective rehabilitation strategies is of significant clinical importance. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have developed virtual reality (VR)-based programs for assessing cognitive function and providing subsequent rehabilitation. This pediatric TBI assessment software provides VR-based cognitive-assessment tasks and an additional training platform that pairs with the Oculus Rift virtual reality viewer. The training program is designed with a series of environmentally-enriched three-dimensional cognitive exercises that aid in rehabilitation of executive core functions among pediatric patients with TBI in a highly controlled, safe, and automated manner.