May 13, 2014 Industry news
Doctors in Devon have used smartglasses during surgery in what is believed to be a UK first.
The wearable smart products are capable of recording what the doctors see as they operate, which can then be live-streamed over the internet for the benefit of fellow medics, assisting them in their training and education.
The Devon-based hospital said that the new innovation would allow for “huge potential” in the way that new doctors are trained, by allowing the students to see surgery from the viewpoint of a qualified and experienced practitioner.
Google Glass headsets have now been used in a variety of procedures at Torbay, including in orthopaedic operations and treatments of the nose, ear and throat. It is hoped that this increase in viewable, real life procedures will help to boost the efficiency of surgeons as well as trainees, allowing them to review past performances, which would in turn help to save the health service money.
Torbay’s Dr George Brighton said that the devices could also assist medical professionals in conferencing and the sourcing of medical advice, which would improve the data quality of medical information.
The smart headsets would also mean that guidance could be sought during surgery. Dr Brighton stated: “If, for example, you were performing a rare or complex procedure, you could seek the advice of experts anywhere across the globe whilst operating.”
While the use of such devices across hospitals is still in its embryonic stages, Google Glass or similar smartwear may soon find its way into other parts of the National Health Service (NHS).
However, there are still some concerns in regard to ensuring patient privacy during recorded procedures, as well as a need for great data optimisation to stop systems from crashing when uploading lengthy procedures.